AF&PA's Sustainability Awards recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry.

AF&PA Announces 2024 Award-Winning Sustainability Projects

Nov. 8, 2024 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Award winners. The awards recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry.

"Sustainability is foundational for our members and our awards program reflect that," said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. "These award-winning projects demonstrate sustainability leadership and innovation in action. We are proud to recognize real-world examples of how our forest and paper industry sustainability goals come to life."

AF&PA Congratulates the Following Winners:

Leadership in Sustainability – Circular Value Chain
Clearwater Paper Company: Optimizing SBS paperboard to better support a Circular Economy

Leadership in Sustainability – Water Management
Domtar: Making a Splash with Water Conservation

Leadership in Sustainability – Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Green Bay Packaging: Greenhouse Gas Reduction - Green Bay Mill Project

Leadership in Sustainability – Resilient U.S. Forests
International Paper: International Paper and The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Forestland Stewards Partnership

Innovation in Sustainability
Sonoco: EnviroFlex Paper ULT 2.0

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
DS Smith: DS Smith Packaging Lebanon Indiana Interpreters Program

Visit: afandpa.org/priorities/sustainability/sustainability-awards for videos of these award-winning projects.

Howard Coker, AF&PA Board Chair and President and CEO of Sonoco Products Company, commented, "I commend this year's winners for their creativity in implementing new strategies that will make our paper industry stronger. These awards truly embody our Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 goals — both the progress we have made to date and what we are striving to achieve in the future."

Better Practices, Better Planet is one of the longest standing sustainability initiatives for a U.S. manufacturing industry. Since 1998, it was required that AF&PA members commit to environment, health and safety (EHS) principles. In 2011, AF&PA launched Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. Having met or achieved most of the goals for 2020, AF&PA is now in its second generation of sustainability goals: Better Practices, Better Planet 2030.

The sustainability award winners demonstrate the industry's long-held commitment to improving practices that advance sustainable products for a sustainable future. The 2024 Sustainability Award winners were selected by a diverse judging panel of sustainability experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, GreenBlue, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, Clemson University, Resources for the Future and the National Association of Manufacturers.

About AF&PA

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recycle resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future.

The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $350 billion in products annually and employs about 925,000 people. The industry meets a payroll of about $65 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 43 states.

SOURCE: AF&PA