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  • Overall approach
    1/14
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/6
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      0/1
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "WestRock supports and promotes sustainable land stewardship practices that integrate the growing and harvesting of trees with the protection and conservation of: soil, air and water quality; biological diversity; wildlife and aquatic habitats; recreational and aesthetic properties; and forests with high conservation value."
      Open source document
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/3
  • Commodity score
    36/86
    • Pulp & Paper
      36/86
      • Commitment Strength
        16/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          10/15
          • Commitment details
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Forest-related commitment
            6/8
            Certification schemes mentioned: FSC; PEFC
            Type of commitment: Protects priority forests; Certification
            Westrock will "avoid purchasing raw wood fiber from sources [...] Causing significant conversion of high conservation value forests to plantations or non-forest use, unless the conversion results in net social or environmental gain", and "is committed to maintain certifications to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Requirements for the (2015-2019) Program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) FSC-C104002, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)" among others.
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Westrock will "avoid purchasing raw wood fiber from sources [...] Causing significant conversion of high conservation value forests to plantations or non-forest use, unless the conversion results in net social or environmental gain", and "is committed to maintain certifications to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Requirements for the (2015-2019) Program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) FSC-C104002, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)" among others.
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Westrock will "avoid purchasing raw wood fiber from sources [...] Causing significant conversion of high conservation value forests to plantations or non-forest use, unless the conversion results in net social or environmental gain", and "is committed to maintain certifications to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Requirements for the (2015-2019) Program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) FSC-C104002, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)" among others.
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Westrock will "avoid purchasing raw wood fiber from sources [...] Causing significant conversion of high conservation value forests to plantations or non-forest use, unless the conversion results in net social or environmental gain", and "is committed to maintain certifications to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Requirements for the (2015-2019) Program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) FSC-C104002, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)" among others.
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Westrock will "avoid purchasing raw wood fiber from sources [...] Causing significant conversion of high conservation value forests to plantations or non-forest use, unless the conversion results in net social or environmental gain", and "is committed to maintain certifications to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Requirements for the (2015-2019) Program, the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) FSC-C104002, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™)" among others.
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2025
            0.3/1.3
            Target date
            2025
            0.3/1.3
            " Increase purchases of virgin fiber from lands certified to internationally recognized forest management standards by 25% by 2025"
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Target is quantifiable
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            " Increase purchases of virgin fiber from lands certified to internationally recognized forest management standards by 25% by 2025"
            Open source document
        • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
          6/11
          • Commitment details
            Yes
            4/4
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            4/4
            Type of commitment: Recycled content
            "As an integral part to the entire life cycle of your material, WestRock brings a level of fiber expertise to the process that few companies can match.We collect or accept materials for recycling.We process and recycle the fiber (fiber can be recycled 5-7 times).We put that fiber back into the manufacturing process (half of it goes to our own mills).We also provide virgin fiber for the process.We make new boxes and other material.This material goes back into the marketplaceWe re-collect the used material.And the process starts over". 
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            "As an integral part to the entire life cycle of your material, WestRock brings a level of fiber expertise to the process that few companies can match.We collect or accept materials for recycling.We process and recycle the fiber (fiber can be recycled 5-7 times).We put that fiber back into the manufacturing process (half of it goes to our own mills).We also provide virgin fiber for the process.We make new boxes and other material.This material goes back into the marketplaceWe re-collect the used material.And the process starts over". 
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            Yes
            1/1
            "As an integral part to the entire life cycle of your material, WestRock brings a level of fiber expertise to the process that few companies can match.We collect or accept materials for recycling.We process and recycle the fiber (fiber can be recycled 5-7 times).We put that fiber back into the manufacturing process (half of it goes to our own mills).We also provide virgin fiber for the process.We make new boxes and other material.This material goes back into the marketplaceWe re-collect the used material.And the process starts over". 
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
            "As an integral part to the entire life cycle of your material, WestRock brings a level of fiber expertise to the process that few companies can match.We collect or accept materials for recycling.We process and recycle the fiber (fiber can be recycled 5-7 times).We put that fiber back into the manufacturing process (half of it goes to our own mills).We also provide virgin fiber for the process.We make new boxes and other material.This material goes back into the marketplaceWe re-collect the used material.And the process starts over". 
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
            "As an integral part to the entire life cycle of your material, WestRock brings a level of fiber expertise to the process that few companies can match.We collect or accept materials for recycling.We process and recycle the fiber (fiber can be recycled 5-7 times).We put that fiber back into the manufacturing process (half of it goes to our own mills).We also provide virgin fiber for the process.We make new boxes and other material.This material goes back into the marketplaceWe re-collect the used material.And the process starts over". 
            Open source document
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
      • Reporting and Implementation
        15/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          4/6
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            2/2
            64.4% of the fibre managed at Westrock mills was recycled.
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            2/2
            "The 54,505-hectare (134,684 acres) land base we own in Brazil is certified to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and CERFLOR® standards."
            Open source document
        • Reporting is independently verified
          1/4
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            1.3/1.3
            certification
            "The 54,505-hectare (134,684 acres) land base we own in Brazil is certified to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and CERFLOR® standards."
            Open source document
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          "Engage in education programs and training efforts to encourage landowners to:  Use scientific, credible sustainable forestry practices;  Regenerate forests after harvest and establish new forests on non-forest lands  Maintain and improve long-term forest growth and soil productivity;  Protect water bodies and the land that borders them;  Protect special sites and biological diversity;  Incorporate aesthetic consideration into activities where visual impacts are a concern;  Control invasive exotic plants, animals and insects;  Manage lands of special significance in a manner appropriate to their unique qualities;  Manage harvest residue which considers economic, social and environmental factors and other utilization needs;  Reduce wildfire risk;  Use qualified logging professionals; and  Implement guidance for Forests with Exceptional "Conservation Value. "
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes
          4/4
          Accessible grievance mechanism
          Yes
          4/4
          Both
          Westrock have a publicly accessible grievance mechanism for their supply chain.
          Open source document
        • Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Providing support/advice/experience/expertise; Providing technical capacity
          Westrock have partnered with Digimarc and EVRYTHNG to increase the potential for recycling cardboard boxes to package new products.
          Open source document
        • Report volumes of commodity
          Partial
          2/4
          Report volumes of commodity
          Partial
          2/4
          Westrock used 40160613 tons of natural and recycled fibre in 2018.
          Open source document
      • Social Considerations
        5/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/4
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          Westrock require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Discrimination/Gender Rights/Harassment
          1/4
          Westrock suppliers must ensure their workers' rights to be free from discrimination based on gender.
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
  • Commitment strength
    16/36
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    15/34
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    5/16
    Avg. score

Profile

WestRock manufactures and sells paper and packaging solutions on a global scale, and is ranked 194th on the 2018 Fortune 500 list by revenue in the United States.

Sector
Industry sector 
Paper & packaging, Forestry
Segments
Processor
HQ
HQ 
United States
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.