Domtar Honored for Sustainability Advancements

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) recognized Domtar as a leader in sustainability with two 2014 AF&PA Sustainability Awards. This is the second consecutive year AF&PA has honored Domtar for its sustainability advancements. The awards were presented at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 7 in Carefree, AZ.

Domtar received the Innovation in Sustainability Award for its BioChoice Lignin and the Leadership in Sustainability Award for Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions for its Barge Unloading and Conveyor Project. Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, the annual sustainability awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories.

“Domtar’s BioChoice Lignin is a glowing example of our industry’s potential to produce new value streams out of existing resources,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “As policies continue to shift in favor of renewable energy sources, this project also offers a timely solution for those looking to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.”

Domtar leveraged the existing infrastructure at its Plymouth, NC, mill to start a lignin separation plant—the first of its kind in North America in over 25 years. Lignin is the natural glue that holds wood fibers together. While it is most commonly used as a carbon-neutral source of fuel, modern technology allows it to be made into a wide range of sustainable products, including coating, natural binders, plastics and resins.

“Domtar’s Barge Unloading and Conveyor Project is a unique way to address GHG reductions and improve energy efficiency while transporting resources from the waterway to the mill, boosting productivity in the process,” said Harman.

Domtar’s one-mile-long conveyor belt from the banks of the Ohio River straight into its Hawesville, KY. Mill enabled them to directly deliver wood chips to the mill, eliminating 54,000 wood chip delivery truck trips and drastically reducing truck traffic and related congestion and pollution.

“We are honored to be recognized by AF&PA with this year’s Innovation in Sustainability Award and Leadership in Sustainability Award for Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Reductions. Innovation is one of Domtar’s core values, and in this case it has helped make our company more efficient,” said Domtar President and CEO John Williams.

AF&PA member company applicants are considered in two 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: Paper Recovery for Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Sustainable Forest Management, Safety 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 2014 Sustainability Report showed that the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturing industry has made significant, measurable progress toward achieving its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals.

For more information about the Sustainability Awards program and AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative, visit afandpa.org/sustainability.

About AF&PA
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging 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 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $210 billion in products annually and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.

About Domtar
Domtar Corp. (UFS) (UFS.TO) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers and absorbent hygiene products. The foundation of its business is a network of world class wood fiber converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulps. The majority of its pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar, Lynx Opaque Ultra, Husky Opaque Offset, First Choice and Domtar EarthChoice. Domtar is also a leading marketer and producer of a broad line of incontinence care products marketed primarily under the Attends, IncoPack and Indasec brand names as well as baby diapers. In 2013, Domtar had sales of US$5.4 billion from some 50 countries. The company employs approximately 10,000 people.

Source: AF&PA.