Domtar Corporation released its 2019 Sustainability Report, which highlights Domtar's progress and challenges toward 2020 goals in three focus areas: Responsibility across its supply chain, including sustainable forestry principles to ensure the health of forestlands; efficiency in its manufacturing, to minimize the negative environmental effects of its operations; and engagement with a variety of stakeholders.

“We have long shared a similar belief,” says John D. Williams, Domtar’s president and CEO. “We and our investors care about how efficiently we use natural resources in our manufacturing, how we support our communities, how we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and how we develop our employees and keep them safe. We believe that caring about our environment, our communities and our people helps us better meet our business objectives and deliver returns for the long term.

“We believe transparency – about both the achievements and the challenges – serves both our interests and the public’s interest well,” Williams adds. “Not surprising, since they are intertwined. The interests of our customers, investors, employees and neighbors are more similar than dissimilar.”

Highlights based on its performance in 2018 include:

• 38% of the fiber procured for its pulp and paper mills was certified, including 21% from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified sources.
• 19% reduction in waste to landfill from pulp and paper mills since 2013, while beneficially using 69% of the manufacturing byproducts generated.
• 72% of the energy used in its pulp and paper mills came from renewable biomass fuels, along with self-generating an equivalent of 72% of the electricity they used.
• 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at pulp and paper mills since 2010.
• 2% reduction in water use at pulp and paper mills since 2014.
• Completed development of its full-cost-of-water model and began using it in project approvals to further support water and energy conservation efforts.
• 57% reduction in its recordable safety incident rate since 2008, to 0.74.
• Expanded its EarthChoice Ambassador program to 30 locations in four countries, covering 86% of facilities.
• $2.5 million invested in its communities, focused on literacy, health and wellness, and sustainability.
• 13,800+ hours contributed by its employees at Domtar-sponsored events in its communities.