Our approach to recycling
Sappi is a global leader in paper production, and produces high quality paper using virgin fibre, recycled fibre and bagasse which is recovered from the sugar processing industry.
The virgin fibre used in the papermaking process is sourced from Sappi’s own tree plantations and from the plantations of contracted suppliers, which are certified by the international Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) for sound environmental management. The company uses recycled fibre to produce a number of paper grades such as packaging papers, linerboard and corrugated boards, as well as general printing grades.
Sappi’s approach is to maximise the environmental benefits both of growing trees for virgin fibre and of using as much recycled fibre and bagasse as possible.
Well managed tree plantations have, amongst other things, an important role to play in carbon sequestration and without the cultivation of trees as an agricultural commodity over the past 150 years, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would be significantly higher than it is today. Sappi plants more trees than we harvest.
Recycling, on the other hand, reduces the need for scarce landfill sites, reduces the amount of energy and water needed in the manufacturing process, and also significantly reduces the methane emissions being released into the atmosphere from landfill sites.
For more information on recycling, please visit RecyclePaperZA and National Recycling Forum.
