Submitted: The Two Sides Team November 28, 2012

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented its first ever Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at the association’s annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 9 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives, the awards are to be given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories. This year, five companies were chosen to receive awards.
November 12 2012, American Forest & Paper Association

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented its first ever Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at the association’s annual meeting on Friday, November 9th in Scottsdale, Arizona. Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and
initiatives, the awards are to be given based on the merit of entries
received across multiple categories.  This year, five companies were
chosen to receive awards.

 “These awards symbolize our commitment to sustainability and
the strides our members have made to constantly improve our business
practices,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman.  “We have
long been sustainability leaders, and now AF&PA is recognizing the
very best of our members’ leadership and innovation across the spectrum
of what constitutes sustainability.

 “Thanks to our members’ efforts, we will continue to make
progress toward achieving the industry’s sustainability goals, setting
the bar for other industries.”

2012 Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Award Winners

Leaders in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Large Company)

Georgia-Pacific: “Improving Energy Efficiency”

International Paper: “Climate Leadership Initiative”

 Leaders in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Small Company)

Thilmany Papers: “Energy and Water Restructuring Program”

 Leaders in Sustainability – Safety

International Paper: “It’s about…LIFE”

 Leaders in Sustainability – Water

MWV: “Mahrt Mill Water and Energy Reduction Project”

 Innovation in Sustainability

Green Bay Packaging: “Fiber Reclaim Project”

AF&PA member company applicants are considered annually in
two categories – “Innovation in Sustainability” and “Leaders in
Sustainability” – with six “Leaders” subcategories: Paper Recovery for
Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Certified Fiber,
Illegal Logging, Safety, and Water.  Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020
sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the “Leaders” category;
projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable
business practices but that do not specifically address one of these
goals may be recognized in the “Innovation” category. In July, AF&PA released its 2012 Sustainability Report,
which showed that the U.S. paper, pulp and wood products industry has
made significant, measurable progress toward achieving the goals of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability
initiative.  This is one of the most extensive collections of
quantifiable sustainability goals for a major U.S. manufacturing
industry.

For more information about the Sustainability Awards program and AF&PA’s Better Practices initiative, visit www.afandpa.org/sustainability.

Share this story