Healthy & abundant forests
Our Vision 2030 goal is to lead forest stewardship efforts globally
How we measure success:
We are committed to leading forest stewardship efforts globally, because it’s the right thing to do.
International Paper’s success depends on the sustainability of forests – and so does the future of our planet. We are steadfast in our commitment to lead forest stewardship efforts globally. Our commitment is also core to our climate action strategy.
Healthy forests provide clean air and water, nurture biodiversity, and 1.6 billion people worldwide depend on them for their livelihoods. Because the creation of paper-based products begins in the forest, we are committed to using only fiber from sustainably managed forests, as well as recovered fiber, to make our products. Beyond our supply chain, we are committed to collaborating with others to conserve and restore ecologically significant forests around the world.
International Paper’s Global Fiber Procurement Policy is the foundation of our commitment to healthy and abundant forests. We recognize that sustainably managed forests maintain and enhance economic, social and environmental value for the benefit of present and future generations. We are committed to producing the products our customers need while being a responsible steward of the world’s natural resources.
Our approach begins with responsible fiber sourcing, including performing due diligence, validating origin, performing second party verification through ForSite™ and engaging our wood suppliers and forestland owners on sustainable management practices. We operate a transparent fiber procurement system consistent with our Core Values of Safety, Ethics and Stewardship.
We also use third-party certification systems, including the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) to verify sourcing from sustainably managed forests and to provide certified products based on customer demand.
Strategic collaborations
We recognize the importance of strategic collaboration to make meaningful progress across our value chain.
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American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, ABC takes on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats and build capacity for bird conservation. International Paper partners with the American Bird Conservancy to provide critical habitat conditions for at-risk bird species by engaging our fiber supply teams, forestry experts, wood suppliers and landowners in our mill basins in the U.S. South. Our initiatives include bird surveys, academic research collaborations, implementation of bird-friendly forest management practices and workshops with consortia of landowners, conservation organizations and community partners. Read more.
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Family Forest Carbon Program
We joined American Forest Foundation (AFF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in supporting the Family Forest Carbon Program to enhance carbon sequestration in family owned forestland across the U.S. Families own the largest portion of all forests in the country, and this program represents a new approach to climate change mitigation that taps into the carbon storage potential of family-owned forestland while creating a new market and source of income for the families that dedicate time and effort to their forest management.
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The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
Launched in 2013, the Forestland Stewards Partnership (FSP) between International Paper and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) catalyze targeted investments that benefit wildlife, people and the planet. Now entering its second decade, FSP has funded 156 projects across twelve states that will restore, enhance or protect more than 1.2 million acres of forest habitat once all projects are completed. In 2022, IP announced the renewal for another five-year period, committing $10 million for wildlife and working forest conservation. Read more.
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The Nature Conservancy
We are collaborating with The Nature Conservancy on the development of natural climate solutions, the conservation, restoration and improved forest management techniques that increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in managed forest landscapes. Our collaboration supports their Reduced-Impact Logging for Carbon (RIL-C) initiative in Gabon and Indonesia, where they are developing a set of scientific practices that balance the economic needs of forest-based communities with environmental goals.
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World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
International Paper is one of the first five companies in the United States to join WWF’s Forests Forward program. This global program engages with companies and other stakeholders around the globe to deliver effective nature-based strategies for forests that help achieve their business and sustainability goals.
