Skip to main content

American Forest & Paper Association Sets Advocacy Agenda for 2024

Priorities Focus on Preserving American Manufacturing Through Reasonable and Sustainable Policies

WASHINGTON — The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Board of Directors announced key advocacy priorities for 2024.

“The paper and wood products industry continues to strengthen its leadership in sustainability, safety and environmental stewardship, as evidenced by more than a decade of Better Practices, Better Planet sustainability achievements and our forward-looking 2030 commitments,” said Howard Coker, AF&PA Board Chair and Sonoco President and CEO.

"It is critical that both state and federal policies not jeopardize access to essential paper products or hinder countless modernization projects for our industry."

This year, several regulatory and policy challenges face both the paper and wood products industry and the U.S. manufacturing sector.

“The growing regulatory burden, including recent EPA air regulations, are threatening U.S. manufacturing jobs and the economy. Meanwhile extended producer responsibility policies and the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation stand to impede our focus on a circular value chain,” said Heidi Brock, AF&PA President and CEO.

Brock continued, “As a condition of membership, AF&PA members are committed to sustainable forest management and sourcing wood fiber from responsibly managed forests. Our industry champions sustainable practices, like the use of renewable biomass energy."

"We believe all Americans benefit when policies are both achievable and sustainable, with the ultimate goal of preserving access to the paper-based products people need and use every day around the world.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030