Displaying items by tag: International Paper

International Paper announced today that it has been recognized as one of the 2015 World's Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, an independent center of research that promotes best practices in corporate ethics and governance. The World's Most Ethical Companies designation recognizes those organizations that have had a material impact on the way business is conducted by fostering a culture of ethics and transparency at every level of the company. This is the ninth straight year that International Paper has been honored with this award, which recognizes organizations that continue to raise the bar on ethical leadership and corporate behavior.

"It is an honor to be included among this list and to be among businesses whose principles and practices uphold the highest standards of ethics and corporate social responsibility," said Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton. "Since our Company's founding in 1898, International Paper has been defined by a commitment to ethical behavior and personal integrity. I want to thank our 58,000 talented team members worldwide who helped make this award possible."

"The World's Most Ethical Companies embrace the correlation between ethical business practice and improved company performance. These companies use ethics as a means to further define their industry leadership and understand that creating an ethical culture and earning the World's Most Ethical Companies recognition involves more than just an outward facing message or a handful of senior executives saying the right thing," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "Earning this recognition involves the collective action of a global workforce from the top down. We congratulate everyone at International Paper for this extraordinary achievement."

The World's Most Ethical Company assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute's Ethics Quotient™ (EQ) framework developed over years of research to provide a means to assess an organization's performance in an objective, consistent and standardized way. The information collected provides a comprehensive sampling of definitive criteria of core competencies, rather than all aspects of corporate governance, risk, sustainability, compliance and ethics. The EQ framework and methodology is determined, vetted and refined by the expert advice and insights gleaned from Ethisphere's network of thought leaders and from the World's Most Ethical Company Methodology Advisory Panel.

Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (35%), corporate citizenship and responsibility (20%), culture of ethics (20%), governance (15%) and leadership, innovation and reputation (10%).

The full list of the 2015 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at http://ethisphere.com/worlds-most-ethical/wme-honorees/.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 58,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2014 were $24 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

About the Ethisphere Institute
The Ethisphere® Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies® recognition program, provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) and showcases trends and best practices in ethics with the publication of Ethisphere Magazine and The World's Most Ethical Companies Executive Briefing. Ethisphere is also the leading provider of independent verification of corporate ethics and compliance programs. More information about Ethisphere can be found at: http://ethisphere.com.

International Paper APPM Limited (IP-APPM), a group company of International Paper in India,announced that it received coveted IPMA Environment Award for the year 2013-2014. This award is constituted by Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) – an industry body representing the resurgent and organized face of pulp and paper sector in India. 

This award which is presented once in 2 years have evoked considerable interest and encouraged healthy competition within the industry. This has helped IPMA take forward its cause of enhancing competitiveness through environment conservation. This year the award is presented to IP-APPM’S Rajahmundry mill for maintaining high standard of environment management. The eminent jury which found IP –APPM stand out amongst other nominations included Dr. R M Mathur, Former Director - CPPRI,   Mr. V Raghuraman, Former Adviser – Energy, CII and Mr. Arun G Bijur, Managing Director, SPB Projects & Consultancy Ltd.

Upon receiving the award Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, President, International Paper - India and Chairman and Managing Director – IP-APPM said, “It an honor for us to receive the environment award for our efforts to sustain the environment. It endorses the strong environmental and ethical practices that International Paper follows across its global operations. The testimony to this is the fact that out of the 6 times, this is the 3^rd time that IP-APPM has received this award from IPMA.”

About International Paper APPM Limited 

International Paper APPM Limited (IPAPPM), a group company of International Paper in India, is a leading manufacturer of pulp and paper products and caters to both domestic and foreign markets. IPAPPM produces writing, printing and copier papers at its two manufacturing units in Andhra Pradesh, which have a total paper production capacity of 240,000 metric tons per year. The company is becoming a driving force in sustainability in the paper manufacturing arena in the world economy with sales of approximately US $182 million, focused social and community programs including its own pioneering work in raw material generation through social farm forestry and a very strong strategic growth focus. International Paper owns a majority shareholding interest in IPAPPM and the remaining shares are publicly traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange in India. For more information on IPAPPM, please visit please visit ipappm.com.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 58,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2014 were $24 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

Hammermill^® Paper, manufactured by International Paper, raised $327,657 during an exciting holiday shopping season as part of the paper manufacturer's participation in the 11th annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving^® campaign. This marks the fourth year of the Hammermill brand's partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®, and brings the total amount contributed by Hammermill to St. Jude to more than one million dollars. The Thanks and Giving campaign raises millions of dollars to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® and its mission of finding cures and saving children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Hammermill Paper supported the campaign by producing special reams of paper which featured original artwork on the front, drawn by actual St. Jude patients.  Customers could also learn about the artists by reading the St. Jude stories on the back of the reams.  Extending the partnership even further this year, International Paper sponsored the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in December with a spirit station at mile marker #8.  More than 100 runners joined the Hammermill Heroes team and raised almost $32,000 for the hospital.  "For the Hammermill Heroes team, partnering with St. Jude is about more than just business. It's a way for the entire International Paper family to come together, have fun and support a great cause," said John Sims, Vice President of Printing Papers.

The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign is a multi-media effort that unites celebrities, media and corporate partners in asking consumers to donate while they shop and support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Hammermill Paper joined more than 60 of America's leading companies and brands to participate in the campaign. What began as a holiday-focused fundraising effort by St. Jude has now grown into an annual tradition that raises funds to help St. Jude provide cutting-edge treatment and pursue visionary research. These funds are critical given that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything.

"As we enter the second decade of our St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, we could not have asked for a more wonderful performance from our partners," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Hammermill Paper and its customers truly came through for us this year, not only raising vital funds for the hospital, but also showing such care and concern for the children and their Moms and Dads. This makes all the difference in the world, and we are enormously thankful to Hammermill for its unwavering generosity and commitment."

To learn more about Hammermill Paper, please visit www.hammermill.com.

To learn more about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, please visit www.stjude.org.

About Hammermill Paper:
Hammermill is a brand of office papers that has been trusted to deliver superior quality for over 100 years. Hammermill is universally compatible with today's digital office equipment, so the result is superior print quality and smooth performance on every print job.  Plus it's backed by a 99.99% Jam-Free Guarantee^™. The Hammermill portfolio consists of 20 lb. copy paper for everyday documents, versatile multi-purpose and recycled content sheets, as well as heavier, super smooth presentation-quality papers for documents that get you noticed.

About International Paper:
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 58,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2014 were $24 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE International Paper

International Paper APPM Limited (IP-APPM) has announced the inauguration of the Check Dam at Tantikonda Village, 42 kms from Rajahmundry in East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. IP-APPM sponsored the development of the Check Dam as part of the company’s overarching sustainability efforts.

• Inaugurates 2^nd Check Dam at Tantikonda Village, East Godavari
• 1^st Check dam was constructed in Mamidilova, Vizag District in 2012

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, President, IP India and CMD, IP-APPM, inaugurated the check dam at Tantikonda village amidst a gathering of officials, farmers and residents of the village. The length of the check dam is 10 meters and height is 3 meters with top width & bottom width at 0.6 meters & 2.5 meters respectively and a storage capacity of approx – 7.5 lakh liters. The source of water is from Pushkar canal. The check dam was constructed with an investment of INR 5 Lakhs. With proper irrigation system, the total cultivable area is set to increase from the current 68 acres to 200 acres.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan said, “Sustainability has been one of the core objectives of International Paper and it has always been our endeavor to move it to the communities where we work and live. Watershed management initiatives, such as the Tantikonda Check Dam,   help the local farmers in saving their crops from excess water flowing through the canal and contribute to their livelihood.”

The Need for a Check Dam

The water released from nearby Pushkar Canal, passes through Tantikonda village. Every year due to heavy flow, the farmers who cultivate paddy and other crops lose their produce as it washes away with the water. During the monsoon these problems increase many fold destroying the livelihood of farmers.

During a discussion with the villagers, IP-APPM identified this recurring problem of farmers losing their crops. It was then decided that construction of a check dam will help arrest the problem and result in multiple benefits including enhanced productivity, soil and water conservation, carbon sink creation, environment amelioration and socio-economic upliftment of farmers.

International Paper in India has been supporting tree farmers in costal Andhra Pradesh. The company provides them high yielding clonal sapling of Casurina which can be planted in marginal fallow, degraded land and wastelands. Earlier, the company had also constructed a check dam at Mamidilova Village in Vishakhapatnam district benefitting the local farmers.

About International Paper APPM Limited

International Paper APPM Limited (IPAPPM), a group company of International Paper in India, is a leading manufacturer of pulp and paper products and caters to both domestic and foreign markets. IPAPPM produces writing, printing and copier papers at its two manufacturing units in Andhra Pradesh, which have a total paper production capacity of 240,000 metric tons per year. The company is becoming a driving force in sustainability in the paper manufacturing arena in the world economy with sales of approximately US $182 million, focused social and community programs including its own pioneering work in raw material generation through social farm forestry and a very strong strategic growth focus. International Paper owns a majority shareholding interest in IPAPPM and the remaining shares are publicly traded on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange in India. For more information on IPAPPM, please visit please visit ipappm.com.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging and uncoated papers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 65,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2013 were $29 billion (which included our now divested xpedx business). For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) has announced that Computerworld, the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide, ranked International Paper No. 34 on its 2014 Top 100 Best Places to Work in IT. International Paper was recognized as one of the Top 100 organizations that challenge its IT staff while providing great benefits and compensation. "This is terrific recognition for a first class IT team," said Bob Wenker, vice president and chief information officer. "To be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in IT is a reflection of all-in commitment, and stellar day-in and day-out execution by talented, aligned and engaged teammates around the globe."

International Paper's IT organization employs more than 1,600 IT professionals delivering solutions for business advantage and support services to International Paper's 70,000 employees in 24 countries. 

"Hiring the best and the brightest IT pros, offering them competitive pay and providing top-notch benefits is just the beginning for the outstanding employers on this year's Best Places to Work in IT list," said Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. "Both newcomers to the list and rock-steady stalwarts nurture their talent with challenging business-critical projects, extensive training opportunities and ongoing career development programs. They invest in their own futures by investing in their employees."

Organizations will be included in coverage in Computerworld along with results from the 21st annual Best Places to Work in IT survey.

About the Best Places to Work in IT
The Best Places to Work in Information Technology (IT) list is an annual ranking of the top 100 work environments for technology professionals by IDG's Computerworld. The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, training and retention. In addition, Computerworld conducts extensive surveys of IT workers, and their responses factor heavily in determining the rankings.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging and uncoated papers, complemented by xpedx, the company's North American distribution company. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 70,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2013 were $29 billion.  For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.             

About Computerworld
Computerworld is the leading IT media brand helping Sr. IT, business decision-makers and key influencers navigate change with effective business strategy. Computerworld enables the IT value chain with unique editorial coverage from setting strategies to deriving value from core to edge technologies. Computerworld's award-winning website (www.computerworld.com), publication, focused conference series, custom solutions and research forms the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT vendors to engage this audience. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 7.1 million monthly page views (Omniture, February 2013) and was recognized in BtoB's 2013 Media Power 50 list; recognition Computerworld has received for more than 5 consecutive years. Computerworld is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, events and research company. Company information is available at www.idgenterprise.com.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Faraci has announced that Mark S. Sutton has been promoted to president and chief operating officer and elected a member of the company's board of directors effective immediately.  In this new role Sutton will immediately assume responsibility for the operations of the company and will continue to report to Faraci.  Most recently, Sutton served as International Paper senior vice president, industrial packaging.

"Mark has been a key member of our leadership team and has played an instrumental role in the transformation of International Paper over the last decade," Faraci said. "He has done an excellent job integrating the acquisition of Temple Inland, and with 30 years of proven success at International Paper in a variety of assignments, I'm confident Mark will continue to make International Paper a stronger, better company." 

Sutton has been with International Paper his entire 30-year career.  He joined the company in 1984 as an engineer at the Pineville, La., mill. In 1994, he was named mill manager at the Thilmany, Wisc., mill which at the time was part of International Paper's industrial papers business.  In 2000, Sutton relocated to Europe to serve as director of European corrugated packaging operations and was promoted to vice president and general manager responsible for all corrugated packaging operations across the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) in 2002.  In 2005, he was named vice president of corporate strategic planning and relocated to Memphis.  He was named senior vice president, global supply chain, in 2007 and in 2009 became senior vice president, printing and communications papers – the Americas. In 2011, Sutton was appointed senior vice president, industrial packaging.

Sutton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University.  

SOURCE International Paper

International Paper Company (NYSE: IP)‘s stock had its “neutral” rating reiterated by investment analysts at Goldman Sachs in a note issued to investors on Friday, AnalystRatingsNetwork reports. They currently have a $51.00 target price on the stock.

Shares of International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) traded up 0.39% during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $48.42. International Paper Company has a 52 week low of $27.29 and a 52 week high of $49.10. The stock’s 50-day moving average is currently $45.37. The company has a market cap of $21.363 billion and a P/E ratio of 26.76.

International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 29th. The company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $7.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.66 earnings per share. International Paper Company’s revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that International Paper Company will post $3.90 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of International Paper Company in a research note to investors on Friday. They now have a $60.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $52.00. Separately, analysts at UBS AG raised their price target on shares of International Paper Company from $46.00 to $52.00 in a research note to investors on Wednesday. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, analysts at Longbow Research reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of International Paper Company in a research note to investors on Tuesday, April 2nd. They now have a $56.00 price target on the stock.

Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. International Paper Company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $45.44.

Work to Focus on Forest Conservation in Southeastern United States

International Paper, the world’s largest paper company and Dogwood Alliance, one of the Southern United States leading forest conservation organizations, announced an agreement today that will help advance science based forestry improvements in the world’s largest paper producing region. The former foes will map forests around International Paper’s southeastern operations to identify whether any endangered forests or high conservation value areas exist. This mapping will help ensure that IP is not sourcing from any endangered forests as per its long-standing company policy and will also identify mutually-agreed upon areas where conservation can be focused. In addition, IP and Dogwood Alliance will work together to discourage the conversion of natural hardwood forests to pine plantations.

This collaboration builds on initiatives recently announced by International Paper. The first is IP’s membership in the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Forest & Trade Network in North America. Additionally, IP announced a $7.5 million five-year project with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore and conserve forests in the Coastal Carolinas, Cumberland Plateau and Texas/Arkansas Piney Woods regions. Finally, IP announced an increase in its sourcing of Forest Stewardship Council certified fiber by more than 1.2 million tons during the past five years, and expects to triple that increase by the end of 2014. The company continues to support multiple certification standards as part of its public goal of increasing certified fiber.

“IP has a clear, built in need to maintain healthy forests; our business creates the economic basis for millions of acres of land to remain as forests over long periods of time,” said Teri Shanahan, International Paper’s vice president of Sustainability. “Engaging with our critics is an important part of our process of continuous improvement. We look forward to working with Dogwood, because it’s clear that, although we approach it from markedly different perspectives, they are as passionate about the forests as we are.”

“IP’s leadership on FSC certification and its recently-announced commitment to fund conservation in regions that have long been a priority for us opened the door for transitioning our formerly adversarial relationship to one of collaboration,” said Danna Smith, Executive Director of Dogwood Alliance. “We are pleased to work with IP on these initiatives, that, when combined with our collaborative effort, set a leadership standard within the Southern forest industry.”

The collaboration will kick off with a 2013 pilot project to map forests around IP’s mill in Riegelwood, N.C. (near Wilmington). After the pilot project, IP and Dogwood Alliance will evaluate the framework used and modify it as necessary with the intent of applying it across additional IP southeastern operations.

This affiliation represents an unprecedented relationship between Dogwood and IP. Dogwood Alliance has been critical of International Paper in the past, though it has increasingly worked with industry leaders to find innovative business solutions that protect Southern forests.

Until today, International Paper has not been able to reach agreement with Dogwood Alliance although the company’s focus on sustainable forestry practices has led to collaborations with a broad set of stakeholders in the conservation community.

Source: Dogwood Alliance and International Paper

Senator Investment Group, a hedge fund managed by Doug Silverman, has disclosed a position of over 23 million shares in International Paper IP-0.26% . This gives the fund 5.2% of the total shares outstanding of the $21 billion market cap manufacturer of paper and packaging products. We track 13F filings from funds such as Senator as part of our work researching investment strategies (we have found, for example, that the most popular small cap stocks among hedge funds earn an average excess return of 18 percentage points per year), and so we can see that at the beginning of January Silverman and his team only owned 4.2 million shares of the stock as well as 3.5 million call options (see more of Silverman's stock picks).

Senator was the largest shareholder out of the hedge funds and other notable investors which we track in our database, but others had positions in International Paper as well. Billionaire Dan Loeb's Third Point initiated a position of 1.5 million shares in the fourth quarter of 2012. Vinik Asset Management, managed by billionaire Jeffrey Vinik, cut its stake by 9% between October and December but still closed 2012 with 1.6 million shares in its portfolio. Iridian Asset Management was another major shareholder, reporting ownership of 3.1 million shares; that fund is managed by David Cohen and Harold Levy.

In 2012, International Paper grew its revenue by 7% compared with 2011. Earnings shrunk significantly if restructuring charges are included as costs in both years; the paper industry in general is in a period of transition, and for the next couple of years we would imagine that "special items" will continue to affect the bottom line of International Paper and its peers. With these factors bringing net income down for the year, the stock trades at 26 times its trailing earnings. Analyst expectations are for business conditions to improve over the next couple of years, and as a result the forward P/E is only 10- which would represent pure value levels for a company which at least in recent years has managed to grow its sales. Looking out further, the five-year PEG ratio is low at 0.4; we'd also note that International Paper pays a dividend yield of 2.7%.

Other providers of paper and packaging products include Domtar UFS-1.44% , MeadWestvaco MWV-0.58% , Clearwater Paper CLW-2.00% , and KapStone Paper and Packaging KS-1.44% . Each of these companies also carries a large discrepancy between their trailing and forward earnings multiples, as the sell-side seems to be expecting the industry as a whole to do better as well as the possibility of ending restructuring charges. While all four of these stocks carry trailing P/Es in the 20 to 30 range, meaning that International Paper isn't particularly overpriced compare to its peers, in terms of 2014 numbers the multiples are generally between 10 and 13. The exception is MeadWestvaco, a packaging company which is valued at 18 times consensus earnings or that year. This means that International Paper- by far the largest of this peer group- is also the cheapest assuming that analyst expectations are correct.

Of course we'd be wary of taking Street projections at face value, and in absolute terms International Paper would be too dependent on future improvement in order to be a good buy in our opinion. Yet if an investor is interested in paper and packaging we look at the company compared with its peers and it seems to have at least as good prospects, a relatively low valuation in terms of forward estimates, and yet a considerably higher market capitalization. As such those looking or names in the industry should probably start their search by looking more closely into how International Paper's charges might unfold over time.

source: http://www.marketwatch.com

International Paper has joined the Global Forest & Trade Network in North America (GFTN), one of World Wildlife Fund (WWF)'s initiatives focused on eliminating illegal logging and promoting environmentally and socially responsible forest management.  International Paper joins a network of more than 200 companies and communities around the globe committed to the responsible forest management and sourcing of forest products.

"We have long been committed to responsible forestry everywhere we operate, and collaborating with WWF is an excellent way to demonstrate and grow that commitment," said Teri Shanahan, International Paper's vice president, Sustainability.  The initial scope of International Paper's participation in GFTN will encompass fiber sourced for the company's North American and Brazilian mills, representing more than two thirds of its global fiber volume.

"By joining GFTN and increasing its sourcing of credibly certified fiber, International Paper – as the world's largest paper and packaging company  – can use its purchasing power to drive improvements in responsible forestry around the globe," said Suzanne Apple, vice president of Business and Industry for WWF. "This kind of leadership is critical to conserving the places and species we are working so hard to protect."

In the U.S., International Paper has increased its sourcing of Forest Stewardship Council certified fiber by more than 1.2 million tons over the past five years, and expects to triple that increase by the end of 2014.  While IP supports multiple certification standards, the company has developed a highly successful model for increasing its supply of FSC-certified fiber in the Southeastern United States.  In Brazil, International Paper's operations source approximately 75 percent of its pulp wood from FSC-certified sources.

As a GFTN participant, International Paper will release an updated global fiber sourcing policy, which can be viewed at internationalpaper.com.  International Paper announced a set of voluntary goals in 2012, including one focused on increasing 3^rd-party certified wood fiber by 15% by 2020.  Participation in GFTN aligns well with this goal, as the company implements an action plan toward achieving its 2020 target.  In addition, International Paper will support WWF's efforts to protect forests holding particular value for their biodiversity, landscape and socio-economic benefits.  International Paper is committed to chain-of-custody certification, providing additional assurance that wood products from certified and responsibly managed forests are tracked throughout the supply chain.

"Ensuring the continued health of the world's forests is among our top priorities at International Paper," said James McDonald, International Paper's manager, Sustainability.  "We see our voluntary sustainability goals as well as collaboration with GFTN as important for continuing to protect this natural resource."

SOURCE International Paper