Collaborations
International Paper has a long tradition of collaborating with customers, environmental and academic organizations, government and other key stakeholders.
International Paper recognizes the importance of strategic collaboration to make meaningful progress across our value chain. Engaging with third-party organizations helps us broaden our sustainability efforts so that together, we have a greater impact.
Below are some of our active sustainability collaborations.
American Bird Conservancy is dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, ABC takes on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats and build capacity for bird conservation. International Paper partners with the American Bird Conservancy to provide critical habitat conditions for at-risk bird species by engaging our fiber supply teams, forestry experts, wood suppliers and landowners in our mill basins in the U.S. South. Our initiatives include bird surveys, academic research collaborations, implementation of bird-friendly forest management practices and workshops with consortia of landowners, conservation organizations and community partners.
We joined forces with the Arbor Day Foundation to strengthen the resilience of communities through the Community Tree Recovery Program – a public and private partnership that distributes free trees to residents in communities affected by natural disaster. Through the program, we also support the restoration of forestland impacted by natural disasters.
As one of 17 founding members of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Evergreen Alliance, International Paper champions the Time for Trees initiative, a commitment to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities worldwide by 2022. The initiative leverages trees as a simple, natural climate solution, improves community resilience and helps preserve clean air and water, healthy food and a livable climate.
We report annually to customers, shareholders and the general public through CDP questionnaires on climate, forests and water, and we participate in the CDP supply chain program within our supply network.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Network brings together industry leading corporations, emerging innovators, affiliate networks, government authorities, regions, cities and more to develop and promote the idea of a circular economy to mobilize systems solutions at scale, globally. This membership enables International Paper to advance its contributions to the circular, low-carbon economy, building on its work to evolve the design of its packaging, pulp and paper products so that they can enjoy multiple lives through continuous cycles of recovery and reuse.
This is a U.S. public-private initiative to reduce GHG and air pollution created by freight transportation.
We joined American Forest Foundation (AFF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in supporting the Family Forest Carbon Program to enhance carbon sequestration in family owned forestland across the U.S. Families own the largest portion of all forests in the country, and this program represents a new approach to climate change mitigation that taps into the carbon storage potential of family-owned forestland while creating a new market and source of income for the families that dedicate time and effort to their forest management.
The NCSL represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures — as well as to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures. We support the work of NCSL through our contribution to the NCSL Foundation.
Launched in 2013, the Forestland Stewards Partnership between International Paper and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and enhances ecologically important forestlands and coastal savannas in ten southern states.
We are collaborating with The Nature Conservancy on the development of natural climate solutions, the conservation, restoration and improved forest management techniques that increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in managed forest landscapes. Our collaboration supports their Reduced-Impact Logging for Carbon (RIL-C) initiative in Gabon and Indonesia, where they are developing a set of scientific practices that balance the economic needs of forest-based communities with environmental goals.
The Savannah River Clean Water Fund is a coordinated effort to permanently protect and responsibly manage forests – nature’s water filter – in the Savannah River watershed. The first of its kind in Georgia and in South Carolina, the Fund convenes diverse stakeholders around the common goal of protecting forests for the many benefits they provide to local communities, economies and wildlife. The Fund comprises representatives from five public water utilities in Georgia and South Carolina, state environmental and forestry agencies, local land trusts, and others. International Paper represents the first company from the private sector to join the effort.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) helps companies establish science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transform business operations to fit the future low-carbon economy. Targets adopted by companies to reduce GHG emissions are considered to be "science based" if they are in line with what the latest climate science says is necessary to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. International Paper’s 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target across scopes 1, 2 and 3 has been approved by SBTi as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is challenging organizations to set ambitious, portfolio-wide GHG emission reduction goals. As a partner in DOE’s Better Climate Challenge, International Paper is one of more than 80 organizations across the U.S. economy that are stepping up to the Challenge and driving real-world action toward a low-carbon future. International Paper is committed to reduce GHG emissions by 35% by 2030, aligned with the best available climate science, and to work with DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies.
The WBCSD is a CEO-led organization of forward-thinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. International Paper has joined the WBCSD and the organization’s Forest Solutions Group, which provides business leadership in expanding sustainable forest-based solutions. During our participation with the Forest Solutions Group, we have helped to launch the Forest Sector SDG Roadmap and the CEO Guide to the Circular Bioeconomy.
The Aqueduct Alliance brings together leading companies, governments and foundations to gain strategic guidance and industry insight from WRI's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas team and water stewardship activities. The Alliance serves as a space for members to engage WRI and to stay at the forefront of thought leadership in water stewardship.
International Paper is one of the first five companies in the United States to join WWF’s Forests Forward program. This global program engages with companies and other stakeholders around the globe to deliver effective nature-based strategies for forests that help achieve their business and sustainability goals.