Brussels, Belgium – International Paper, the world’s largest packaging and paper company has revealed how it is currently performing against its Vision 2020 Goals, a set of 12 voluntary goals that it set in 2010 aimed at improving the company’s impact on people and the planet. 

As a responsible global producer of pulp, paper and packaging products, International Paper recognises the importance of aligning the needs of its business, with the needs of the world, and it is committed to continuous improvement and transparency about its sustainability successes and challenges.

With regards to the 12 voluntary goals that International Paper set back in 2010, to improve its impact on people and the planet, this is how the company is currently progressing.

Overall, with regards to its 2020 goal to improve energy efficiency in purchased energy usage by 15%, up to 2015, there has been a 4.7% improvement from the 2010 baseline.

Another 2020 goal was to reduce GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions by 20% (direct and indirect. As of 2015, there has been a 16% reduction.

A reduction in air emissions, (PM, SO2, NOx) by 10% has been accomplished, with a reduction of 18%. 

Water usage is another goal, where the aim was to map water usage through its manufacturing locations by 2013, develop site-specific plans by 2015 to reduce use in strategic watershed areas by 2020. By 2015, International Paper has successfully mapped its water use and risk by location, identified priority mills, and initiated programmes to reduce its water use. 

Water Quality is another 2020 Vision Goal whose target has been surpassed. The Goal was to reduce mill wastewater discharges of oxygen-depleting substances to receiving streams by 15%. The accomplishment has seen a reduction of 17% up to 2015, passing the target by 2%.

A 2020 goal to increase third-party certified fibre by 35%, has also seen its original goal of 15% surpassed, with a 28% increase in certified fibre volume since 2010 being achieved.

Fibre efficiency is an area that has also witnessed significant accomplishment from the 2010 baseline. The 2020 Vision Goal is to reduce fibre lost in the manufacturing process to less than 0.75%, and so far there is just a 0.51% fibre loss from International Paper’s reporting mills. 

The goal of reducing manufacturing waste to landfills by 30% and ultimately to zero by 2020 is currently at an 11% reduction from the 2010 baseline.

Recycling is another area which has also increased. The Goal is to increase the recovery of old corrugated containers by exploring new sources and diverting usable fibre from landfills by 15%. As of 2015, this has seen a 3% increase since 2010.

With regards to International Paper’s Supply Chain, a 2020 Vision Goal was set to establish processes promoting transparency, managing risk by monitoring, and identifying opportunities with suppliers. International Paper has successfully established a baseline supply chain performance and also implemented plans to improve this.

Safety is another goal that is also on track and has been significantly improved. The 2020 Goal is to achieve an injury-free workplace, and currently there has been a 60% reduction since 2010 in serious safety incidents. 

The final 2020 Vision Goal area is Community Involvement. The target is to measure and report on the charitable support that International Paper provides for education, literacy and health and human services in the communities where it operates. The 2015 accomplishment since 201 has seen $15.5m donated by International Paper to a variety of charitable organisations.

To view the 2020 Vision Goals and performance in full, visit: http://www.internationalpaper.com/planet/vision-2020-goals