The Navigator Company has hosted its second sustainability event to high acclaim – Navigator, on the Right Side of the Future – welcoming 70 international guests to the Herdade de Espirra estate in Portugal.
Delegates from across the paper, print, packaging, pulp, and tissue sectors came together to explore one of the most transformative shifts in environmental regulation to date: the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The summit served as a platform for critical dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers, and supply chain stakeholders. IPIA President Charles Rogers joined the event as part of a global delegation. He noted that the EUDR represents a significant regulatory shift – with implementation for large businesses due in January 2026 – and that there is an urgent need for industry-wide preparedness, testing of digital compliance systems, and awareness of potential market pressures.
Navigator used the occasion to highlight its proactive approach to both sustainability and compliance. As one of Portugal’s largest private landowners – managing 120,000 hectares of forest – the company champions three strategic pillars: regenerating natural ecosystems, supporting a low-carbon bioeconomy, and embedding circularity across its operations.
Adapting to change
A keynote address by Margherita Miceli – Forest Policy Manager, Cepi, offered a deep dive into the scope and mechanics of the EUDR. She explained how it will reshape supply chains by requiring digital Due Diligence Statements (DDS) – submitted via the EU’s TRACES system – which must include geolocated data proving the legal and sustainable origin of forest-based materials.
A roundtable discussion moderated by Paula Guimarães – Director of Sustainability, Navigator, brought together Sofia Castelão – Head of Management Systems, Navigator; Mário França – Director of Sales Europe and Latin America, Navigator; and Jonathan Tame – Managing Director, Two Sides UK, to debate how businesses are adapting to this challenge. The panel explored practical steps to meet compliance and the wider implications for pricing, traceability, and market access.
Further sessions shared Navigator’s 2030 Sustainability Agenda, alongside CEPI’s ‘Ten Toes’ methodology – a framework designed to support the industry in aligning operations with Europe’s biodiversity and climate targets.
Walking the walk
Attendees were then given a tangible view of sustainability in action. Guided tours of Navigator’s forest nurseries revealed regenerative practices such as hormone-dipped cuttings to encourage root growth, canopy trimming to reduce water stress, and strategic plant separation to prevent disease. With over 12 million trees propagated each year, Navigator’s forestry operations are underpinned by scientific precision and ecological care.
The day closed with a tree planting ceremony and a wine tasting session hosted by Ana Varandas of Forest Management – connecting delegates directly with the land and landscape that form the foundation of Navigator’s work.
The event concluded with a tour of Navigator’s Setúbal mill, offering a full-circle perspective of its forest-to-paper value chain. From carbon neutrality targets to zero-waste ambitions, Navigator’s approach affirms that when responsibly managed, paper is not just sustainable – it is regenerative.
To learn more about the EUDR, read the IPIA’s guidance here: bit.ly/eudripia
