Today we are celebrating the UN’s International Day of Forests!
This year’s theme is “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World”. It is a statement that chimes greatly with me, loving outdoors activities and nature, together with my family or alone while walking our dog Dingo. It also aligns fully with Sappi’s core beliefs, as it is shining a light on the importance of trees as our planet’s life support system.
Trees are one of our greatest natural treasures and we must do all we can to preserve the incredible gifts they provide us. They are the planet’s lungs, they sustain all life, they preserve biodiversity, they regulate the water cycle and they support the livelihoods of millions across the globe.
Keeping our forests standing is vital, as they are one of our most powerful tools in protecting against climate change. At Sappi, we are passionate about taking innovative steps to protect the forests and to sustainably manage this ecosystem, so it thrives for generations to come.
The theme couldn’t be more relevant. Just yesterday, I took part in the Cepi Circular Choices panel discussion to talk about how European forests and the forest-based sector can develop integrated solutions for the global climate challenge on a vast scale. We opened a frank discussion on how European innovation together with the bioeconomy can lead to building open strategic autonomy in Europe with the aim to unleash the potential of technologies in our sector to accelerate decarbonisation efforts. We have a great future if we embrace change and courage!
