Domtar Co-Sponsors Rainforest Alliance's 25th Anniversary Gala

To help celebrate 25 years of the Rainforest Alliance's achievements, Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, co-sponsored the sustainability organization's 25th anniversary gala yesterday, May 16, in New York, N.Y., USA. The annual dinner and award ceremony commemorated some of the Rainforest Alliance's biggest triumphs since pioneering the concept of responsible forestry certification. Those include:

Conserving more than 170 million acres of forest and farmlands in 100-plus countries
mproving lives of more than 9.5 million people worldwide, including farmers, forest managers, workers, and their families
Engaging with more than 490,000 agriculture, forestry, and tourism operations
Introducing countless consumers to Rainforest Alliance Certified products (includes extensive work with Domtar, whose papers have set the industry standard for displaying the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label and the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.

Domtar has worked with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that 28 of the company's pulp and paper mills and converting and distribution facilities now meet FSC standards. Nearly 20% of Domtar's paper products have been FSC-certified while, across America, the FSC estimates that only 4% to 6% of paper products earn that distinction.

"After all of our hard work over the past 25 years, it's important for us to recognize companies for their demonstrated commitments to sustainability, and that list includes Domtar," said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "We've worked with Domtar for more than a decade, and we're proud of how they have raised the bar for the paper industry and set an example for encouraging environmental responsibility."

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Rainforest Alliance's comprehensive sustainability initiatives, which help ensure sustainable livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. This marks the seventh year Domtar has sponsored the gala, one of the ways Domtar has teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance to encourage responsible paper production and fiber sourcing.

"We're proud to be at the forefront of the responsible production and use of forest products, and we're excited for both the gala as well as a workshop beforehand that will bring together leaders in sustainable business," said Lewis Fix, Domtar VP of Sustainable Business and Brand Management. "We're looking forward to saluting some of this year's remarkable achievements, and we also salute the Rainforest Alliance for 25 years of accomplishments."

TAPPI
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