PaperAge Magazine

AF&PA Celebrates 60th Anniversary of National Forest Products Week

Forest Products - tissue and paper towels "From tissue and paper towels, to packaging around the goods you ordered online, to the cups holding your coffee, paper and wood products contribute to our everyday lives." – Heidi Brock, President and CEO, AF&PA.

Oct. 19, 2020 - American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement recognizing the 60th anniversary of National Forest Products Week (October 18 - 24):

"This week, during National Forest Products Week, we celebrate the undeniable value of the 950,000 people who work in the forest products industry – working safely to make essential products.

"From tissue and paper towels, to packaging around the goods you ordered online, to the cups holding your coffee, paper and wood products contribute to our everyday lives. And, demand for these products encourages forest landowners to grow and replant trees, keeping forests as forests.

"The forest products industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in America, accounting for roughly four percent of U.S. manufacturing GDP and employs people in rural and urban communities across 45 states. Dedicated employees form the foundation of our industry, and because of them, we are leading on one of the most comprehensive sets of quantifiable sustainability goals of any U.S. manufacturing industry – our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative. The contributions of individuals have helped our industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use, improve energy efficiency, increase paper recycling, and advance workplace safety and sustainable forestry.

"National Forest Products Week provides a welcome stage to celebrate and share the compelling story behind our people, and spotlight how their work makes a difference for our planet."

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020.

The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $300 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.

SOURCE: AF&PA