Sustainability expectations across the paper and packaging supply chain are evolving rapidly. Buyers are no longer satisfied with broad commitments or general statements about environmental responsibility. They increasingly expect structured data, comparable metrics, and credible documentation that clearly demonstrate how products perform.

A significant portion of environmental claims in the marketplace lack sufficient supporting evidence or verification, which has contributed to growing skepticism around sustainability messaging. In response, regulators are tightening requirements. Authorities such as the Competition Bureau Canada and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) emphasize that environmental claims must be clear, substantiated, and supported by evidence, rather than relying on broad or ambiguous language.

·US - FTC Green Guides (environmental marketing claims)

·Canada - Competition Bureau – Environmental claims & greenwashing

In this environment, structured environmental disclosure is no longer optional - it is becoming essential.

The Role of EPDs and Industry Tools

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide a standardized, science-based way to communicate environmental performance. Built on life-cycle assessment (LCA) and independently verified, EPDs quantify impacts such as carbon footprint, energy use, and water consumption.

In practical terms, an EPD functions as a standardized sustainability scorecard, enabling meaningful, apples-to-apples comparisons between products.

Within the paper industry, EPD-like tools such as EPAT (Environmental Paper Assessment Tool) and Paper Profile are widely used to present environmental performance in a consistent and comparable format. These tools translate complex environmental data into structured metrics that procurement teams can evaluate with confidence.

For manufacturers already investing in sustainability, this level of transparency is critical. It transforms environmental performance from a general claim into a measurable and defensible business advantage.

Winning More Business with Credible Environmental Data

Procurement teams are under increasing pressure to validate sustainability claims across their supply chains. As a result, environmental performance is becoming a formal component of supplier evaluation, not just a marketing consideration.

Suppliers that can provide structured, verified data are better positioned to compete.

For example, participation in EPAT allows manufacturers to report on more than 35 ESG metrics, including energy use, emissions intensity, fiber sourcing, and water management. Instead of relying on general sustainability messaging, suppliers can present performance in a format that aligns directly with how buyers assess risk and value.

In a market where sustainability data is increasingly required, credibility becomes a differentiator. Suppliers that can demonstrate performance clearly and consistently are more likely to gain buyer trust - and win business.

Benchmarking Against Industry Peers

One of the most significant advantages of standardized tools is the ability to benchmark performance across the industry.

Without standardization, environmental data is often presented in inconsistent formats, making meaningful comparisons difficult. Different methodologies, metrics, and levels of detail create confusion for both suppliers and buyers.

Tools like EPAT addresses this challenge by providing a common framework for environmental indicators. This allows suppliers to:

·Understand how their performance compares to industry norms

·Identify areas of leadership or improvement

·Track progress over time using consistent metrics

Importantly, benchmarking does not require disclosing competitor-specific data. Instead, it provides an aggregated view of industry performance, offering valuable strategic insight while maintaining confidentiality.

Preparing for Increasing Regulatory and Buyer Demands

The direction of global supply chains is clear: environmental information must be structured, traceable, verifiable, and accessible.

Regulations such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) are raising expectations for environmental transparency. These requirements are extending beyond large corporations to include suppliers throughout the value chain.

At the same time, buyers are integrating environmental performance directly into procurement decisions, using data to assess risk, compliance, and alignment with corporate sustainability goals.

Participation in tools like EPAT provides a practical way to prepare for this shift. It helps suppliers organize environmental data, align with emerging standards, and respond effectively to both regulatory and customer expectations.

Turning Environmental Performance into a Business Advantage

EPDs and standardized sustainability scorecards enable companies to translate complex environmental data into information that procurement teams can use, compare, and trust.

By adopting these tools, suppliers can:

·Differentiate themselves in a competitive market

·Identify and implement operational improvements

·Communicate performance with credibility

·Benchmark against industry peers

·Prepare for evolving regulatory requirements

As sustainability becomes an integral part of purchasing decisions, the ability to provide clear, verified environmental data is no longer a “nice to have”- it is a competitive necessity.

Paper and paper-based packaging manufacturers that invest early in structured environmental reporting will be better positioned not only to meet expectations, but to lead in an increasingly data-driven and transparency-focused market.

For more on EPAT, go to www.epat.org or contact info@epat.org.