Sustainability Report 2014

At Sappi, we embrace a holistic vision of sustainability as defined by the Brundtland Commission: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." We recognize that strong, sustainable companies don't merely manage against quarterly financial targets—they invest in the PEOPLE they employ, they make commitments to protect the PLANET from the wasteful use of natural resources and they have a clear vision to achieve profitable growth and PROSPERITY for current and future generations.

Our continuing investments in our people have been instrumental to this success, with our focus on safety, training and job development at the core of everything we do. We believe that no business can win in the marketplace without motivated, engaged and well trained people making it happen every day; on the mill floor or with customers, solving business problems collaboratively and creatively. In this year’s report, we highlight our world class employees and the value they create, for it is our people that will enable Sappi North America to rise to the challenges faced by our industry.

Our sustainability platform is science-based and focused on continuous improvement. We have established five year goals and are committed to public reporting of our progress against these goals. As providers of FSC® certified paper and SFI® certified paper, we work each and every day at manufacturing, distributing and disposing of our products in responsible and sustainable ways. Additionally, we are committed to helping all of our partners—merchants, printers, corporate end-users and designers—understand the true footprint of our business so that they can trust that when they do business with us, they are doing business with the leader in the industry.

To download a PDF of the full report, click here.

Content from this campaign

Environment

Sappi’s Laura Thompson Explains Why 2014 was a Pivotal Year of Change for the Paper Industry
For Sappi North America, 2014 may long be remembered as a pivotal year of change. We saw a merger of two of the biggest merchants in our supply chain as well as our two largest competitors. Coated paper markets struggled, a global economic slowdown hurt the sales of release papers, and dissolving pulp prices took a sharp downward turn. While it certainly had its challenges, 2014 was also a critical year for foundation building and refinement to position Sappi for the next generation.

Diversity & Inclusion

A Driving Force for Social Responsibility and Change
One of the ways we improve the lives of people is by promoting freedom of association, nondiscrimination and the abolition of forced and child labor. We also uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sappi Limited has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 2008.

Environment

Giving Waste New Meaning
The conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill to manufacture dissolving pulp resulted in increased quantities of lime mud due to the cooking requirements of this higher-purity pulp. The impact of this change can be seen in both the total solid waste to landfill and the tonnes of solid waste processed through the Cloquet Mill’s beneficial use program with local farmers.

Environment

Conserving Water in North American Mills
Sappi's North American mills use only surface water sources (rivers and lakes) and return treated water to the same primary source. (At Cloquet, we return the water to a publicly owned treatment facility, where it goes through additional purification and is then returned to Lake Superior.) We returned almost 93 percent of the water we used, creating a minimal water footprint.

Environment

Creating a Minimal Footprint with Renewable Energy
In this method, energy consumption from purchased electricity is calculated in terms of fuel inputs to account for different fuel efficiencies during power generation and efficiency losses in power transmission. The equivalent energy value is represented in terms of sources as per power supplier-provided data. Our Westbrook Mill does not buy power, and the mill energy profile reflects sales of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The 2013 conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill to dissolving pulp, a higher-purity pulp requiring more energy to produce, increased the energy intensity of that site. At the same time, Cloquet achieved higher use of renewable fuels, reducing natural gas, purchased electricity and fuel oil.

Environment

How to Exceed Your 5-year Emissions Goal One Year Early
Intensity is a term that describes the usage of resources for, or output from, the manufacture of a set unit of product. We exceeded an aggressive five-year goal of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity in just three years and are now working to reduce energy intensity.

Environment

Held to High Fiber Standards
These third-party certification programs provide assurance that wood-based products have been procured from well-managed forests and are legally harvested. In 2014, we purchased more kraft fiber than historic levels to support the papermaking operations in Cloquet after the 2013 conversion of that pulp mill to dissolving wood pulp. All of our purchased pulp was certified by one or more standards, which is reflected in the higher percentage of “triple certified” fiber and in part responsible for us reaching our five-year goal one year ahead of schedule.

Environment

Boosting Brand Awareness in the Digital Age
In 2014, we invested significant resources in customer communications in order to increase brand awareness and drive sustainable performance for our business.

Environment

Strong Community Engagement: A Recipe for Business Success
Strong engagement with local institutions, organizations and partners creates a mutual advantage for our company and the areas where we live and work.

Environment

Reaching the Fullest Potential in the Workforce Through Safety, Well-Being and Expertise
Through our innovative safety culture, health and wellness programs and ongoing training, we are able to attract and retain highly skilled people and help them realize their fullest potential in the organization.

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