AF&PA presents sustainability awards

Front row, from left: Ryan Lichwell, Seaman Paper Co.; Scott Igoe, American Eagle Paper Mills;
Sarah Manchester, Sappi North America; Seth Kursman, Resolute Forest Products;
Bob Feeser, WestRock Co.; Jeremy Poirier, International Paper; and Drew McAlpin, WestRock Co.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has presented its 2017 Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at the association’s annual meeting Nov. 3 in Greensboro, Georgia.

Six AF&PA member companies received seven awards from 23 outstanding submissions across the industry. The complete list of award winners is available at www.afandpa.org/sustainabilityawardwinners.

“Our members’ award-winning projects demonstrate their ingenuity, drive and commitment to continued improvement of the sustainability of their operations,” says AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “We commend their efforts and support toward meeting the industry’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 goals.”

The 2017 AF&PA Sustainability Award winners are:

• Leadership in Sustainability—Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Resolute Forest Products, GHG Reduction Program; 
• Leadership in Sustainability—Sustainable Forest Management, International Paper, Certified Forest Management LLC; 
• Leadership in Sustainability—Safety (Large Company), Sappi North America, Over Two Million Hours Worked Without Lost Time Injury; 
• Leadership in Sustainability—Safety (Small Company), Seaman Paper Co. of Massachusetts Inc., Raising the Reels for Safety; 
• Leadership in Sustainability—Water (Large Company), WestRock Co., Covington Mill Power Boiler Ash Handling Systems; 
• Leadership in Sustainability—Water (Small Company), American Eagle Paper Mills, Project Phoenix; and
• Innovation in Sustainability, WestRock Co., Moving Products the Green Way.

Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, AF&PA says its annual awards 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: Paper Recovery for Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Sustainable Forest Management, Safety 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 releases its sustainability report every other year. The 2016 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, according to the association.