Sappi Fine Paper North America

Planet

Managing and mitigating the environmental impact that arises from our operations is our commitment to the planet we all share. This means reducing our emissions, conserving water and energy and decreasing waste—all while simultaneously protecting and safeguarding biodiversity and procuring raw materials, including wood, from trusted and sustainable sources.

We are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished over the past several years in our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment. Here is a quick look at some of our most notable environmental achievements:

• Sappi Fine Paper North America has the lowest carbon footprint amongst domestic coated paper suppliers.
• Over 83% of the total energy consumed at Sappi Fine Paper North America’s coated fine paper mills is generated on site from renewable resources including hydroelectric power, the burning of biomass and black liquor (recovered lignin).
• In the past five years, Sappi Fine Paper North America has:
  • reduced the amount of solid waste sent to landfills by 51% 
  • reduced water consumption by 23%
  • reduced sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions by 36% 

Sappi Limited's Global Charter on Sustainable Business Development outlines key areas in which we will focus on our environmental impact:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase our use of renewable energy.
• Safeguard biodiversity by promoting sustainable forestry.
• Continue our commitment to independent environmental, wood and fiber certification systems.
• Reduce solid waste and improve water quality.
• Promote the recovery and use of recycled fiber.
• Conform with best environmental practice and legislation.

In North America, we have set the following five-year goals (from a 2007 baseline, which were revised in 2009 to reflect the closure of Muskegon Mill operations) to guide our sustainability efforts:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by 40% across all sites.
• Decrease organic content of solid waste by 50% across all sites.
• Increase the level of third party chain of custody certified fiber to an average of 60% across all sites.

Updated December 2009.