UPM leads materials sector in CDP’s forests program

(UPM, Helsinki, 20 November, 2013 at 10:00 EET) – UPM was today announced as the sector leader for the materials industry at the launch of CDP’s forests annual report.

CDP’s forests program asks companies to disclose their exposure to deforestation risks through their use of five agricultural commodities that are responsible for most deforestation (palm oil, soy, biofuels, timber and cattle products).

CDP’s chief executive officer Paul Simpson says: “We applaud the work of UPM who has demonstrated leadership in the steps it has taken to address deforestation risks in its supply chain.  Many other companies do not understand their potential exposure to these risks. At CDP, we provide the world’s largest system to enable businesses to disclose and understand these operational, reputational and supply chain risks, while alerting investors to the value implications.”

“UPM´s Biofore approach is based on renewables, and that´s why knowing the fibre sources and supply chains is essential for us. The company promotes sustainable forestry wherever it operates. We have increased transparency and verifications step by step, and the work is constant”, says Päivi Salpakivi-Salomaa, Head of Environment and Responsibility, UPM.

UPM ensures all wood and wood fibre is sustainably sourced, and company’s forests and plantations are certified. All of UPM’s wood supplies are covered by a third-party-verified chain-of-custody. The chain-of-custody and forest certifications are ways of promoting legal and sustainable wood sourcing.

The CDP’s forests program report is available on the CDP website, where the publicly available individual company forest responses can also be found.
https://www.cdproject.net/CDPResults/CDP-global-forests-report-2013.pdf

For further information please contact:
Päivi Salpakivi-Salomaa, Head of Environment and Responsibility, UPM, tel. +358204150396.

UPM, Corporate Communications
Media Desk, tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com
www.twitter.com/UPM_News

UPM’s Biofore vision and consistent work on corporate responsibility has recently gained recognition from different parties. UPM was again named among the world’s sustainability leaders in both the Dow Jones European and World Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for 2013-2014. In the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, UPM was ranked in the index with top scores: 99 points out of 100 maintaining the leadership position in its sector. www.upmresponsibility.com

Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The Group employs around 22,000 people and our annual sales exceed € 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com

About CDP
CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information.  CDP works with market forces, including 722 institutional investors with assets of US$87 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them.  CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions.  Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

About CDP’s forest program
CDP’s forests program was formerly known as the Forest Footprint Disclosure Project (FFD). In June 2012 CDP and the Global Canopy Programme (GCP) announced an alliance to merge GCP’s Forest Footprint Disclosure Project with CDP. This strategic merger brings corporate disclosure on the climate, water and forests under one roof, resulting in the world’s largest and most comprehensive natural capital disclosure system, and provides companies and investors with a single, integrated source of information for these interrelated issues.