#ItsInOurHands

Our children are living proof of sustainability – they are our future. And they too should have the chance to have the intact environment that we were able to experience. But will our children really be able to look forward to a carefree future? After all, we treat our planet as if we had another one in reserve. What fears and worries will our children grow up with? Do they have the chance of a future without worries?

Helmut Glaßl, artist and aphorist, is absolutely right when he muses: „We are still producing too much waste. Should we not finally produce something which makes sense?“ It is true that household waste still represents one of the greatest challenges for environmental protection. And yet, a sustainable solution is available: production using what is known as a closed loop system draws on recycling to save resources and reduce waste.

Austria on the road to success: the latest figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) confirm that the Austrian forest industry is on the right track. Along with Sweden, Latvia and Denmark, Austria is one of the pioneers when it comes to sustainable forest management.

The „Woods Most Wanted“ for the production of the sustainable specialty VEOCEL™ fibers are beech wood and spruce: at the Upper-Austrian site of Lenzing AG mainly beech wood and spruce are processed. At the second site, in Paskov, it is spruce.

#ItsInOurHands is celebrating its birthday: precisely one year ago, Lenzing presented the initiative for the very first time. The intention was and continues to be to make people aware of an environmental problem which is underestimated all over the world, to promote the exchange of ideas and present alternatives. A lot has happened in the last 12 months in the world of single-use plastic. These changes will also have an impact on wet wipes aiming at reducing the use of fossil-based plastic fibers in the former. Before we start to shape the future together, it is worth taking a look at the past.

The forest fulfils several functions all at once: it is a source of inspiration and a recreational area for people. It supplies the versatile and sustainable raw material, wood. It is a home to animals and plants alike and helps to combat climate change by absorbing CO2. For many people it is, moreover, an important source of income.

When it comes to wood purchasing, Lenzing leaves nothing to chance, it is in direct contact with over 700 suppliers, and only purchases wood certified or controlled according to the strictest standards.

With the single-use plastic guideline, the EU is taking a clear stance and resolves: something finally has to change so that we can protect our environment. This includes a standardized labelling for single-use plastic in wet wipes or feminine hygiene products. It has to be clear for consumers how products are to be disposed of and whether they contain single-use plastic.

Dr. Dimitri Deheyn is a leading marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. In her guest article Evelyn Höllrigl from little paper plane asked him a couple of question regarding the current situation and if there is still hope.

Evelyn Höllrigl from little paper plane knows: Plastic has become a dilemma. We are addicted to this world where everything revolves quickly, in which everything is replaceable and cheap. That is the reason why particularly single-use plastic has become a dilemma. But we have also found solutions.

#ItsInOurHands in conversation with Dipl.-Phys.Ing.​​​​​​​ Michael Carus from the nova-Institute

For less fossil-based single-use plastic in our environment: Wood is the solution. By definition of the EU, wood-based cellulose fibers could also be classified as plastic in the future. This is why Evelyn Höllrigl has started her own petition. Let's work together to ensure that wood stays wood!