Sustainable purpose
Sappi exists to build a thriving world by unlocking the power of renewable resources to benefit people, communities, and the planet.
In a world searching for creative solutions to transition from a fossil-based to a circular bioeconomy, Sappi offers an impactful vision: We will be a sustainable business with an exciting future in woodfibre that provides relevant solutions, delivers enhanced value, and is a trusted partner to all our stakeholders. This vision is part of Sappi's Thrive strategy.
Across our value streams, our sustainable purpose is underpinned by our priority United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which sets out a roadmap for where we collectively need to go and how to get there.
Our value streams
Forests
Our Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ N003159) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/01- 44-43) certified tree plantations in South Africa provide a high-quality woodfibre base and enhance our competitive advantage. Our leading-edge tree improvement programmes ensure this advantage is maintained and leveraged.
Manufacturing excellence
We focus on enhancing machine efficiencies, digitising our processes to make the smart factory a reality, reducing variable costs through new practices in logistics and procurement, as well as implementing go-to-market strategies, which lower the cost of serving our customers and increase customer satisfaction.
Biomaterials
We are unlocking the chemistry of trees and aligning with the circular economy by establishing a strong position in adjacent businesses including fibrillated cellulose and lignosulphonates. Extracting more value from each tree is at the core of our business model.
Pulp
Our dissolving pulp brand, Verve, creates renewable alternatives for raw material feedstock to textiles, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and more – products that meet the needs of people around the globe every day
Speciality papers
Our customers use our speciality papers to add value to niche markets and enable product differentiation. Our focus on innovation helps our customers to meet and anticipate the challenges of changing market dynamics.
Packaging papers
Our packaging solutions offer environmentally conscious consumers an alternative to fossil fuel-based packaging.
Graphic papers
Our market-leading range of coated and uncoated graphic papers products is used in magazines, corporate reports and accounts, direct mail, high-quality brochures, catalogues, calendars and books.
Sappi’s key material issues
Sappi's key material issues are those that we believe underpin our strategic risks and opportunities and have the highest potential impact – negative and positive – on stakeholder value. These issues are material to Sappi, in financial and impact terms, and they are integrally linked to other aspects of our business. In our Global Annual Integrated Report and our Global Sustainability Report, we report our regional developments and opportunities for value creation in line with each of these issues.
People
- Health, safety and well-being
- Talent
- Labour relations
- Social impact
Planet
- Sustainable forestry
- Climate change
- Water stewardship
- Waste
- Biodiversity
Prosperity
- Competitive position
- Sustainable solutions for a circular bioeconomy
Principles
- Ethical behaviour and compliance
- Responsible procurement
Sappi and the SDGs
We’ve set ambitious targets aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the seven areas where we believe Sappi can make the biggest impact.
Trees tell a story of resilience, renewal and sustainable growth
Tracy Wessels, Group Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations, Sappi Limited
Taking action
Over a third
of Sappi's Forests in South Africa are unplanted and managed for conservation
CO₂ reduction
per ton of product by 2030 – this is our global SBTI target
Of water returned
to its original sources (FY2024)
Growers & 942 Enterprises
are currently involved in Sappi Khulisa – an empowering social impact programme
Certifications
Our certifications ensure that our performance is monitored and that our operations comply with global best practice across a range of environmental, safety and quality topics.