The forest, paper and packaging industry and sustainability

The aim of this paper is to offer an exploratory review of the sustainability agendas and achievements reported by the leading companies within the global forest, paper and packaging industry. The paper begins with brief outlines of corporate sustainability and the growing interest in sustainability reporting. The empirical material for the paper is drawn from the most recent sustainability reports posted on the leading forest, paper and packaging companies’ corporate websites. The findings reveal while the leading companies within the industry recognised the impacts their businesses have on the environment, on society and to a lesser extent on the economy, there are variations in the character, extent and detail of the sustainability reporting process. That said the sustainability reports included details of a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues but more generally the reports had a number of weaknesses that, at least partly, undermine their transparency and credibility. The authors also argue that the selected companies’ definitions of, and commitments to, sustainability are principally driven by business imperatives rather than by any fundamental concern to maintain the viability and integrity of natural and social capital. More critically the authors argue that this approach is couched within existing business models centred on continuing growth. The paper provides an accessible review of current approaches to sustainability in the global forest, paper and packaging industry and as such it will interest professionals working in the industry and its supply chain as well as academics and students interested in business strategy and sustainability