• Driver of nature change: Pollution/pollution removal

    Pollutants released to soil split by type (C2.0)

    Pollutants released to soil (tonnes) by type, referring to sector-specific guidance on types of pollutants. Pollutants to report under the core global disclosure metric include:

    • Pesticides from forestry operations;
    • Nitrogen;
      • Phosphorus;
    • Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and
    • Ash (e.g. from boilers in processing and manufacturing activities).

    In determining which pollutants to report, an organisation should consider:

    • The FAO and WHO definitions of highly hazardous pesticides, with an emphasis on extremely hazardous and highly hazardous pesticides (class 1A and 1B, respectively);
    • The chemicals included in the list of banned persistent organic pollutants (POPs) of the Stockholm Convention;
    • Other pollutants that are not inherently hazardous, but where significant quantities or poor disposal practices may be damaging, including fertilisers, wood debris and bark accumulation from forestry operations, non-recyclable paper, rejects from recycling processes or other solid waste; and
    • Pollutants of concern identified during engagement with stakeholder groups.

    Ashrafi et al. (2015); IFC (2007); OECD and UNEP (2013); UNEP and WHO (2016); The Stockholm Convention (2001); WBCSD-FSG (2022); WHO(2019); WRI and WBCSD (2015)

    OBJECTIVE 2. FOREST HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

    Performance Measure 2.2. Certified Organizations shall have a program to minimize chemical use required to achieve management objectives while protecting employees, neighbors, the public and the environment, including wildlife and aquatic habitats.

    Indicator 1. Pest management shall be implemented through the use of integrated pest management. 2. Minimized chemical use required to achieve management objectives. 3. Use of least-toxic and narrowest-spectrum pesticides necessary to achieve management objectives. 4. Use of pesticides registered for the intended use and applied in accordance with label requirements. 5. The World Health Organization (WHO) type 1A and 1B pesticides shall be prohibited, except where no other viable alternative is available. 6. Use of pesticides banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001) shall be prohibited. 7. Supervision of forest chemical applications by state- or provincially trained or certified applicators. 8. Use of management practices appropriate to the situation, such as: a. notification of adjoining landowners or nearby residents concerning applications and chemicals used; b. appropriate multilingual signs or oral warnings; c. control of public road access during and immediately after applications; d. designation of streamside and other needed buffer strips; e. use of positive shutoff and minimal-drift spray valves; f. aerial application of forest chemicals parallel to buffer zones to limit drift; g. monitoring of water quality or safeguards to ensure proper equipment use and protection of streams, lakes, and other water bodies; h. appropriate transportation and storage of chemicals; i. use of spill response plans and chemical spill kits; j. filing of required state or provincial reports; and/or k. use of methods to ensure protection of threatened and endangered species.

    Performance Measure 2.3. Certified Organizations shall implement practices that protect and maintain forest and soil productivity and soil health.

    Indicator 5. Practices that address harvesting and site preparation to protect soil productivity and soil health.

    Indicator 6. Road construction, skidding layout, and harvest plans designed to minimize impacts to soil productivity and soil health.