Minerals Technologies Inc. have announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Alexander Masetti Vice President and Managing Director of its Paper PCC business unit. Mr. Masetti joins Minerals Technologies Inc. from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., where he held various business unit and executive positions. He will become an officer of Minerals Technologies and a member of the company's management team.

"I am very pleased to have someone of Alex Masetti's caliber and business experience join MTI," said Joseph C. Muscari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Alex's main focus will be on continuing the growth of Paper PCC, our largest business unit, through geographic expansion and new product innovation."

Mr. Masetti will succeed D.J. Monagle, III, Chief Operating Officer, Specialty Minerals Inc. and Minteq Group, who was named to that position in February of 2014. In his new position with Minerals Technologies, Mr. Masetti will be responsible for the operation of the company's 60 precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plants located on site at paper mills around the world.

Mr. Masetti joined Air Products in 1981 as an Applications Engineer and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility. In 1990, he was named Vice President, Gases Division of San Fu Chemical Company Ltd., a joint venture with Air Products. He was appointed Global Marketing Manager for the Electronics Division in 1994; Vice President of Daido Air Products Electronics in 1997; Director of Investor Relations in 2000; and Regional Vice President, Tonnage Gases North America in 2004. In 2009, he was named Vice President, Continuous Improvement Center of Excellence.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and a Masters of Business Administration from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

New York-based Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based growth company that develops, produces and markets worldwide a broad range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services. MTI serves the paper, foundry, steel, environmental, energy, polymer and consumer products industries. The company reported sales of $1.725 billion in 2014.
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For further information about Minerals Technologies Inc. look on the internet at http://www.mineralstech.com/

The significant increase of raw material costs, particularly pulp, makes it necessary for Sappi Europe to adjust prices upwards for Speciality papers from April 15th. The price rise will apply to all  European and Overseas markets.

The increase will be in the range of 5 - 7% and will be applied to all coated and uncoated Flexpack papers, Siliconising base papers and Label papers.

Implementation will be discussed  with customers in all countries individually over the coming weeks.

About Sappi

Sappi Europe SA is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Vantage™, Royal™, Galerie™, GalerieArt™ and Jaz™ ranges. Algro®, Fusion®, Leine® and Parade® are the brands for speciality labelling, topliner, packaging papers and boards. Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. Sappi European mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes.

Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 12,800 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.

2014 was an important year for the future of the Cham Paper Group. The favourable economic environment and the strong market position of Cham Paper speciality papers led to a significant improvement in results, while considerable progress was made with the development of the Papieri real estate project.

• Pleasing revenue development thanks to good market conditions and successful products
• Significant improvements in results, with EBIT rising from CHF 1.8 million to CHF 8.9 million
• Investment to increase productivity and capacity at the Italian mills
• Town planning study commissioned for the Papieri-Areal successfully concluded, master plan drawn up with framework for the project
• Payment of a dividend of CHF 3.00 per share

Growth of strategically important products and clear improvement in results
The Cham Paper Group's revenue with speciality papers fell by 6.6% to CHF 216 million in 2014. The Group achieved growth in strategically important product groups. Sales of speciality papers from the two Italian mills rose by 2.4%, resulting in a 1.4% increase in revenue to CHF 187 million. In Switzerland, revenue from the sale of paper coated in Cham, particularly for the Digital Imaging product family, grew by 22% to CHF 29 million. Thanks to improved cost structures, the Group achieved an operating profit before restructuring costs of CHF 8.9 million and an EBIT margin of 4.1%. This represents a significant increase on the previous year (CHF 1.8 million, EBIT margin 0.8%), in which the challenging transformation phase was still ongoing.

Technology transfer from Cham to Italy
To further improve the competitiveness of our speciality papers, we decided to transfer additional technology from Switzerland to Italy in mid-2014. The associated investment of around CHF 20 million in the Italian mills (of which CHF 13 million in 2014) will lead to a further improvement in productivity and capacity in 2015. The relocation of the coating technology operations currently run in Cham for producing the digital imaging and barrier papers will take place in the first quarter of 2015. The associated restructuring costs for the redundancy scheme and write-downs on facilities in Cham reduced the operating profit for 2014 by CHF 3.1 million. The total net profit for the 2014 financial year came to CHF 1.8 million (previous year: CHF 0.4 million).

Balance sheet streamlined and equity ratio increased to 53%
The paper division reduced the level of outstanding customer debts and optimised its warehouses for raw materials and finished products, which led to a reduction of CHF 13 million in tied-up capital. Some of the funds freed up as a result of this were used to pay suppliers earlier, which allowed us to benefit from more favourable purchasing conditions. At the same time, liabilities to banks of CHF 14 million were repaid. The Group had cash reserves of CHF 38 million at the end of the year and is thus free from debt in net terms. The balance sheet total was reduced by around CHF 30 million, while the equity ratio is now a comfortable 52.8% (previous year: 46.3%).

Town planning study concluded and master plan drawn up
The future use of the Papieri-Areal in Cham is increasingly taking shape. An assessment panel consisting of experts, representatives of the community of Cham, the Cham Paper Group and various cantonal offices had unanimously recommended following up a project proposal from the study commissioning process at the end of June 2014. The authors of the project were then able to develop their draft into a master plan with a framework for the project. We are now working flat out on the legal groundwork together with the cantonal authorities involved. The electors of the municipality of Cham will vote on rezoning in 2016.

Interim use intensified and head of the new real estate division appointed
The buildings and the Papieri-Areal have already come to life, with a total of 73 interim tenants using the space that has become free until the renovation and new construction work begins. The revenue obtained from this will cover a large proportion of the project costs. Andreas Friederich has joined the Cham Paper Group and has been building up an internal real estate team since March 2015. On 1 July 2015 he will become the head of the new real estate division. This division will report directly to the Board of Directors' real estate committee, which consists of Philipp Buhofer and Niklaus Peter Nüesch, as well as external experts.

New head of the paper division from 1 July 2015
The Delegate of the Board, Urs Ziegler, who has successfully completed the extensive restructuring of the Cham Paper Group since the end of 2012, will reduce his workload as planned from summer 2015 onwards. Luis Mata, until now the Head of Finance at the Cham Paper Group, will take over the operational management of the paper division as COO from 1 July 2015.

Proposals to the General Meeting of Shareholders
The Board of Directors will propose to the General Meeting of Shareholders that an unchanged dividend of CHF 3.00 per share be paid (previous year: CHF 3.00), which will be exempt from capital gains tax for Swiss private investors. All five members of the Board of Directors will also be put forward for re-election.

Demanding challenges, but strategically well-placed
The Cham Paper Group is confident regarding the Group's further development. The Paper business unit is well positioned and will benefit from the strong performance characteristics of its products in all markets. At the present time, the strength of the US dollar against the euro is having a detrimental effect on the margin. The real estate division will develop into a strong second pillar for the Group over the next decade.

We would like to thank you, our valued shareholders, customers and partners, for your trust and our employees for their huge commitment.

Cham Paper Group
 The Cham Paper Group is a leading manufacturer of coated speciality papers. Its papers have surface coatings that give them functionalities that offer added value for customers. The company was founded in 1657 and has three sites, one in Switzerland (Cham) and two in Italy (Carmignano and Condino), as well as operating a global distribution network.
 The decision to focus on development and distribution activities and to withdraw from paper production in Switzerland has created new space at the factory site in the centre of Cham. The Cham Paper Group is developing an 11-hectare area there, the Papieri-Areal.
 The Cham Paper Group (stock exchange symbol: CPGN) is listed on Switzerland's SIX Swiss Exchange.

For information, please contact
 Media and IR Office Cham Paper Group Holding AG
 c/o Dynamics Group, Edwin van der Geest / Philippe Blangey
 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 Phone: +41 43 268 32 32

Port celebrates its 30th anniversary having handled nearly 85 million tons of pulp

The specialized terminal Portocel (Terminal Especializado de Barra do Riacho), result of a partnership between two of the world's largest pulp producers (Fibria, with 51% interest and Cenibra, with 49%), celebrates 30 years under private control in March, and has become a global benchmark for port operations. Portocel’s warehouses and quays are responsible for moving 70% of Brazil's annual pulp exports. Over its 30-year history, the port has moved nearly 85 million tons of pulp, equal to more than 5 times annual production from all Brazilian pulp producers, which totaled 16.4 million tons in 2014.

Pulp and wood are the main products that pass through the terminal, located in Aracruz (state of Espírito Santo), one of the only terminals in Brazil integrated with other forms of transportation: highways, railways, pipelines and waterways. With specialized equipment and facilities for handling pulp, the terminal is capable of loading 72,000 tons per day, versus 24,000 tons per day 30 years ago.

Round-the-clock operations and trained personnel are additional differentials that make it one of the most efficient in port operations and have led to Portocel's recognition for its efficiency and low cost.

In 2014, the port broke a historic record, moving 6,009,464 tons of pulp by year's end. The terminal has three berths that receive an average of 286 ships per year. Thirdy years ago, the facility had only a single berth, receiving an average of 64 ships per year.

Diversification - Portocel specializes in moving forestry products, but in the recent years has also dedicated operations to other cargo, taking advantage of the terminal’s potential and operating efficiency. Other forms of cargo include metals, salt, granite, sodium sulfate, pipes and project cargo. “We are prepared to handle other cargo with the same efficiency seen in pulp operations," said Patrícia Dutra Lascosque, Portocel's superintendent. She added that the port has seen a 100% increase in the handling of other products over the last four years.

Barges – In addition to berths for ships, Portocel also has a Barge Terminal, inaugurated in 2003, which led to the renewal of cabotage operations (between ports in the same country) in Brazil. The terminal is used to unload wood that Fibria produces in southern Bahia and pulp produced in Veracel, in the city of Eunápolis (Bahia). Wood is loaded on barges at the Caravelas Terminal (Bahia) and pulp, in the Belmonte (Bahia) port.

In 2014, barges transported approximately 23% of wood that supplied the Fibria plant in Aracruz (Espírito Santo). Pulp from Veracel that arrives on barges is transferred to Portocel warehouses and is later loaded onto ships headed to a number of countries. In addition to Fibria and Cenibra, other pulp producers also use Portocel to ship their product.

Productivity – In an ongoing pursuit of greater efficiency, safety and operational excellence, Portocel implemented the Operational Resizing Project in 2014. Focused on pulp handling, the project involved the adjustment of cargo handling equipment to increase productivity. To do so, the port terminal conducted studies and tests to map bottlenecks and identify opportunities for improvements to its pulp-handling infrastructure.

This project identified the opportunity to resize cargo handling equipment, both vertical (lift-trucks) and horizontal (tractors), which led to the replacement of part of the lift-truck fleet, comprised of 7-ton lift-trucks, with vehicles capable of handling 16 tons. The tractor fleet was also replaced with forestry tractors adapted with quick-coupling mechanisms, while service teams for both activities were also resized.

Sappi Limited, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp and graphics, speciality and packaging papers, is pleased to announce that it will build a pilot-scale plant for low-cost Cellulose NanoFibrils (nanocellulose) production at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen in the Netherlands. The pilot plant is expected to be operational within nine months.

• Sappi to proceed with a pilot-scale plant for low-cost Cellulose NanoFibrils production
• Sappi choses Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands, after global review of potential sites
• Brightlands Chemelot Campus is a R&D and teaching campus focused on performance materials, biomedical materials and bio-based materials
• Pilot plant builds on technology developed by Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University
• Pilot plant will test the manufacturing of dry re-dispersible Cellulose NanoFibrils (CNF) and determine options for commercial production
• Nanocellulose has potential to be used in a huge range of applications
• Continues Sappi’s move into new and adjacent business fields based on renewable raw materials

Commenting on the decision, Andrea Rossi, Group Head Technology, Sappi Limited, explained that the pilot plant will help with Sappi’s move into new adjacent business fields based on renewable raw materials. Sappi’s strategy includes seeking growth opportunities by producing innovative performance materials from renewable resources. The raw material for the pilot plant would be supplied from any of Sappi’s Saiccor, Ngodwana and Cloquet dissolving wood pulp plants. The pilot plant is the precursor for Sappi to consider the construction of a commercial CNF plant.

He goes on to say “the pilot plant will test the manufacturing of dry re-dispersible Cellulose NanoFibrils (CNF) using the proprietary technology developed by Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University. The location of the pilot plant at Brightlands Chemelot Campus provides Sappi with easy access to multiple partners with whom Sappi will seek to co-develop products that will incorporate CNF across a large variety of product applications to optimise performance and to create unique characteristics for these products.

The CNF produced by Sappi will have unique morphology, specifically modified for either hydrophobic or hydrophilic applications. Products produced using Sappi’s CNF will be optimally suitable for conversion in lighter and stronger fibre-reinforced composites and plastics, in food and pharmaceutical applications, and in rheology modifiers as well as in barrier and other paper and coating applications.

Speaking on behalf of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, the CEO Bert Kip said “We’re proud that a globally leading company like Sappi has chosen our campus for their new facility. The initiative perfectly fits with our focus area on bio-based materials and our new pilot plant infrastructure.”

In December 2014, Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University announced the results of their 3 year project to find a low cost energy-saving process that would allow Sappi to produce the nanocellulose on a commercially viable basis – and importantly without producing large volumes of chemical waste water associated with existing techniques. At the time, Professor Rob English, who led the research with his Edinburgh Napier colleague, Dr. Rhodri Williams, said “What is significant about our process is the use of unique chemistry, which has allowed us to very easily break down the wood pulp fibers into nanocellulose. There is no expensive chemistry required and, most significantly, the chemicals used can be easily recycled and reused without generating large quantities of waste water.

Math Jennekens, R&D Director at Sappi Europe who is the project coordinator and will oversee the pilot plant, said “We are very excited to be able to move from a bench top environment into real-world production. Our targeted run-rate will be 8 tons per annum. We will produce a dry powder that can be easily redispersed in water. The nanocellulose is unmodified which makes it easier to combine with other materials. The product will be used to build partnerships to test the application of our nanocellulose across the widest range of uses.”

He went on to thank the Government of the Province of Limburg in the Netherlands for their significant support and financial contribution towards the establishment of the pilot plant.

South African headquartered Sappi, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp and graphics, speciality and packaging papers, uses research and development to drive product innovation and to develop new uses for its renewable resource (woodfibre) as well as for the biomass and other residues from its production processes. One such area of investigation is nanocellulose; a new forest products material which Sappi believes will play a key role in its future suite of products, both as a product in itself and in its applications.

For more information visit www.sappi.com

Brightlands Chemelot Campus

At Brightlands Chemelot Campus, research and development are performed and education is provided in the field of chemistry and materials, and related life sciences. The focus is on performance materials, biomedical materials and bio-based materials. The campus is developing into a creative breeding ground for innovation and new businesses, with thousands of highly-trained workers. This dynamic has been created in part through collaboration between the business community, educational and knowledge institutes, and the authorities. The campus provides an active contribution through activities such as facilitating the construction of pilot plants and accelerating new business development.

Chemelot Campus collaborates with Maastricht Health Campus under the name Brightlands. Brightlands also relates to the research program of Maastricht University, Zuyd Hogeschool and the Province of Limburg.

For more information: www.brightlands.com.

Xerium Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services, announced that Bill Butterfield, executive vice president and chief technology officer, presented a technical paper at this year’s Tissue World Barcelona on March 17, 2015.

Mr. Butterfield also presented a paper titled “Improving Tissue Machine Performance With New Fabric, Felt and Roll Cover Technology”, as part of the Yankee Dryer Optimization session.

He also previewed the company’s newly developed SMART^®Technology for tissue suction roll applications. With well over 550 SMART Technology installations worldwide on paper, packaging, and other industrial machines, Xerium has now included new functionality on vacuum applications providing tissue makers with better diagnostics and performance analysis for process optimization.

“Our customers have been requesting this functionality for years and we are delighted to now make it available to the global tissue market,” said Mr. Butterfield. “SMART Technology is already generating very unique insights for our customers and providing correlations in vacuum levels, profile, rolls and cover dynamics, and machine clothing that was previously unattainable.”

ABOUT XERIUM

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM) is a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services. Xerium utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. Xerium has 26 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries, 2 new plants under construction in 2 countries and employs approximately 3,100 employees.

Unique High-Filler Technology Will Provide Significant Cost Savings in Reduced Fiber Consumption by Increasing PCC Filler Usage 20%

Minerals Technologies Inc., has announced that it has signed a commercial agreement with a prestigious global paper producer to provide Fulfill^® V-426,  a new, high-filler technology, at the paper company's mill in North America. The paper company wishes to remain unnamed for competitive reasons.

Minerals Technologies now has 20 agreements with paper mills that have adopted the Fulfill^® high filler technology portfolio that the company introduced in late 2010. The agreement with this papermaker marks the company's seventh in North America.  It is also the company's first commercial success with FulFill ® V-426, utilizing Nalco FillerTEK® technology, as a result of the distribution agreement announced in October 2011.

These agreements confirm the commercial progress of the Fulfill^® brand, a portfolio of high-filler technologies that offers papermakers a variety of efficient, flexible solutions that decreases dependency on natural fiber and reduces costs. The Fulfill^® portfolio allows papermakers to increase loading levels of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), which replaces higher cost pulp, and increases PCC usage up to 30 percent and higher.

"We are delighted that this global papermaker is adopting the latest technology that will allow them to produce quality paper at lower cost," said D.J. Monagle, senior vice president & managing director, Paper PCC. "The continued acceptance of the FulFill^® technology portfolio globally reaffirms MTI's commitment to advance our technology leadership throughout our satellite network around the world." 

PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By substituting Minerals Technologies' PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. In 1986, Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing papermaking in North America. Today, the company has 60 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.

New York-based Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based growth company that develops, produces and markets worldwide a broad range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services. MTI serves the paper, foundry, steel, environmental, energy, polymer and consumer products industries. The company reported sales of $1.725 billion in 2014.

For further information about Minerals Technologies Inc. look on the internet at http://www.mineralstech.com/

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.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) has been named as one of the “World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies” for the seventh time by the Ethisphere Institute, a recognition that honors companies that continuously improve ethical leadership and corporate behavior at every level of their organizations.

“As a seven-time honoree, Rockwell Automation adopts leading ethical standards and practices that ensure long-term value to customers, employees, suppliers, and investors,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere’s chief executive officer. “Rockwell Automation uses ethics as a means to further define its industry leadership.”

“Ethics and integrity are deeply rooted and ingrained in our culture,” said Keith D. Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation chairman and CEO. “I’m proud of our employees who consistently do the right things, the right way, every day. They differentiate our company, giving us a competitive advantage.”

Rockwell Automation also announced today that its 2014 Corporate Responsibility Report is now available online and in print. Besides detailing the company’s approach to ethical business practices, the report provides highlights and updates on the company’s environmental performance, employee safety and culture, and community relations initiatives.

To learn more about Rockwell Automation’s corporate responsibility practices and programs, please click here http://www.rockwellautomation.com/about-us/sustainability-ethics/overview.page.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 22,500 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

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 honors superior achievement through its World’s Most Ethical Companies^® recognition program. 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.

On the 27th of February 2015, employees from Sappi Europe’s Headquarters in Brussels headed out to the Forêt de Soignes with a batch of 1,400 saplings, ready to be planted.  A further 2,600 will be planted by Natuur en Bos on behalf of Sappi. This will bring to over 12,000 the number of trees replanted by the group since the initiative started 5 years ago.

Sappi’s employee-led tree planting initiative stated in Spring 2010 in association with ANB (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), the equivalent of the Department of Forestry. This organisation is responsible for the planting of approximately 30,000 trees in the Forêt de Soignes every year as part of the National Forest Management Plan (Belgium).

The tree-planting initiative is just one of a series of actions clearly showing that sustainability is at the heart of everything that Sappi does.  Here at Sappi, we have chosen to be eco-effective. This is how we function both as people, and as a company, integrating our approach to business and the environment. Sustainability relies on each individual choosing to be responsible and engaging in regular sustainability related initiatives, no matter how big or small.

Jens Kriete is the Environmental Manager at Sappi Europe, “Sappi is a paper manufacturer and by producing our paper we make sure that forests are managed in a sustainable manner. It’s important that we take the time to go back literally to our roots. Through this team building exercice, not only do we reconnect with this fact, but we can also make the link between sustainability theory and practice.”

La Forêt de Soignes is a forest located in the south-eastern part of Brussels covering an area of over 4400 hectares - http://www.zonienwoud.be
Sappi Fine Paper Europe Tree Planting Expeditions have planted the following numbers of trees:
-    Spring 2010 – 1250 trees
-    Spring 2011 - 2200 trees
-    Winter 2011 – 2000 trees
-    Winter 2012 – 2750 trees
-    Spring 2015 – 4000 trees

Sappi’s approach to sustainability is based on a holistic view of Planet, People and Prosperity (the 3P’s). These values and commitments underpin everything we do.
Planet: contributing to a world of biodiversity, renewable energy and environmental care
People: adding to the wellbeing, safety and health of employees and communities
Prosperity: aiming at long-term profitability and customer satisfaction through innovation and ethical conduct.

About Sappi
Sappi Europe SA is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Vantage™, Royal™, Galerie™, GalerieArt™ and Jaz™ ranges. Algro®, Fusion®, Leine® and Parade® are the brands for speciality labelling, topliner, packaging papers and boards. Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. Sappi European mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes.
Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 12,800 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.