IP Sets 12 Voluntary Sustainability Goals to Achieve By 2020

International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week released its 2011 Sustainability Report showcasing the company's new suite of 12 voluntary sustainability goals. The company expects to reach a number of goals by 2020 that include:

15% improvement of energy efficiency in purchased energy use
20% absolute reduction in global GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) associated with the production of products
15% global increase in third party certified fiber volume

In addition to these goals, IP set a host of other goals addressing issues such as fiber certification, philanthropy, safety, and water use.

"At International Paper, sustainability is more than a business practice," said Chairman and CEO John Faraci. "Environmental, social, and economic performance has been at the core of our company for more than 110 years. Stewardship of the forestland and surrounding habitat is ingrained in our company's DNA."

The report highlights IP's sustainability commitment in every aspect of the business. "At every point of the International Paper supply chain—from the design of our paper and packaging, to the people and manufacturing processes, to end-use recycling and other beneficial uses—International Paper strives for a sustainable product life cycle," Faraci added.

Sustainability highlights from 2011 include the following:

Awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Leadership Award
Met 71% of global paper mill energy requirements with renewable biomass
Named "Most Admired Forest and Paper Products Company" by Fortune Magazine for nine of the past ten years
Named one of Ethisphere Institute's "World's Most Ethical Companies" for the sixth consecutive year
Total Safety Incident Rate decreased to its lowest rate ever
Donated more than $11 million worldwide to charitable organizations.

David Kiser, IP's VP of Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability, said that "while our focus as a forest products company is by necessity on the environmental aspects of our operations, the coverage of our new goals is broad and includes both social and environmental dimensions of sustainability."

This report, available in print and online, achieves a B-level application of the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) guidelines. This represents an ongoing commitment to best practice transparent reporting.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/