Ideas that Matter | 2009 Call for Entries

At Sappi, we subscribe to the commonly
accepted definition of sustainable development
as “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibility form the three pillars of sustainable development. At Sappi we refer to these elements simply as People, Planet and Prosperity.

The sustainability landscape in the paper industry can seem like a maze: a new language with third-party acronyms, certifications and environmental features. Sappi is no different than its customers when it comes to learning how to navigate this labyrinth. As the leader in the global coated fine paper market, we work each and every day at manufacturing our products in responsible and sustainable ways. Staying on top of sustainability issues — and helping our partners,designers, paper merchants and printers who rely on our products, do the same — is part of Sappi’s deep commitment to honoring your trust.

Sappi Limited, our global parent, adopted a group-wide environmental policy in 1999, and in 2005 we established one of the first ever sustainability charters in our industry. In fact, we have the highest degree of transparency amongst all paper companies — and are the only North American coated paper supplier using the G3 Guidelines as outlined by the Global Reporting Initiative. Over 75% of the energy we consume is produced by renewable energy and we have the lowest reported carbon emissions in our industry segment. Additionally, all of our mills are triple certified by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

At Sappi, sustainability encompasses the three elements of social, environmental and economic responsibility. However, sustainability is not about philanthropy or saving the planet at any cost, it’s about making responsible decisions in the context of running a profitable business. Our sustainability platform is science-based and focused on continuous improvement across the three pillars of sustainability — People, Planet, and Prosperity:

People

For Sappi, our commitment to sustainability is based on being involved members of the communities we are a part of, while ensuring the well-being and health and safety of our employees, contractors and consumers of our products. Core to this is our belief in open and constructive engagement with all of our stakeholders: our employees, ensuring they reach their full potential, the communities whose role in our contribution to social and economic development is essential; and our customers who rely on us to share our expertise of the paper and print industries.

Planet

Managing and mitigating the environmental impact that arises from our activities is the cornerstone of our commitment to the planet we all share. This means reducing our emissions, conserving water and energy and decreasing waste, at the same time as protecting and safeguarding biodiversity and procuring raw materials, including wood, from trusted and sustainable sources.

Prosperity

Running our business efficiently and ensuring long-term profitable growth for shareholders is fundamental to Sappi’s own sustainability and success. Based on sound corporate governance, we comply with — or exceed — relevant laws, regulations and standards wherever we operate. We must constantly listen to our customers, and anticipate and exceed their needs through sound capital investments for efficiency and quality improvements as well as the development of new products.