AF&PA

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 19, 2020 (Press Release) -The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement thanking the U.S. Senate for confirming Michelle Schultz and Robert Primus to serve on the Surface Transportation Board:

“The U.S. Senate confirmation of Michelle Schultz and Robert Primus to the Surface Transportation Board now brings the board to its full complement. We recommend the board advance long-overdue freight rail policy reforms. The paper and wood products industry is eager to work with the board to revoke the outdated commodity exemption policy and ensure our companies have an avenue to address harmful service and pricing issues. Such reforms support our industry’s ability to move millions of tons of materials to production mills and final markets.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states.

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 13, 2020 (Press Release) -The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced its annual Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Award winners, which recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry and are awarded based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories.

“We had a record number of submissions to our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 awards program, which underscores that sustainability is a top priority for our industry, even in the midst of a global pandemic,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “I continue to be impressed by our industry’s commitment to leadership in sustainability. Our members are constantly striving to reach new limits of possibility and these awards give us an opportunity to shine a spotlight on innovative sustainability success stories.”

AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Initiative is one of the most comprehensive sets of sustainability goals established for a U.S. manufacturing industry, nearly a decade ago. The initiative recognizes the three essential pillars of sustainability — economic, environmental and social — interdependent factors that collectively support long-term viability, growth and improvement. The Sustainability Award winners demonstrate the industry’s long-held commitment to improving practices to build a better planet today. AF&PA congratulates the following winners:

Leadership in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction  

Resolute Forest Products:Modernization of Coosa Pines (Alabama) Mill Helps Reduce Resolute’s Carbon Footprint

Resolute’s $4 million upgrade to the Coosa Pines mill’s cogeneration turbine resulted in a 65 percent reduction in purchased energy and enabled the mill to self-generate 40 percent of its energy use in 2019 and to increase total energy sourced from renewable sources, including biomass and hydroelectricity, to 68 percent.

Leadership in Sustainability – Safety

Clearwater Paper:Aspects & Impacts Process to Identify and Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF) Risks

Taking a proactive and systematic approach, Clearwater Paper’s risk-based assessment program resulted in an immediate improvement in specific safety targets and employee engagement – each site met their 20 percent improvement goal within the first year.

Leadership in Sustainability – Sustainable Forest Management

Evergreen Packaging:Family Forests – The Key to Certified Success

Through major investments in regional programs, Evergreen Packaging is reducing barriers and increasing access for small landowners to participate in forest certification programs and ultimately increase sustainable forest management practices in the region.

Leadership in Sustainability – Water

Sappi:Somerset Mill’s Caustic Reclaim & Reuse

Sappi North America’s Somerset Mill designed and installed an innovative system that recovers used sodium hydroxide during boiler feed water preparation and repurposes caustic. The process has reduced the use of caustic purchases of wood-related products by 660 tons per year, reduced water use by more than 12,000 gallons per day, as well as reduced acid consumption in the wastewater treatment plant by 816 tons per year.

Innovation in Sustainability (Large Company)

WestRock:Pak On Demand Pouch System

Pack On Demand is a major advance for the paper-based packaging market, enabling companies to produce right-sized, highly, sustainable fiber-based pouches. The innovative pouch system uses automation to increase packing rates by up to five times. In addition, the fiber-based pouches are 100 percent curbside recyclable.

Innovation in Sustainability (Small Company)

Appvion:Innovative and Sustainable Direct Thermal Technology

Appvion’s patent-pending technology is the next innovation in direct thermal paper. CleanSlate is a transformational technology that eliminates chemical developers and leuco dyes, as well as chemical reactions to form the image. The first application of CleanSlate Technology is point-of-sale (POS) receipt paper and Appvion has applied the technology to thermal label and ticket products as well.

Innovation in Sustainability (Small Company)

The Price Companies:Restoration & Management of Marginal Agricultural and Timberlands

The Price Companies are increasing conservation and sustainable forest management practices throughout the Mississippi Delta region, enhancing the profitability of marginal agricultural and timberland and restoring many of the original features that make the Delta unique.

The 2020 AF&PA Sustainability Award winners were selected by a judging panel of sustainability experts from the Department of Energy, GreenBlue, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Quad Packaging, Two Sides North America and Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states.

WASHINGTON, DC, July 21, 2020 (Press Release) -The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today released its 2020 Sustainability Report, highlighting the paper and wood products industry’s sustainability efforts, including members’ progress toward achieving theBetter Practices, Better Planet 2020sustainability goals.

“Nearly a decade ago, AF&PA members introduced a set of sustainability goals that continue to demonstrate a commitment to improving the environment and ensuring the safety of our workers. Today, we have many reasons to be proud. We have achieved many of our goals, including reducing workplace injuries, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock.

“On behalf of all AF&PA members, I am proud of the progress we’ve made together. Our industry continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainability across the entire value chain as we produce essential products for everyday life,” said Mark Sutton, CEO of International Paper and chairman of the AF&PA Board of Directors.
AF&PA member companies have been required to adhere to and report biennially on a set of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) principles (since they were adopted in 1998) and Sustainable Procurement principles. The current report reflects members’ progress in 2018.

2020 AF&PA Sustainability Report accomplishments (based on 2018 calendar year performance, except where noted) include: 

• AF&PA member companies achieved a 38.4 percent improvement in the safety incidence rate from the 2006 baseline, surpassing the 25 percent goal. There were 1.617 recordable cases per 200,000 hours worked in 2018, compared to 2.625 in 2006.

• AF&PA members adhere to sustainable fiber procurement principles, which assure that wood is sourced from suppliers who are committed to sustainable management and harvesting practices. Members procured 99 percent of the total wood fiber through a Certified Sourcing Program – a 12 percent increase from the 2005 baseline.

• AF&PA members’ purchased energy use per ton of product was 13.3 percent lower than the baseline year, surpassing the goal to improve energy efficiency by 10 percent. Member pulp and paper mills self-generated 55 percent of the electricity needed to power their mills in 2018, most of which was renewable using carbon-neutral biomass manufacturing residuals.

• Members surpassed their goal, reducing GHG emissions – measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) per ton of product – by 23.2 percent from the 2005 baseline.

• AF&PA members’ pulp and paper mill water use per ton of product decreased by 6.9 percent, largely unchanged from recent years. When adjusted to provide greater weight to reductions occurring at mills in water-stressed areas, pursuant to the World Resources Institute (WRI) aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, members reduced process water use by 13.1 percent.

• In 2019, the paper recycling rate was 66.2 percent, falling shy of the 70 percent goal, but still, nearly a 15 percent increase from the 2005 baseline.

“This year, our industry also rose to another unexpected challenge. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reinforced the role our industry plays in producing essential products for safe and healthy living,” Brock said. “I am heartened to see that we continue to rise to every occasion, whether it is a goal we set for ourselves or challenges we face in the global marketplace. Our members are constantly striving to reach new limits of possibility.”

The full sustainability report is available atsustainability.afandpa.org.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states. Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.