Unlocking the power of blockchain for sustainable packaging

Concern is rising worldwide about the environmental impact of non-recyclable and non-biodegradable packaging. As a bio-based material, paper products are a vital alternative. To deliver sustainable paper packaging solutions, however, we must ensure that the wood is sourced responsibly from well-managed forests.

This requires forest certification and a high level of transparency and incorruptible tracking systems. With Project Trado, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is testing the use of blockchain technology to reinforce chain of custody systems.

Trado is designed to create a real-time view into certification at origin and a single source of truth using blockchain technology. If realised, it can result in fairer distribution of benefits along a product supply chain as well as higher visibility into the sustainable attributes of packaging.

Project Trado brought Sappi together with major global brands (Sainsbury's, BNP Paribas, Unilever, Barclays, Standard Chartered and Rabobank) to explore how a new model of blockchain and other data-sharing technologies can enhance the sustainability of global supply chains without increasing production costs. It's all part of of our effort to pursue practical innovation that can move us towards the thriving world and sustainable future we envisage.

Testing Trado in Malawi

The Trado model was piloted with smallholder tea farmers in Malawi, showing how sustainability in end-to-end supply chains can look at every aspect from the tea farmers' products right down to the product packaging sitting on supermarket shelves. Sappi's contribution involved ensuring the traceability of the sustainable paper packaging.

The tea farmers were offered financial incentives in return for feeding social and ecological data into the blockchain. The model could potentially pay for some of the investments needed to establish traceability across supply chains, although further investigation is needed to scope the model’s ability to do this while still benefitting smallholders. Trado hopes to use Malawi's experience as a blueprint for replication, development and experimentation in other contexts.

The project represents a significant step towards technology-driven innovation to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It shows how collaboration between corporates, financial institutions and fintech firms can harness new technology for a fairer and more just world.

Read the latest Trado report.

Our sustainability targets for a thriving world

We’re unlocking the power of trees to make every day more sustainable – for the customers we serve, the communities where we operate and the planet we all call home.

The road to decarbonisation runs through Europe

The EU and its Member States are leading the world towards the sustainable, low-carbon future agreed in the Paris Climate Accord and recently affirmed in the European Green Deal.

Working together for sustainable sourcing in Europe

Since we don’t own forestland in Europe, we work closely with our partners to uphold our responsible sourcing practices and encourage sustainable forestry.

How trees fight climate change

By reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and scaling up nature-based solutions, Sappi is increasingly part of the solution to climate change.

Responsibility: packing it into our products

Consumers around the world are concerned about the effect of plastic-based packaging on the world’s oceans and on the climate. Paper packaging is a renewable, sustainable alternative.

How paper is made

While the basics of papermaking process has changed very little over the centuries, woodfibre only became the main raw material for mass paper production in the mid-19th century. The key advantage of using woodfibre is that it is a natural renewable resource.

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2023 Sappi Annual Integrated Report