In recognition of World Nature Conservation Day on July 28th, Pro Carton strengthens its dedication to educating the packaging and consumer goods industries about the significant advantages of endorsing sustainable forest management practises and ethical sourcing of renewable resources.
Sustainable forest management includes the responsibility of the industry to secure continuous growth of forests in Europe. Forests are growing, covering a significant portion of the continent. In 2021, a whopping 39% of the EU’s land area was classified as forest (Eurostat, 2021). This is an impressive increase of 1.6% since 2010 which translates to a substantial growth of 25,000 km2.
The adage that “trees are the lungs of the earth” rings truer than ever. It is imperative that we actively promote the utilisation of natural and eco-friendly resources, while simultaneously working diligently to conserve these resources for future generations. This year’s European consumer research findings, commissioned by Pro Carton, indicates that consumers hold the highest level of trust in fibre-based packaging materials, and the reasons are compelling.
Cartonboard production takes renewable resources from sustainably managed forests, contributing to a more environmentally responsible and practical packaging solution. Our industry takes pride in advocating for the responsible use of renewable raw materials for packaging materials, and consumers are actively shifting their purchasing habits to prioritise products with sustainable packaging. A strong 87% of consumers trust that paper and cartonboard will be recycled, which aligns perfectly with the impressive 82.5% recycling rate for cartonboard (Eurostat, 2021). Furthermore this trend is evidenced by the finding that European consumers, on average, would pay 5.4% more for a sustainably packaged product (Pro Carton, 2024) This demonstrates a clear alignment between the packaging industry and consumer preferences.
The responsibility now lies with decision-makers to reflect this trust and confidence by recognising fibre-based packaging materials as the most suitable option for preserving our planet. By doing so, World Nature Conservation Day allows us to take a step back and embrace our responsibility in protecting and sustaining natural resources for generations to come.
