Birla Cellulose of the Aditya Birla Group has been Ranked #1 by the Canada based environmental not-for-profit Canopy Planet Society in the Hot Button report 2019. Canopy ranks the viscose producers for their sustainable forestry policies and next generation solutions. 

Aditya Birla Group’s Birla Cellulose has been accorded a ‘light green shirt with dark green shading’ in the Hot Button Report, for the sustainable forestry policies applied and indicating low risks to ancient and endangered forests from its operations. The ranking affirms the leadership of Aditya Birla Group in its sustainable forestry practices within the viscose industry. 

Canopy’s Hot Button Report evaluates the global producers of viscose and ranks them on the sustainability aspects of their raw material sourcing practices. The criteria of ranking include protection of ancient and endangered forests, innovations in alternate raw material developments and supporting global forest conservation solutions. The viscose producers are inspected and awarded ‘green buttons’ based on parameters such as completion of CanopyStyle audits, social accountability related to forestry, transparency and traceability.

“Birla Cellulose believes that sustainable management of forests are extremely important for protection of ancient and endangered forests, biodiversity as well as to fight against climate change. Sustainably managed forests not only provide us with means of livelihood but can also help to replace fossil fuel based products such as synthetic fibers which are non-biodegradable and cause land and water pollution. Viscose fibres are natural fibers derived from renewable forests and give an unmatched comfort and feel. The Aditya Birla Group firmly believes that protection and preservation of ancient forests is its responsibility and also continues to work on the new generation solutions for recycling of waste fabrics as a feedstock for viscos making</strong >” Dilip Gaur, Business Director – Global Pulp & Fibre Business and Managing Director – Grasim Industries Ltd., a flagship company of Aditya Birla Group.

In the year 2019, Birla Cellulose has evaluated its carbon footprint and it was the first viscose producer to be carbon neutral in scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This was achieved as the carbon sequestered due to net positive growth of the forests directly managed by Birla Cellulose completely neutralizes the scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions of all its manufacturing sites around the world. Also, Birla Cellulose sources 100% of its wood from controlled sources and a stringent sourcing policy, complying to FSC®, SFI® and PEFC™ standard is applied to all its sites. All the sites are FSC® chain of custody certified and Birla Cellulose provides complete traceability of wood from forest to fashion to its discerning customers. 

It is heartening to see the broad impact of Canopy’s initiatives that more than 200+ brands, retailers and designers have committed towards protection of ancient and endangered forests and sustainable forestry by working on their sourcing policy of viscose preference to viscose producers with higher ranks in the Hot Button Report. It is also encouraging to see more viscose producers getting the green shirt rating, indicating that the viscose industry is going through a very positive transition towards a more sustainable viscose. Viscose comes from the nature and goes back to the nature as it is fully bio-degradable, it is produced using closed loop manufacturing process and it is among the most sustainable choice of fibre for textile applications.

Leadership in Canopy’s 2020 Hot Button Ranking is another step towards our aspiration of being the leader in the Sustainable Business Practices in the viscose industry. Birla Cellulose has continually improved its score every time in the last four years, while maintaining our leadership position. Our next steps would be to further built on these strengths and collaborate proactively with our value chain partners to further improvements.

Birla Cellulose has developed innovative technologies to recycle pre-consumer wastes and has actively taken part in the movement of using alternate means of raw material for the generation of its products and encouraging circular economy in the industry. This has been immensely beneficial in successfully catapulting the company to the highest spot in the market.

Link to The Hot Button Report: https://hotbutton.canopyplanet.org/company/aditya-birla/

For further details, visit www.adityabirla.com and www.birlacellulose.com

About Aditya Birla Group

A US $48.3 billion corporation, the Aditya Birla Group is in the League of Fortune 500. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 120,000 employees belonging to 42 nationalities, and operations span 36 countries in North and South America, Africa and Asia. The Group is built on a strong foundation of stakeholder value creation. With over seven decades of responsible business practices, our businesses have grown into global powerhouses in a wide range of sectors – metals, pulp and fibre, chemicals, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement.

About Birla Cellulose 

Birla Cellulose, is one of the global leaders in the viscose industry and a part of the USD 48.3 billion Aditya Birla Group’s Pulp & Fibre Business. With 12 manufacturing units and 5 R&D centers in six countries, it has grown steadily over the last six decades to achieve leading position in the industry. The business derives its competitive edge from its integrated business model, which spans the entire value chain – forestry, dissolving grade wood pulp, materials such as carbon-disulphide and caustic soda, and downstream operations such as textile value chain partnerships and consumer products.