Recognized for Concrete Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Washington, D.C. – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) recognized Resolute Forest Products with a 2019 AF&PA Leadership in Sustainability Award for Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction for their Concrete Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions project. This is the third consecutive year AF&PA has honored Resolute for its sustainability advancements. The award was presented at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, November 9, in Bluffton, South Carolina.

“Sharing AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goal to reduce GHG emissions, Resolute steadily decreased its environmental footprint by making major investments,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock.

Resolute took concrete action to reduce GHG emissions at its pulp, paper, tissue and wood products facilities across the United States and Canada by improving the energy efficiency of its operations, producing renewable energy, managing water efficiently, and reducing waste and reliance on fossil fuels. These actions have allowed the company to reduce absolute GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 81 percent relative to 2000 levels, benefiting both the environment and its bottom line.

“I would like to thank AF&PA for honoring our achievements in the areas of climate and energy,” said Resolute President and Chief Executive Officer Yves Laflamme. “We know that our long-term profitability depends on preserving the natural resources in our care and being a responsible partner in the communities where we live and work. Striving to minimize our environmental impact is quite simply the right thing to do.”

The 2019 AF&PA Sustainability Award winners were selected by a judging panel of sustainability experts from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University; GreenBlue; Quad Packaging; Two Sides; and the U.S. Department of Energy.

AF&PA’s annual awards are designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry and are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories.

Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the “Leadership” category, which has five subcategories that correspond to the goals: Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Paper Recovery for Recycling, Safety, Sustainable Forest Management and Water. The “Innovation in Sustainability” award is reserved for projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable business practices, not one of the goals specifically.

AF&PA’s 2018 Sustainability Report showed that the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry has made significant, measurable progress toward achieving its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. For more information, visit afandpa.org/sustainability.

Seth Kursman