HELSINKI (News release) -- UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have renewed their contract to build a smarter future beyond fossils together. During the new three-year contract period the collaboration will focus on promoting circular economy including waste management as well as sustainable forestry practices. To increase the engagement and support for both of these important initiatives facing today's challenges, this three-year contract is also set to engage UPM Raflatac's internal and external stakeholders.

"As part of UPM The Biofore Company, we are committed to building a sustainable, innovation-driven future and want to share our expertise and assets with the communities we operate in. UPM Raflatac is part of the packaging value chain and labels can play a key role in enabling circular economy in this value chain. Given the resource needs today, promoting sustainable forestry supports our journey beyond fossils," says Vera Bartsch, UPM Raflatac.

The amount of waste in Poland is increasing every year. Waste that is not recycled and reused has several negative consequences such as reduction of habitats due to land filling, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, to name a few. The goal of the Waste Management and Circular Economy initiative is to reduce the amount of packaging waste going to the environment. The project is based on three pillars: legislative changes, cooperation with businesses to make the transition towards circular economy and motivating and educating Polish consumers to drive the change.

"Succeeding in making the transition towards circular economy is only possible through the cooperation of various stakeholders. Cooperating with UPM Raflatac as a key stakeholder in the packaging value chain will create an opportunity to strive for bigger impact and achieve more in terms of circular economy development in Poland," says Ewa Chodkiewicz, WWF Poland.