WWF A historical collaboration

Sofidel has identified the WWF as a first-level, reliable partner thanks to its history, international profile and widely acknowledged prestige. Contact with the environmental organisation was first made in 2007.

Working together for sustainable growth

In November 2008, the Group joined WWF’s Climate Savers international programme as the first Italian manufacturer and the first company in the world from the tissue industry. The agreement includes precise goals to reduce climate-altering emissions and increase clean energy in the production process, as well as a system for regular monitoring and assessment of the results achieved by a third party.

Sofidel has undertaken, by 2020, to:

  • Reduce by 23% its direct emissions of CO2 per tonne of paper produced with respect to 2009 levels. This means the abatement of approximately 900,000 tonnes of CO2, equal to the emissions of a fleet of 10,000 articulated lorries travelling 10,000 km a year for 10 years;
  • Limit by 13% indirect emissions of CO2 (caused by third parties within the value chain) per tonne of paper produced with respect to 2010 values;
  • Reach 8% of energy from renewable sources on the quantity of fuel consumed annually.

In 2020, Sofidel reduced its direct CO2 emissions by 24% (carbon intensity reduction, 2009-2020), meeting and exceeding the 23% target it set 11 years ago.
In 2020, Sofidel has had its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets to 2030 (scopes 1 and 2) approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2°C, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Improvement in the procurement of forestry resources

Another area of collaboration with WWF was the development of a strategy to improve the forest procurement process – in terms of the of certified sources (used as raw materials in the production process) – and transparency in reporting to stakeholders. Since 2016, 100% of the pulp used in the production process is certified by independent third parties with forest certification schemes (FSC®, FSC Controlled Wood and PEFC™). Much of the Sofidel Group tissue paper products in the Consumer and Private Label industries bear the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) mark. The Group was also among the signatories of the declaration “Statement of support from businesses for an effective EU law to halt the trade in commodities and products linked to deforestation and conversion” published on 25 May 2021 in which more than 40 European companies call for effective EU legislation to protect forests and natural ecosystems.

The education programme
“I’ll Take Care of You”

An initiative particularly worthy of note is the environmental education programme “I’ll Take Care of You” (“Mi Curo di Te”) launched in 2014 and available for free to Italian primary and secondary schools. The initiative focuses on three major issues related to “water”, “climate” and “forests” – explained, from 2019, in light of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ambassadors of the 50th Anniversary of WWF Italy

The relationship of close cooperation between Sofidel and WWF was further consolidated in 2016 with the appointment of Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of the Sofidel Group, as Ambassador of the 50th Anniversary of WWF in Italy.

An S.O.S. (Safe Operating Space) for a sustainable human future

In the summer of 2017, the Group was one of the first signatories of the Manifesto-Appeal “An S.O.S. (Safe Operating Space) for a sustainable human future” launched by WWF Italy on the occasion of the “Aurelio Peccei Lecture 2017” at the Chamber of Deputies. By signing the Manifesto (inspired by economist Kate Raworth’s “Doughnut Economics” theory) – which defines social and environmental boundaries within which there will be greater safety and justice, and therefore true sustainable development – Sofidel has committed itself to contributing to raising awareness of the importance of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Sofidel’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets to 2030 (scopes 1 and 2) have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2°C, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Specifically, Sofidel has committed to:

  • reduce scope 1, 2, and scope 3 emissions from suppliers’ pulping process 40% per ton of paper by 2030 from a 2018 base year; 
  • reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 24% per ton of paper by 2030 from a 2018 base year.

The target boundary includes biogenic emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. Sofidel’s commitment to achieving the 2030 SBTi targets will be pursued through the substantial use of renewable electric power, either self-produced or purchased through energy tracking systems, such as Power Purchase Agreements (e.g., the RWE wind farm in Alcamo), Guarantees of Origin (GO) or other renewable energy certification systems (RECS), and the increasing introduction of systems to optimize energy consumption at its production sites.

Forests Forward

Sofidel is also among the first companies to join the multi-stakeholder initiative Forests Forward”, launched in June 2021 by WWF internationally. The goal of “Forests Forward” is to accelerate the environmental sustainability commitments of companies and investors globally, recognizing the value of forests not only for the raw materials they provide but also for the ecosystem services that benefit people, the economy, nature as well as to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity. Specific attention is also given to local forest management in tropical and subtropical countries in order to protect the role of indigenous communities in forest conservation.

Researches and reports

Sofidel supports WWF’s commitment to research, participating to some of the main periodical publications of the organisation, such as the Italian edition of the “Living Planet Report”, the biennial research that takes stock of the state of Earth’s natural systems and possible solutions to lead our societies towards sustainable development. Moreover, the Group voluntarily participates to the WWF’s Environmental Paper Company Index (EPCI) report, the biennial tool proposed by the environmental organisation to the companies in the pulp and tissue paper industry to assess their environmental commitment and transparency.

Earth Hour

The Group has supported WWF, as the “Main Partner” for Italy, in several editions of the “Earth Hour” (“L’Ora della Terra”), the global mobilisation to raise public awareness of the effects of climate change, and participated in the event with various initiatives that also saw the shutdown of the electric signs of the Group’s production plants.