At Hemlock, we recognize that single use packaging, whether plastics or paper, currently exerts an impact on ecosystems at the resource extraction point, during production and in disposal. Addressing this requires a wholistic approach that doesn’t increase pressure on one globally vital ecosystem (e.g. forests) in order to reduce the pressure on another (e.g. oceans). It is both imperative and possible to create changes in packaging use, sourcing, production and end-of-product-use management to support the shift away from single-use plastics and enable conservation of ancient and endangered forests concurrently.
Therefore, we, as a supporting partner of Canopy’s Pack4Good Initiative, commit to:
• Ensuring the paper-based packaging we use does not include fibre sourced from Ancient and Endangered Forests by end of year 2022.
• Prioritizing innovative packaging design to reduce overall material needs.
• Giving preference to paper-based packaging with high-recycled content, specifically post-consumer waste content.
• Encouraging our suppliers that are found to be sourcing from Ancient and Endangered forests to change practices and/or re-evaluate our relationship with them.
• Working with innovative companies and Canopy to continuously expand the availability and development of next generation solutions with a focus on agricultural residues and post-consumer recycled content.
• Sourcing forest fibre from forests certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) system, including any plantation fibre, when recycled fibre and agricultural residue fibre is unattainable.
• Requesting that our suppliers recognize, respect and uphold human rights and acknowledge the right of Indigenous People and rural communities to give or withhold their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Supporting conservation solutions and seeking opportunities to inform the public on these issues and solutions through our marketing and communications.
• Adopting specific targets and timelines by the end of 2020 to track and report on our progress.
To action our commitment, we will implement the following by the end of 2020:
• Ensure that the majority of our shipping cartons are FSC Certified and made from a minimum of 80% recycled content.
• Actively promote the usage of alternative fibres in our client’s print projects.
• Introduce a third paper to our ZERO automatic carbon neutral family.
We welcome you to reach out to us via our social media channels, by email, or to your Hemlock Sales Representatives should you have any questions or comments.