International Paper has committed to use 15 percent less energy and reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, against a 2010 baseline.
The company plans to achieve these reductions by increasing manufacturing efficiency, exploring new technologies and encouraging employee engagement. The goals are the first in a set of sustainability goals the company says it will announce over the next six months.
IP recently received recognition from the EPA’s Climate Leaders program for achieving voluntary fossil fuel greenhouse gas emission reductions of more than 40 percent from 2000 to 2010.
The firm’s 2010 sustainability report, released in August 2011, said that it reduced its global energy use from 2007 to 2010, but increased the solid waste it sent to landfill from 2006 to 2010.
Since 2006, IP’s landfill rate increased by 2 percent per metric ton of production, the report says.
In March, trade body the American Forest & Paper Association announced goals to increase the paper recycling rate to over 70 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020 in the paper industry.
The group, of which International Paper is a member, called this move the most extensive set of goals of any manufacturing industry in the U.S.
