International Paper's (IP) Memphis, Tenn., USA, Vision 2020 Goal is a set of 12 voluntary goals the company set in 2010 aimed at improving the company’s impact on people and the planet. 

As a responsible global producer of pulp, paper, and packaging products, IP says it recognizes the importance of aligning the needs of its business, with the needs of the world, and it is committed to continuous improvement and transparency about its sustainability successes and challenges.

IP set 12 voluntary goals to improve its impact on people and the planet. This is how the company says it is currently progressing.

Overall, with regard to its 2020 goal to improve energy efficiency in purchased energy usage by 15%, up to 2015, there has been a 4.7% improvement from the 2010 baseline. Another 2020 goal was to reduce GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions by 20% (direct and indirect). As of 2015, there has been a 16% reduction. A reduction in air emissions, (PM, SO2, NOx) by 10% has been accomplished, with a reduction of 18%. 

Water usage is another goal, where a project was developed to map water usage through its manufacturing locations by 2013 and develop site-specific plans by 2015 to reduce use in strategic watershed areas by 2020. By 2015, IP had successfully mapped its water use and risk by location, identified priority mills, and initiated programs to reduce its water use. 

Water quality is another 2020 Vision Goal whose target has been surpassed.The goal was to reduce mill wastewater discharges of oxygen-depleting substances to receiving streams by 15%.The accomplishment has seen a reduction of 17% up to 2015, passing the target by 2%.

A 2020 goal to increase third-party certified fiber by 35% has also seen its original goal of 15% surpassed. A total of a 28% increase in certified fiber volume since 2010 is reported by IP as being achieved. Fiber efficiency is an area that has also witnessed significant accomplishment from the 2010 baseline. The 2020 Vision Goal is to reduce fiber lost in the manufacturing process to less than 0.75%, and so far there is just a 0.51% fiber loss from IP reporting mills. 

The goal of reducing manufacturing waste to landfills by 30%. and ultimately to zero by 202. is currently at an 11% reduction from the 2010 baseline.

Recycling is another area that also has increased. The goal is to increase the recovery of old corrugated containers by exploring new sources and diverting usable fiber from landfills by 15%. As of 2015, this has seen a 3% increase since 2010.

With regard to International Paper’s Supply Chain, a 2020 Vision Goal was set to establish processes promoting transparency, managing risk by monitoring, and identifying opportunities with suppliers. International Paper has successfully established a baseline supply chain performance and also implemented plans to improve this.

Safety is another goal that is also on track and has been significantly improved. The 2020 Goal is to achieve an injury-free workplace, and currently there has been a 60% reduction since 2010 in serious safety incidents.

 

The final 2020 Vision Goal area is community involvement. The target is to measure and report on the charitable support that International Paper provides for education, literacy, and health and human services in the communities where it operates. The 2015 accomplishment since 2010 has seen $15.5 million donated by International Paper to a variety of charitable organizations.