Forest Industry Released Sustainability Progress Report
The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations published data tracking global environmental performance.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Environmental
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The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations has released its 2026 Sustainability Progress Report, which outlines industry-wide metrics from 2022-2023. The report tracks performance across seven key sustainability areas against established historical baselines.
Why it matters
The report provides a quantitative measure of the global forest products sector's efforts to meet sustainability commitments and long-term climate goals. It serves as a benchmark for how the industry is balancing production needs with environmental and safety standards.
The report shows 66% of mill energy needs are currently met by biomass and renewable fuels, while the global recycling rate for paper and paperboard has reached 62%. Additionally, 51% of procured wood fibre originated from third-party certified sustainable forests.
The players
International Council of Forest and Paper Associations
The ICFPA is a global organization representing 16 national and regional forest and paper associations across 27 countries.
The details
The analysis, representing 16 associations across 27 countries, utilizes both quantitative performance indicators and qualitative case studies. It highlights that the global recordable incident rate for employees has fallen to 2.81 per 100 individuals annually.
Timeline
2000 served as the baseline year for wood fibre and recycling metrics.
2004/2005 marked the baseline year for energy and emission intensity data.
2006/2007 was used as the baseline year for health and safety tracking.
2022-2023 is the period covered by the latest progress report.
2026 is the year of the official report publication.
The Big Picture
The 2026 Sustainability Progress Report serves as the primary instrument for assessing industry adherence to global climate commitments. This document quantifies the industry's alignment with international environmental standards established in prior decades.
The industry's focus on sustainable forestry and increased reliance on renewable biomass could lead to more eco-friendly paper and packaging products for consumers. These shifts in production standards may also influence future pricing and availability of wood-based goods in the retail market.
The takeaway
The report underscores a consistent trend of reducing emissions and water intensity within the global paper manufacturing process. Readers should note that sustainable certification now covers over half of all procured wood fibre in this sector.
Further reading
For more on industry benchmarks, visit the Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Timberbiz.
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