WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented International Paper (IP) with two 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, IP was honored with “Leaders in Sustainability” awards for greenhouse gas reduction (“Climate Leadership Initiative”) and for safety (“It’s about…LIFE”).
“International Paper is an exemplary leader in sustainable business practices,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “Their work on energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, and improved safety performance sets them apart as a leader among industry peers and in the broader manufacturing community.”
Through the “Climate Leadership Initiative,” IP has aggressively managed and reduced greenhouse gas emissions at its facilities, and the program was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others at the inaugural Climate Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
After launching the “It’s about…LIFE” campaign in 2010, life-changing injuries have been reduced across the company. LIFE put a face to safety with its “This is Why I Work Safe” toolkit and website, allowing employees to bring photos of loved ones into the mill as a daily reminder to work safely.
“We’re honored to receive not one, but two of AF&PA’s first-ever ‘Leaders in Sustainability’ awards,” said John Faraci, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, International Paper. “Sustainability is embedded in our DNA at International Paper, and it’s something that we work continuously to improve. We pride ourselves on setting – and meeting – stretch goals in pursuit of world-class outcomes.”
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.