2019 AF&PA Sustainability Award Winners Announced at Annual Meeting

Back row l-r: Seth Kursman (Resolute Forest Products), AF&PA Board Chairman Pete Watson, AF&PA President & CEO Heidi Brock, Steve Voorhees (WestRock), Pat Lindner (WestRock), Louis Hengen (WestRock). Front row l-r: Ryan Lichwell (Seaman Paper Company), Bryan Hollenbach (Green Bay Packaging), Lisa Bauer-Lotto (Green Bay Packaging), William Kress (Green Bay Packaging), Tom Howard (Domtar)

Nov. 13, 2019 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented its 2019 Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 Sustainability Awards at AF&PA's annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 8 in Bluffton, South Carolina.

“The winning projects further our industry's sustainability record and contribute toward achieving the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 goals,” said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. “We are proud to recognize these outstanding examples of sustainability leadership.”

2019 AF&PA Sustainability Award Winners

Leadership in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Large Company)
Resolute Forest Products: Concrete Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Leadership in Sustainability – Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Small Company)
Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts, Inc.: Let There Be (LED) Light

Leadership in Sustainability – Safety
WestRock: Hopewell Recovery Boiler Life Changing Event Elimination Project

Leadership in Sustainability – Sustainable Forest Management
Domtar: Promoting Sustainable Forest Management for Landowners

Leadership in Sustainability – Water
Green Bay Packaging: Water Reduction Achievements at Green Bay Mill

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.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2020.

The forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $300 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.