Matt de Jongh is a passionate forester and advocate for sustainable forest management, championing the environmental, social, and economic benefits of responsibly sourced forest and wood-based products. With a deep belief in wood as the ultimate renewable material, Matt brings a practical and policy-driven perspective shaped by years working across both operational and strategic roles—particularly within regional and rural communities.

His career has been grounded in understanding how policy decisions affect people on the ground, and he is known for building strong, collaborative relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders. At Responsible Wood, Matt plays a key role in promoting the value of PEFC certification and fostering greater awareness of Australia's commitment to sustainable forestry.

It's about co-creation — creating a unified, evidence-based dialogue that empowers our industry to lead with confidence, consistency, and collective intelligence.

In this follow-up conversation, Matt de Jongh and Zaidee Jackson explore how certification helps brands meet the next wave of sustainability expectations.

Discover how PEFC & Responsible Wood certification:

• Substantiates ESG and climate-related claims
• Supports compliance with Australia's sustainability disclosure frameworks
• Encourages innovation and circular material design

From market access to brand trust — certification is the bridge between policy, purpose, and packaging.

https://www.responsiblewood.org.au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-de-jongh-301894117/

Matt de Jongh is a passionate forester and advocate for sustainable forest management, championing the environmental, social, and economic benefits of responsibly sourced forest and wood-based products. With a deep belief in wood as the ultimate renewable material, Matt brings a practical and policy-driven perspective shaped by years working across both operational and strategic roles—particularly within regional and rural communities.

His career has been grounded in understanding how policy decisions affect people on the ground, and he is known for building strong, collaborative relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders. At Responsible Wood, Matt plays a key role in promoting the value of PEFC certification and fostering greater awareness of Australia's commitment to sustainable forestry.

Sustainable packaging starts long before the print press — it begins in the forest.

Discover how Responsible Wood and PEFC are shaping the future of sustainable fibre.

In the first of a two-part Ecoporium by Ball & Doggett series, Matt de Jongh, Sustainability Manager at Responsible Wood, joins Zaidee Jackson to break down the essentials of forest certification.

As a forester, Matt has seen first hand how sustainable forest management safeguards biodiversity, supports regional economies, and ensures that fibre harvested today sustains future generations.

Together, we explore:

• The difference between virgin and recycled fibre — and why both have a place in circular design.
• How PEFC & Responsible Wood certification builds traceability and trust from forest to finished packaging.
• Why credible certification is key to deforestation-free claims and brand credibility.

Gain insight into:

• How PEFC certification safeguards Australia's 16 million hectares of managed forests
• The balance between virgin and recycled fibre
• What chain-of-custody means for printers, converters, and brand owners

https://www.responsiblewood.org.au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-de-jongh-301894117/

In this ecoporium conversation, Zaidee Jackson sits down with Tim Sykes, Brand Director of Packaging Europe, to discuss the evolution of the Sustainable Packaging Summit and its role in shaping global dialogue on packaging. Together, they unpack the EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), what it means for innovation, compliance, and circularity, and how Australia can learn from Europe's approach.

Tim Sykes is the Brand Director at Packaging Europe, the leading media platform for the international consumer packaged goods value chain. He has been with the organisation since 2006, guiding its evolution from a trade magazine into a multifaceted multimedia and events business.

In his role, Tim leads the development and delivery of key sustainability-focused initiatives, including the Sustainability Awards, a global competition recognising innovation in sustainable packaging, and the Sustainable Packaging Summit, a major industry forum.

Beyond his executive duties, he contributes to industry and environmental progress through voluntary roles. These include serving on advisory boards such as the HolyGrail 2.0 Advisory Group, being on the jury for the Packaging Innovation Awards, being a board member of AIPIA, and mentoring emerging talent in the packaging sector.

Tim is known for his strong interest in the strategic, technological, and regulatory challenges of packaging sustainability, particularly how innovation, material design, digitisation and consumer experience can play a role.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tim-sykes

https://packagingeurope.com/

https://www.packagingsummit.earth/2025/begin?code=Ball%26Doggett

https://www.linkedin.com/company/packaging-europe