Mondi and WWF extend strategic partnership by three years

Press release
4 September, 2017
Share article

Further commitment to sustaining ecosystems agreed

Vienna, 5 September 2017 – Mondi Group and WWF International announced today that they have renewed their global partnership for a further three years.

In 2014 Mondi entered into a three-year global partnership with WWF, focusing on promoting environmental stewardship in the packaging and paper sector. This global partnership has now been extended by another three years, becoming the longest standing WWF International partnership of its kind.

This partnership evolved from the collaboration between Mondi and WWF South Africa through  the WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme, and is a clear signal that Mondi is committed to demonstrating that responsible environmental stewardship makes good business sense.

Phase II of the partnership will embed and extend Mondi’s stewardship of forests, climate & energy and freshwater, with the work being organised around three areas:

  • Ecosystem Stewardship – with special focus on sustainable forestry development in north west Russia and collective water stewardship activities in South Africa.
  • Manufacturing Stewardship – to demonstrate Mondi’s ongoing commitment to reducing its freshwater footprint, and its contribution to a low-carbon economy by further reducing Mondi’s energy footprint.
  • Product Stewardship – via responsible sourcing of wood and fibre, and working to increase the availability of credibly certified fibre.

Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International says “Forests are providing some of the most vital nature services that underpin the global economy and are critical for supporting the lives and prosperity of local people, communities and humanity globally. If protected and managed responsibly these key ecosystems can continue to provide economic and social benefits now and for future generations, while contributing to the local and global ecological balance essential to all life on Earth.  The partnership with Mondi focuses on achieving this, and we are very excited to take forward this new phase of collaboration."

Peter Oswald, Mondi Group CEO says, “This international partnership contributes to our goal of growing responsibly and sharing best practice in our industry. We’ve worked closely with WWF for many years and this partnership continues to give us a great platform for exploring sustainable solutions with a trusted partner. The work of the partnership is focused on the future and as we celebrate Mondi’s 50 th anniversary this year, we’re able to recognise our past successes while firmly keeping our focus on the future.”

Ultimately, this partnership is working to ensure that forests continue to be an ongoing sustainable source of fibre within a world enriched by extensive, resilient forest landscapes benefiting biodiversity, climate and human well-being.

Contact:

Mondi                          

Lora Rossler
Group Head of Communications
Tel: +27 83 627 0292
Email: lora.rossler@mondigroup.com

 

WWF

Sindiswa Nobula
Communication Manager, Global Partnerships
Tel: +27 82 658 6985
Email: snobula@wwfint.org

About WWF

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries.  WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit  panda.org/news  for latest news and media resources.

 

About Mondi

We are Mondi: IN TOUCH EVERY DAY

Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, employing around 25,000 people across more than 30 countries. Our key operations are located in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. In 2016, Mondi had revenues of €6.7 billion and a return on capital employed of 20.3%.

We are fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain - from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and compound plastics, to developing effective and innovative industrial and consumer packaging solutions. With over 100 products customised into more than 100,000 solutions, we offer more than you may expect. Leading brands around the world rely on our innovative technologies and products across a variety of industries such as agriculture; automotive; building and construction; chemicals and dangerous goods; food and beverages; graphic and photographic; home and personal care; medical and pharmaceutical; office and professional printing; packaging and paper converting; pet care; retail and e-commerce; and shipping and transport.

We believe sustainable development makes good business sense. It's integral to our responsible and profitable growth, and embedded in everything we do, every day. We continue to look for ways to do more with less, promote the responsible management of ecosystems, develop and inspire our people, and enhance the value that our sustainable product solutions create.

Mondi has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI. We have been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007.