Paperboard
Packaging
Choosing a holistic approach to sustainable
forest management brings long-term benefits
Domtar first to North American market with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
certified line of copy paper
For decades, Domtar has committed to an industryleading, holistic, sustainable forest management
model. This model is focused on ensuring quality
forests, and protecting and supporting the people,
plants and wildlife that live in and rely on these
forests. Domtar has developed and evolved
its sustainable forestry model in collaboration
with leading environmental organizations,
relying on the strictest third-party certification
standards to ensure a responsible supply chain,
measure progress, and ensure transparency.
For Domtar, FSC certification, largely considered
by leading environmental organizations to be
the industry gold standard, has proven to be the
best option for meeting its commercial needs for
a continued supply of wood, while also ensuring
sustainable forest management.
Domtar’s business is designing, manufacturing,
marketing and distributing a wide variety of fibre-based
products including communications paper, specialty
and packaging papers and absorbent hygiene products.
The foundation of the business is a network of world
class wood fibre converting assets that produce paper
grade, fluff and specialty pulp. Clearly, for the business
to prosper, a sustainable supply of wood is needed.
Continued supply of wood, core to
Domtar’s business
Domtar produces 4.1 million metric tons of hardwood,
softwood and fluff pulp at 12 of its 13 mills. The majority
of the pulp is consumed internally to manufacture
paper and consumer products, with the balance being
sold as market pulp. In order to meet the business’
needs for reliable, economical and marketable sources
of fibre, Domtar works together with a range of
forest stakeholders and invests in forest management
practices that focus on long term sustainability.
Domtar recognises that the best way to ensure
that its forests, manufacturing and distribution
operations are managed in a responsible manner is
through third party certification. While Domtar has
a stated preference for FSC where available, it also
uses fibre from multiple certification schemes.
In 2002, Domtar became the first forest products
company in North America to offer an FSC certified
line of copy paper. Domtar’s EarthChoice® Product
Line includes the widest range of FSC certified
paper on the North American market. Being first
to market with such a line of copy paper was a
successful move, with the company selling more than
five million tons of FSC certified paper to date.
© Domtar
As a responsible business, Domtar wanted to
play its part in a long term solution for the future
of forests, not just reducing deforestation but
helping forests by putting more in than taking
out, thereby investing in future supply.
Third party forest certification has had the advantage
of differentiating Domtar’s products in an increasingly
competitive marketplace as well as meeting the global
consumer demand for sustainably sourced paper.
This FSC certified forest supplies Domtar’s
manufacturing base while promoting
environmentally sound and socially
beneficial management practices
Paige Goff, Vice President, Sustainability and
Business Communication at Domtar said:
“ Domtar is proud to have sold over
five million tons of FSC certified
paper, demonstrating what it takes
to be a market leader in responsible
forest practices. We’re honored to be
recognized as an organization that has
made a significant contribution to the
health of the world’s forests, and will
continue to raise the bar for the pulp
and paper industry for years to come. ”
Certification as a tool for sustainable
forest management and transparency
As a large user of wood fibre, Domtar is keenly
interested in the debate about the best way to
maintain and preserve forests for generations to
come. Sustainable forestry means more than simply
replacing trees and requires preserving the ecological,
economic and social functions of the forests. For
this, Domtar found that forest certification, and in
particular FSC certification, was the best route. To
meet FSC, forest operations must meet rigorous
environmental, social and economic requirements,
as confirmed by independent third-party auditors.
In 2012 Domtar announced its aspirational goal to
procure 100 percent of its fibre from sources that
are certified to the FSC standard. In order to meet
this goal, the company needed to invest in a new
supply of certified fibre in North America.
By investing time and money with landowners, Domtar
has increased the number of sustainably managed
forests across North America, thereby investing in the
future of forests. So much so, that in 2014 Domtar was
“ Domtar is a clear leader in the
paper sector with its commitment
to FSC-certified responsible forest
management. Their work to grow
the Four States Timberland Owners
Association is a model that people are
taking a close look at around the world
to bring new FSC supply to the market.
We applaud Domtar for their leadership
and commitment. ”
Meeting global consumer demand
The global demand for paper-based products
continues to grow. The challenge, therefore, is
not only to meet the volume demand for paper
but to do so while protecting natural forests.
Consumers are increasingly expecting manufacturers
to source in a sustainable manner and the success of
Domtar’s EarthChoice line shows there is a demand
for sustainably sourced paper. The EarthChoice line
helps meet companies’ own sustainable sourcing
goals by ensuring the paper is manufactured to the
highest ethical and environmental standards.
In the future, Domtar aims to increase its supply
of certified fibre by remaining committed to
implementing and maintaining third party certification.
As well as being necessary to ensure a reliable
supply of raw materials, Domtar believes that a
commitment to third-party certification, and FSC
in particular, is the most holistic and meaningful
solution to sustainable forestry management.
© Domtar
Domtar partnered with small landowners across the
United States and Canada to demonstrate the benefits
of FSC certification for their forests to help increase
the supply of certified fibre. By 2012, the Four States
Timberland Owners Association, a collaboration of 55
landowners and Domtar, had earned FSC certification
for more than 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares).
Domtar committed to always buy FSC fibre from the
landowners in the Four States Timberland Owners
Association, even if it had enough inventory for its
Ashdown, Arkansas mill. By 2015, 68 landowners were
part of the Association, with 85,000 acres (34,000
hectares) of forestland certified to FSC standards.
awarded the first-ever annual FSC Leadership Award
for the paper sector. The award celebrated Domtar’s
innovative pursuit of FSC certification in North America
and highlighted its commitment to maintaining forests
for future generations. Corey Brinkema, President
of the Forest Stewardship Council US, said:
Domtar’s Ashdown mill is a case study for how
manufacturers can introduce responsible,
certified fibre into their supply chain.
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