Sustainability

Water is vital to all life, and especially to our business. Water not only nourishes trees but is used to make pulp and paper, generate steam power and so much more in our mills. That’s why we take so seriously our role as responsible water stewards in the regions where we live and work.   

At Sappi, we’re focused on eco-effective actions that can reduce our water consumption and improve the quality of treated water we return to the environment as part of a circular economy.  That’s why we’re especially proud of Lanaken Mill’s achievements in Belgium. They pioneered a new wastewater treatment system that not only meets but exceeds the requirements under Belgian law.  

With innovation and ingenuity, we are making our mills eco-effective worldwide — reducing waste, emissions and maximising material and resource use at every opportunity. At Ehingen mill in Germany, we achieved a big eco-effective ‘win’ in 2019 by substantially increasing the amount of pulp we produce at the mill instead of purchasing it on the market.

For 10 years the wastewater had been running hot from the bleachery at our Stockstadt Pulp Mill in Bavaria, Germany. Where others just saw heat, however, Kai von Groddeck saw opportunity. As a mechanical engineer, he knew he could transform this wasted heat into a new energy source for the mill. 

Since we don’t own forestland in Europe, we work closely with our partners to uphold our responsible sourcing practices and encourage sustainable forestry.

Sappi Forests owns and leases approximately 390,000 hectares of plantations and outsources planting, harvesting and other operations to contractors.

Talking to Nomathemba Sikhakhane, Forester, Glenthorpe Plantation, Mpumalanga.

The barriers to entry to tree-farming are high, and unaffordable for many. That’s where our tree grower enterprise development initiative, Sappi Khulisa, comes in.

Pattern-cutting and sewing are not skills generally associated with fitters, millwrights and instrument technicians. However, one of the key things COVID-19 has taught us is the importance of flexibility.

Our focus is on equipping our people and the communities in which we operate with the life and career skills, knowledge and confidence to build on their own capabilities and further their development.