Member Spotlight

Submitted: Kathi Rowzie February 16, 2022

Sylvamo became an independent, publicly traded company in October 2021 after International Paper spun off its global papers business. Sylvamo focuses on printing and writing papers, including iconic brands such as Hammermill®, Accent®Opaque and HP Papers. The name Sylvamo, which combines the Latin words for forest, “silva,” and love, “amo,” speaks to the company’s connection to trees and highlights its role as a steward of sustainable forests.

While Sylvamo has a new identity, its history as an avid supporter of Two Sides stretches back more than a decade. Aligned with its long-standing commitment to sustainability, the papers business was a founding member of Two Sides and has enthusiastically supported the organization ever since.

“Two Sides is an important advocate for Sylvamo and our industry’s role in the circular economy,” says Sylvamo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Michel Ribiéras.

Sylvamo’s vision is to be the world’s paper company: the employer, supplier and investment of choice.

“We believe in the promise of paper to educate, communicate and entertain,” Ribiéras says. “Sylvamo has the strategic flexibility, strong leadership and teams, best-in-class mills in attractive regions and iconic global brands to create long-term value for our employees, customers and shareowners.”

With more than 7,000 employees globally, Sylvamo operates seven mills in Europe, Latin America and North America that annually produce nearly 3 million tons of paper and 600,000 tons of pulp. Its North America facilities include its global headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, and two paper mils in Ticonderoga, New York, and Eastover, South Carolina.

When it comes to sustainability, Sylvamo’s commitments span the entire ecosystem.

“The future of paper deserves a company committed to the success of the entire ecosystem,” Ribiéras says. “From the forests we love, to the communities where we live, to those who rely on our paper, we know the well-being of each depends on the well-being of all.”

The company’s efforts to put its sustainability commitments into practice are evident around the globe. In North America, Sylvamo’s Ticonderoga and Eastover mills are triple chain-of-custody certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, Forest Stewardship Council® and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification chain of custody standards, which verify that the wood in their products comes from sustainable sources. The company generates approximately 80% of the power to operate its mills using renewable biomass residuals rather than fossil fuels. Sylvamo is also committed to water stewardship, cleaning and returning 95% of the water used in the paper manufacturing process to its source.

Looking ahead, Sylvamo has set ambitious 2030 goals to ensure healthy and productive forests, to improve the company’s climate impact and its stewardship of natural resources, and to protect and improve the lives of its employees and communities. Its 2030 sustainability targets include:

sourcing 100% of its fiber from sustainably managed forests while safeguarding forests, biodiversity and watersheds;
conserving, enhancing or restoring 250,000 acres of ecologically significant forestland globally;
reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 35%;
defining a pathway to net zero emissions;
reducing overall water usage by 25%;
achieving injury-free workplaces;
fostering inclusive and diverse workplaces by achieving 35% overall women representation, 40% women in leadership positions and 25% minority representation in North America and other regional representation targets; and
improving childhood education in the communities where it operates.

For more information about Sylvamo, visit Sylvamo.com.

For information on becoming a member of Two Sides, click here.