​Economic responsibility (Prosperity)

Realising that we could not continue to do tomorrow what we did yesterday, over the last few years we have reviewed and refocused our business.

Our 2020Vision aims to reduce debt, strengthen our balance sheet and direct resources to high-growth opportunities.

In Southern Africa, the route we have followed to achieve this has involved matching our machines more closely to changing markets, reducing costs, improving efficiencies and streamlining our product offering to focus on dissolving pulp (DP), virgin packaging paper, tissue, office paper, newsprint and energy generation.

Ultraflute, our lightweight semi-chemical fluting virgin containerboard continues to enjoy strong support and has now become the benchmark for quality fluting in Africa. Also enjoying strong support is Ultratest, a kraft topliner which can be used in both heavy industrial and light agricultural applications.

Click here to view the Ultraflute product brochure.

The forest sector (forestry and forest products) in South Africa employs approximately 165,900 workers and provides about 62,700 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs. Forestry provides livelihood support to 652,000 people of the country’s rural population. The pulp and paper industry provides about 13,200 direct and 11,000 indirect employment opportunities. The forest sector contributes about 1% to national GDP.
We support the spirit of Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and commit Sappi to significant planned and enacted transformation.
Our strategy of empowering our employees to reach their full potential extends to the communities around our operations.
Our holistic approach to the environment begins with responsible management and procurement of our woodfibre resources and continues through every aspect of the manufacturing cycle.