Ensuring Sustainability: International Paper’s Commitment to Responsible Fibre Procurement
International Paper’s Global Fibre Procurement Policy serves as the foundation of its commitment to healthy and abundant forests. This policy states, “We will not knowingly accept fibre from illegally logged forests or from forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities.”
To achieve its goal to source 100% of fibre from sustainably managed forests, International Paper engages in responsible fibre sourcing, with the following highlights:
- International Paper’s Fibre Supply Team is a diverse group of more than 225 professionals who work together to ensure fibre is responsibly sourced across its mill footprint
- Its industry-leading mapping platform ForSite™ exemplifies transparency, risk mitigation and targeted collaboration. It enables IP to know where its direct non-certified wood purchases come from and ensures that the right decisions are made before the fibre enters its mill system
- IP maintains chain-of-custody certification at all mills, including certification to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Controlled Wood Standard and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Fibre Sourcing Standard
- IP has developed and continues to support one of the largest private landowner assistance programmes in the U.S. to offer FSC® Forest Management Certification
- Its extensive fibre supply network and ForSite™ allow it to connect its forest conservation partners with private forest landowners to help make a positive impact on-the-ground and in the areas that matter most
ForSite™
ForSite™ is an innovative mapping tool used by IP’s Fibre Supply Team to verify and track the fibre they are sourcing. This system guides its responsible fibre procurement on non-certified forestland in the U.S. It follows the framework and protocol of a HCVF Risk Assessment.
This system uses GIS technology to display and organise a variety of pieces of spatial data — critical information that our Fibre Supply Team uses to make informed decisions prior to the fibre entering the supply chain. ForSite™ data includes an array of environmental and spatial attributes, including:
- Rare, threatened and endangered species by NatureServe Global Conservation Status Ranks (G1/G2, S1/S2)
- Priority forest types and landscapes (bottomland hardwood)
- Forest/wildlife conservation priority areas
- Soil types, topography and hydrology
- Satellite imagery updated weekly
- Land ownership data
- Critical biodiversity areas
By knowing the exact location of the direct fibre it purchases, IP ensures not only that its fibre is derived from sustainably managed forests, but also that it is delivered to the most cost-effective facility location.
Using ForSite™ technology across United States sourcing area, IP has:
- Identified 23M acres where pre-harvest due diligence can be applied
- Made on-the-ground improvements to over 3,145 acres in ForSite™ since 2020
- Mapped every non-certified location of purchased open-market fibre
- Monitored sensitive and high-priority locations
ForSite™ in action
Since forest certification is not always feasible for private forest landowners, International Paper recognised that the industry needed to find a way to assure consumers and customers that forests are being managed sustainably. The implementation of ForSite™ has changed IP’s procurement strategy. It now screens every uncertified tract through ForSite™ prior to purchase to determine whether additional due diligence is required before it accepts timber from that tract. IP’s staff has access to this data both in the office and in the forests on their mobile devices and can monitor forest management activity.
Outcome
The ForSite™ tool shows areas of potential environmental risk and indicates the location of the fibre it is considering for purchase. Some of the species and plants identified using ForSite™ include the Northern Long-eared Bat, Bald Eagle, Red-cocked Woodpecker, Louisiana Pine Snake, American Chaffseed and Gopher Tortoise, along with a variety of rare freshwater mussel species. Thanks to the use of ForSite™, landowners are able to accomplish their management objectives while protecting and improving habitats.
About International Paper
International Paper is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fibre-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., it employs approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. It serves customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were USD18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.
