"Biodiversity in Good Company" initiative singled out as a UN Decade Project – UPM is a key partner to the network

(UPM, Helsinki, 8 March, 2013) – On 22 February 2013, the "Biodiversity in Good Company" initiative in Germany was singled out as the official project of the UN Decade Office for Biodiversity. The initiative is a cross-industry platform involving companies that make a special contribution to protecting biodiversity and using resources in a sustainable manner, thereby setting an example for other businesses. UPM is also part of this network.

The prize was awarded to the business initiative by Dr Kilian Delbrück from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety on behalf of the UN Decade Office at a ceremony held in Heidelberg, Germany.

The panel of judges was extremely impressed with what the network has achieved.

"The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety established the 'Biodiversity in Good Company' initiative in 2008, creating the first business platform of this kind in the world," explains Dr Kilian Delbrück. "Today, five years on, I'm delighted that this group of pioneering companies has long-term prospects as an official association. The people involved really deserve the recognition afforded by the UN Decade project. We need the commitment of the business world in order to achieve our goals in Germany and beyond."

“In signing a "leadership declaration", UPM has pledged to integrate the concept of biodiversity into its environmental and sustainability management programmes. UPM has a global biodiversity programme that aims to maintain biodiversity in forests as well as promote best practises in sustainable forestry and wood sourcing”, tells Timo Lehesvirta, Environmental Director, Energy and Pulp Business, UPM.

For further information, please contact:
Timo Lehesvirta, Environmental Director, Energy and Pulp Business, UPM, tel. +358 400 752212 
 

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UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 22,000 people and it has production plants in 17 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com

UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has recently gained recognition from different parties. UPM was listed as the only forestry and paper company worldwide in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and also recognized as the ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards. In the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, UPM was ranked in the first place with top scores. UPM is one of seven paper producers to receive an award from the WWF in the category of ‘Transparency’ during the 2012 WWF Environmental Paper Awards. www.upmresponsibility.com