About the AF&PA Sustainability Report

Better Practices, Better Planet 2020

Advancing the Sustainability of an Essential Industry

On behalf of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and its members, we are honored to present our industry’s achievements for the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative.

Nearly a decade ago, AF&PA members introduced a set of sustainability goals that continue to demonstrate a commitment to improving the environment.

Today, we have many reasons to be proud. We achieved most of our goals, including progress toward a safety vision of zero injuries. Since 2006, we have improved our incidence rate by 38.4 percent.

The paper and wood products industry also was among the first to take voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2011, we publicly announced the adoption of a GHG sustainability goal to be achieved by the end of the decade. The original GHG sustainability goal was to reduce the intensity of the industry’s emissions by at least 15 percent. When members surpassed that goal, we again raised the bar, increasing it to 20 percent, which we have now successfully achieved
with a 23.2 percent reduction.

And this year, our industry rose to an unexpected challenge — the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While we focused first on the safety of our employees, we also navigated supply chain disruption as we successfully met the needs of customers who depend on us for essential products.

AF&PA and our supply chain partners worked with federal and state officials to obtain an “essential” status for the industry as COVID-19 emerged. To this day, our mission remains critically important, grounded in a core set of principles and values,
including sustainability and workplace safety.

The pandemic has reinforced the role our industry plays in producing essential products for safe and healthy living. Our employees maintain an essential position, manufacturing items of critical need. And our member companies remain an essential
part of our nation’s economy. They also are helping to respond and support others, donating supplies to communities greatly affected by COVID-19.

Together, we continue to rise to every occasion — whether it is a goal we set for ourselves or challenges we face in the global marketplace. Our members are constantly striving to reach new limits of possibility.

We both have the privilege to lead AF&PA at such a defining moment. And, while we celebrate the progress made as an industry, we see a greater purpose in our collective commitment to work that strengthens our resilience and impact for a
brighter future.

The full sustainability report with highlights of our members’ sustainability progress is available for download here. AF&PA invites you to review our sustainability performance and we welcome your feedback.

We look forward to continuing this meaningful work ahead.