AF&PA CEO, Global Forest Leaders Hold Talks in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China—The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) participated in the third CEO roundtable of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) held this month in Shanghai, China. More than 70 CEOs and association leaders attended the meeting to address issues of common interest including sustainability, climate change, and energy.

Representing U.S. interests at the roundtable were Jim Rubright, chairman and CEO, Rock-Tenn Co.; John Luke, chairman and CEO, MeadWestvaco; Peter Mertz, CEO and partner, Global Forest Partners; Alexander Toeldte, executive vice president, Boise Cascade; Renren Zhang, managing director, China, Weyerhaeuser Co.; and Donna Harman, acting president and CEO, AF&PA.

At the roundtable, industry representatives launched the first ever “Sustainability Update,” and affirmed their positive role in combating climate change. Members of ICFPA agreed to continue to improve their sustainability performance through a variety of initiatives, such as protecting forests against illegal logging and adopting paper recovery goals.

Of the meeting, Harman said, “The ICPFA is a valuable forum for representatives from all over the world to meet and discuss issues of importance to the forest products industry. It’s gratifying to work with our global partners and to reaffirm that, as an industry, we all share the same goals—to protect our natural resources while providing jobs and contributing to the global economy.”