Sustainability Report 2018

At Sappi North America, 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 for achieving profitable growth and prosperity for current and future generations.

Since the release of our first Sustainability Report in 2011 we have consistently demonstrated a commitment to transparency, innovation and doing good - environmentally, socially and economically.

The three pillars of sustainability – People, Planet and Prosperity – remain core to our operations. We are committed to helping all our partners across the supply chain 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.

The year was filled with transformation including the completion of a paper machine rebuild at Sappi’s Somerset Mill, the development of a new packaging line, the launch of a new dissolving pulp product brand, Verve, and the introduction of a new sustainability leadership team. This team of experts is committed to maintaining a collaborative work environment and driving sustainability efforts with successful employee engagement. Together, they bring a diversified approach that will continue to strengthen Sappi’s leading sustainability strategies and build a strong path toward solving the challenges of the future.

Highlights of our 2018 Sustainability Report include:

  • Excellent industrial safety performance with a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of 0.35 for the year—the lowest in Sappi North America’s history.
  • Among the lowest carbon footprints in our sector, with just 0.38 tons of CO2 generated per ton of product made. In fact, over 75% of our total energy needs are derived from renewable resources like woody biomass.
  • 100% of our wood and pulp is sourced in conformance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Fiber Standard and 58% is third-party certified under either SFI®, FSC®, PEFC™ or as part of a Point of Harvest program.  
  • Strong and innovative waste reduction initiatives, including reuse of byproducts to avoid landfill.  Looking at pulp mill operations alone, this year we reduced waste by 18 percent from our 2014 baseline.

We have our eye to the future, not only for the evolution of our business and products, but the impact that we will continue to have on our environment. We strive to find sustainable solutions to everything that we do, and we thank you, our stakeholders, for helping us along the way.

To learn more, download a PDF of Sappi North America’s 2018 Sustainability Report here.

Content from this campaign

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Mentorship Program Offers Growth Opportunities to Young Foresters
Lucas (Luke) Lamond grew up in the forestry business working in the woods with his father, a consulting forester who taught him everything about forest management.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Impact of Design Through Social Good
For the past 19 years, Sappi has empowered great ideas by supporting designers that use their time and talent for good.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Grant Publishes Children's Book on Diversity and Inclusion for Westbrook, Maine Schools
Through the Employee Ideas that Matter program, Sappi employees bring their charitable ideas to life.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sappi Awards Girl Scouts of Maine With Unique Paper Scientist Patch
To encourage girls to pursue fields in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), several Sappi employees worked with the Girl Scouts of Maine to develop a first-of-its-kind Girl Scout Paper Scientist Patch. It was awarded to 15 Girl Scouts from Troop 574 in Westbrook, Maine and Troop 2070 in Gorham, Maine.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Maintains Healthy, Safe and Engaged Workforce. Here's How
Because our employees are the glue that holds our organization together, maintaining a healthy, safe and engaged workforce is a priority at Sappi North America.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Sappi Recruits Its Future STEM Leaders
At Sappi, we believe it takes great people to make great products. We offer many opportunities for rapid advancement and a culture that fosters innovation and creativity while positively impacting the communities in which we operate.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Why 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' Makes Sound Business Sense
At Sappi, we believe in taking an integrated approach to value creation. We understand that the long-term sustainability of our business will only be ensured by delivering sustained value for our customers, community, employees and the environment.

Innovation & Technology

How Sappi Innovates With the Customer in Mind
At Sappi, we are known for our history of paper innovation—but we don’t stop there. This past year we’ve launched an unprecedented amount of investments and initiatives all to support our customers and business. With our portfolio of high-quality sustainable products, including our new paperboard packaging, along with our outreach and marketing efforts, Sappi is here to serve its customers for the long haul.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Collaborates With University of Maine on Innovative Paper Applications
New devices made from patterned release paper— for use in biotechnical applications—were included as one of five discoveries showcased at the University of Maine earlier this year, as part of their Maine Innovation, Research and Technology Accelerator (MIRTA) program. The innovative devices were developed in partnership with Sappi’s Westbrook Technology Center.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sappi Celebrates Packaging Leader Heather Pelletier With CEO Award
The Sappi Group Chief Executive’s Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated and lived out Sappi’s values through exceptional efforts. Since 2013, we have recognized 21 colleagues across the globe for their contributions in line with Sappi’s core values. This year, there were many strong nominations that showed a commitment to our One Sappi drive and 2020Vision. Sappi North America’s award recipient, Heather Pelletier, was a clear choice.
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