WASHINGTON - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented Georgia-Pacific with one of its inaugural Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at the association's annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 9 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives, awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories. This year, GP was honored with the "Leaders in Sustainability" energy efficiency award for its "Improving Energy Efficiency" project.
"Georgia-Pacific is consistently a forward-looking industry leader," said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. "By using well-developed manufacturing best practices and strategic thinking, Georgia-Pacific is able to realize energy efficiency results and greenhouse gas reductions that speak for themselves, putting the industry as a whole one step closer to achieving our sustainability goals."
Georgia-Pacific developed a comprehensive energy management program for its manufacturing facilities in 2009 to achieve long-term and sustainable reduction of energy intensity in manufacturing. Since that time, the program spawned over 200 energy efficiency projects and other efforts that have resulted in savings of more than $50 million in purchased energy and a reduction in energy use of over two trillion Btu.
"We're honored to be among the first AF&PA member companies to be recognized for our contributions to sustainability," said Jim Hannan, CEO and president, Georgia-Pacific. "At Georgia-Pacific, we pride ourselves on being leaders in sustainable business practices and our ability to integrate that into our business model. We will continue to seek product and process innovations that will help us protect our natural resources and grow our business."
Released earlier this year, AF&PA's 2012 Sustainability Report highlights the significant, measurable progress the U.S. paper, pulp, and wood products industry has made toward achieving its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. This is one of the most extensive collections of quantifiable sustainability goals for a major U.S. manufacturing industry, and the new awards program recognizes projects and efforts that contribute to reaching those goals and furthering innovation in sustainability.
Each year, AF&PA member company applicants are considered in two categories - "Innovation in Sustainability" and "Leaders in Sustainability" - with six "Leaders" subcategories: Paper Recovery for Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Certified Fiber, Illegal Logging, Safety, and Water. Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the "Leaders" category; projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable business practices but that do not specifically address one of these goals may be recognized in the "Innovation" category.
For more information about the Sustainability Awards program and AF&PA's Better Practices initiative, visit www.afandpa.org/sustainability.
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Editor's Note: Click here to retrieve a photo (caption included) of the award winners.
About AF&PA
The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $190 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.
About Georgia-Pacific
Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of building products, tissue, packaging, paper, cellulose and related chemicals. The company employs nearly 35,000 people worldwide. For more information visit www.gp.com.