AF&PA Honors Sustainability Winners

(Editor's note: Based on an AF&PA press release of November 16, 2015.)

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented its 2015 Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, November 13 in San Antonio, Texas. Winners included:
  
Leadership in Sustainability – Paper Recovery for Recycling
Evergreen Packaging: On-Packaging Recycle Use
 
Leadership in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Large Company)
WestRock Company: Covington Power Island Project
 
Leadership in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Small Company)
Seaman Paper Company: Soft Steps Forward Initiative
 
Leadership in Sustainability – Sustainable Forest Management
Domtar: Marlboro FSC Partnership
 
Leadership in Sustainability – Safety
Resolute Forest Products: Working Towards Zero Incidents
 
Leadership in Sustainability – Water
International Paper: Pensacola Mill/Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) Partnership
 
Innovation in Sustainability
Domtar: Plymouth K-Lime Project
Verso Corporation: Identifying and Mapping Vernal Pools on State Lands in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
 
Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, AF&PA’s annual awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories. This year, seven companies received eight awards from 26 outstanding submissions across the industry.

AF&PA member company applicants are considered in two categories. Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the “Leadership” category, which has five subcategories that correspond to the goals: Paper Recovery for Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Sustainable Forest Management, Safety, and Water. The “Innovation in Sustainability” award is reserved for projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable business practices, not one of the goals specifically.
 
“The award-winning initiatives are representative of our members’ commitment to better practices in their businesses and to the industry’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. Through hard work, ingenuity and innovation, these companies are helping to create a better future,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “The growth in project submissions represents the concrete actions taking place in our industry to improve the sustainability of our processes and products.”

AF&PA releases its sustainability report every other year. The 2014 Sustainability Report showed that the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturing industry has made significant, measurable progress toward achieving its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals.
 
For more information about the Sustainability Awards program and AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative, visit afandpa.org/sustainability.

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