Resolute’s Sustainability Leadership Benefits from Board EH&S Committee Chair Suzanne Blanchet
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Resolute’s environment, health and safety (EH&S) committee of the board of directors is chaired by Suzanne Blanchet. Ms. Blanchet has been instrumental in enhancing board oversight of our sustainability strategy, and our environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance since 2019.
Her 40-plus years of experience in the forest products sector – including leadership positions with Cascades Inc., the Quebec Forest Industry Council (CIFQ), and her appointment to Quebec’s 2013-2020 Climate Change Action Plan committee (PACC) tasked with establishing 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for the province – has proved beneficial to Resolute as we establish and deliver on our sustainability commitments.
Over her career, Ms. Blanchet has seen a profound shift in attitudes toward the importance of sustainability:
“In the 1980s, it was a challenge to convince people of the value of using less water and less energy to make forest products. Today, investors, bankers and employees are fully engaged on these issues. In fact, they demand high performance standards that lead to positive environmental and social outcomes.”
In 2020, the board’s EH&S committee continued to support the work of Resolute’s sustainability committee, including implementing ongoing ESG initiatives and public commitments, revising annual targets for continuous improvement, and setting mid to long-term aspirational goals to continue to position Resolute as a sustainability leader.
The EH&S committee also highlighted the importance of adopting longer-term commitments, such as Resolute’s new 2025 target to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to 2015 levels.
Ms. Blanchet believes pressure from the financial markets to address climate change is an opportunity for forest products companies to highlight their contributions to the circular economy:
“While we can always do more and do better, Resolute is adding value at every stage of the manufacturing process – maximizing every part of the tree, optimizing fiber usage and giving a second life to the valuable resources in our care.”
