The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has announced the recipients of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Awards, honoring outstanding sustainability efforts within the paper and wood products manufacturing sectors.
“Sustainability is foundational for our members, and our awards program reflects that”, said Heidi Brock, president and CEO of AF&PA. “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”.
The winners of the 2024 Sustainability Awards are as follows:
Leadership in Sustainability – Circular Value Chain
- Clearwater Paper Company: Recognized for optimizing SBS paperboard to advance the circular economy.
Leadership in Sustainability – Water Management
- Domtar: Honored for its water conservation project, “Making a Splash with Water Conservation”.
Leadership in Sustainability – Greenhouse Gas Reductions
- Green Bay Packaging: Awarded for the Green Bay Mill Project, focusing on greenhouse gas reduction.
Leadership in Sustainability – Resilient U.S. Forests
- International Paper: Acknowledged for its Forestland Stewards Partnership with The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Innovation in Sustainability
- Sonoco: Recognized for the development of EnviroFlex Paper ULT 2.0.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- DS Smith: Honored for its DS Smith Packaging Lebanon Indiana Interpreters Program.
AF&PA Board Chair and Sonoco Products Company president and CEO, Howard Coker, praised the winners, stating: “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”.
Established in 1998, the Better Practices, Better Planet initiative is one of the longest-running sustainability programs within U.S. manufacturing, with AF&PA members committed to principles in environment, health, and safety. Following the completion of the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 goals, AF&PA introduced the 2030 goals to further advance sustainability across the industry.
This year’s award recipients exemplify the paper and wood products industry’s dedication to sustainable innovation and practices. The winners were selected by a diverse panel of sustainability experts, including representatives 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.
