Sappi N.A. Maintains Lowest Carbon Footprint of Domestic Paper Companies

 

Sappi North America, Boston, Mass., USA, a producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, this week unveiled its 2014 Sustainability Report, detailing its achievements in producing and delivering products in innovative and environmentally responsible ways. Notable successes cited in the fourth annual report for the company's operations in North America include:

• The lowest reported carbon footprint among domestic competitors, thanks to a consistent focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Reduced the amount of fiber and raw material waste in papermaking operations by 14% over the 2011 baseline, two years ahead of target
• Significant gains in its procurement of certified fiber, reaching its goal of 65% one year ahead of schedule.

"A corporate commitment to forest certification, waste reduction, and a smaller carbon footprint are all very important, but it takes a committed and trained workforce to achieve measurable improvements in our business," said Mark Gardner, president and CEO, Sappi North America. "The fact that we continue to invest in developing and training our people is a key reason we achieve our sustainability and business milestones, including productivity and efficiency improvements." The company reports an average of 74 hr. of training per person during 2014, a metric that includes both salary and hourly employees.

Consistent with Sappi's holistic approach to sustainability efforts across its manufacturing processes and product life cycles, the 2014 Sustainability Report details enhancements in the company's facilities and products, as well as impactful contributions made to surrounding communities during the fiscal year. For the first time, it also includes a comprehensive overview of its manufacturing process, detailing how Sappi utilizes materials efficiently and minimizes waste.

 

"The concept of environmental responsibility has transformed lofty promises into tangible metrics since the first Earth Day in 1970," said Jennifer Miller, EVP of coated business and chief sustainability officer, Sappi North America. "We will continue to set ambitious, data-driven goals to minimize waste in energy, water, and other raw materials, while driving sustainability beyond the gates of our mills to local communities, customers, and industry partners."

Sappi's business diversification strategy is one factor that has accelerated investments in sustainable practices. For example, the company has made $23 million in capital investments at its Somerset Mill to take advantage of access to natural gas, resulting in higher energy efficiency, reduced operating expenses, as well as reductions in GHG emissions as its displaces fuel oil with natural gas.

Responsible sourcing of natural resources is also a key priority. Much of the sourcing improvement that Sappi achieved in 2014 was due to an increase in certified fiber use on the paper machines at its Cloquet mill.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited, a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 13,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in 100-plus countries around the world.