SCA achieves CDP 2025 ‘Double A’ rating for a drastic change in forests

 Monday, December 29, 2025

SCA is on the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2025 A-List for Forests and Climate Change. With this “Double A” rating, which is the highest possible grade from the top environmental disclosure platform in the world, SCA is now among the select few multinational corporations known for their complete transparency and quantifiable environmental effect.

The 2025 evaluation, which assessed over 24,000 organisations worldwide, highlights SCA as a frontrunner in the transition toward a fossil-free future. For a forestry giant that manages Europe’s largest private forest holding, this recognition is more than just an award—it is a validation of a business model where industrial growth is inextricably linked to ecosystem health.

The CDP rating scale ranges from D to A, with the “A” grade reserved for companies that demonstrate “Leadership.” To reach this status in 2025, companies had to prove they have implemented robust climate transition plans, verified Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and established science-based targets (SBTs) that align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.

“Being included on the A-List is a very clear confirmation that our sustainability work meets international top standards,” says Ulf Larsson, President and CEO of SCA. “Our business is built on responsibly growing and managing our forests while generating significant climate benefits. CDP’s assessment confirms that we have robust strategies, clear governance, and work that delivers real results.”

SCA’s sustainability strategy is centered on the unique ability of the boreal forest to act as a massive carbon sink. In 2024 and 2025, the company further intensified its efforts to maximise this “climate benefit,” which currently offsets millions of tonnes of CO2 annually.

The CDP “A” for Climate recognises SCA’s success in:

• Carbon sequestration: Active management that ensures net growth in forest stands exceeds harvest volumes.
• Fossil-free operations: Continuous investment in renewable energy and electric logistics to minimise the industrial carbon footprint.
• Product substitution: Replacing fossil-based materials (like plastic and steel) with renewable wood-based alternatives.

While “Climate” focuses on emissions, the “Forests” A-List specifically rewards companies that eliminate deforestation from their supply chains and actively promote forest health. For SCA, this involves a landscape-level approach where approximately 20% of productive forest land is managed specifically for nature conservation or left entirely untouched.

“We invest long-term in our forests and their ability to sequester carbon, strengthen biodiversity, and provide renewable raw materials,” Larsson explains. “For us, sustainability is about responsible management in every single action, as well as the bigger picture at a landscape level over time.”

Key initiatives contributing to the 2025 Forest score include:

1. Prescribed burning: Mimicking natural fire cycles to support species that depend on charred wood.
2. Wetland restoration: Rewetting drained peatlands to prevent carbon leakage and boost local biodiversity.
3. High-precision silviculture: Using AI and LiDAR data to ensure minimal soil impact during harvesting operations.

As global regulations like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) come into full effect in 2025, the CDP A-List has become a critical benchmark for the financial sector. According to CDP data, companies on the A-List often outperform their peers in market capitalisation, as transparency reduces long-term risk and attracts green capital.

For SCA’s customers—ranging from global packaging firms to renewable energy providers—the A-List status offers third-party assurance that the raw materials they source are part of a circular, ethical, and climate-positive supply chain.

Despite the achievement, SCA remains focused on its ambitious 2030 targets. The company aims to increase its total climate benefit to 15 million tonnes of CO2 per year by the end of the decade.

“Being recognized in this way gives us both pride and renewed motivation,” adds Larsson. “Swedish forestry has long contributed to global sustainability development, and we continue to take responsibility—from the long-term value of nature to the climate benefits we create every day through our products.”²

As the world looks for scalable solutions to the climate crisis, SCA’s performance in 2025 serves as a blueprint for how traditional industries can evolve into pillars of a modern, green economy.

Read more news on: supply chain

Get such updates through woodandpanel.us

Tags: bioeconomy, CA Forestry, carbon sequestration, CDP A-List 2025, climate action, ESG Leadership, responsible forest management, sustainable forestry Sweden