Resolute Joins WWF Climate Savers Program

Resolute Forest Products, Montreal, Que., Canada, (formerly AbitibiBowater), has become the newest member of the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Climate Savers program. As part of its commitment to the partnership, Resolute Forest Products has pledged by 2015 to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 65% below 2000 levels.

Resolute's decision to join WWF Climate Savers commits the company to fully confront the GHG impacts throughout the complete corporate value chain, looking at emissions both upstream and downstream of its pulp and paper and wood products operations. It also includes a commitment to work with key suppliers to assess and reduce their own contributions to carbon emissions throughout the supply chain.

"Resolute wanted to make a bold statement to our employees, our business partners and the market that we take our responsibility for preventing climate change seriously," Richard Garneau, president and CEO, said. "Delivering on the commitments made through this partnership will be challenging, but will also make us a cleaner and more efficient company, focused on a balanced approach to the environmental, social, and economic triple bottom line."

Gerald Butts, president and CEO, WWF, noted that "climate change is the greatest threat to our planet and the commitment of Climate Savers companies like Resolute is critical to answering that threat. We hope that Resolute's leadership will inspire other companies to take action in protecting the future of our living planet."

Between 2000 and 2010, Resolute has reduced its emissions by 57%. As part of its Climate Savers partnership, the company is committed to reducing its emissions by an additional 8% by 2015. The total impact of Resolute's GHG reductions from 2000 and throughout this agreement would be equivalent to taking 1,273,000 cars off the road.

As part of its agreement to join the program, Resolute has committed to:

Achieve a 65% absolute reduction in identified GHG emissions by 2015 compared with 2000
Increase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest certification of managed forests from 18% in 2010 to 80% by 2015
Obtain third-party chain of custody certification by 2012 at all North American pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities under company management
Develop and offer products with lower GHG footprints to help Resolute's customers reduce their own GHG emissions
Work with key suppliers to evaluate and address their own GHG emissions and complete work with the 10 most significant suppliers by 2015
Comply with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's third-party accounting and reporting standard for scope 3 emissions reporting by 2015
Develop tools to track GHG emissions from the transportation of company products
Implement tracking systems for forest biomass used for energy purposes
Activities on carbon emissions and sequestration in the forest.

TAPPI
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