Forest products company Georgia-Pacific LLC announced today it is expanding its forest protection and sustainability efforts with an updated policy to better identify and protect endangered forests in the United States; promote conservation of forest diversity; and enhance its sustainable forestry and recycling practices.
The policy update is the result of ongoing discussions with customers
and suppliers, and several years of consultation with a number of
environmental organizations, including the Rainforest Action Network,
the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Dogwood Alliance. In
addition, the group worked with Liz Kramer, Ph.D., from the University
of Georgia, to develop the scientific methodology that is a focus of the
updated policy.
The company said it will not purchase trees from Endangered Forests and Special Areas, or from new pine plantations established at the expense of natural hardwood forests.
"We continue to believe it is possible to operate in a way that is environmentally responsible and also economically sound," said Jim Hannan, Georgia-Pacific chief executive officer and president. "This policy also gives us the opportunity to address issues of increasing interest to our customers and to consumers."
Georgia-Pacific worked with the environmental groups and scientists to identify 11 Endangered Forests and Special Areas totaling 600,000 acres in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Eco-Region, as well as 90 million acres of natural hardwood forests in the Southern region. Endangered Forests and Special Areas in other regions will be mapped in a similar process, over the coming years.
“No other U.S. company has demonstrated this level of initiative in mapping unique forests across such a broad region,” said Debbie Hammel, NRDC Senior Resource Specialist. “Through this process, GP has proven that — by harnessing scientific advances and seeking conservation guidance — corporations can help protect unique places without sacrificing profitability.”
Key provisions of Georgia-Pacific’s policy include:
- working collaboratively to help define and map endangered forests and special areas where the company will not source fiber
- encouraging the conservation of natural hardwood forests through measures to evaluate the existing level of natural hardwood forests and not promoting future conversion of such forests to pine plantations
- continuing to not source fiber from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, until roadless areas identified in the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule are permanently protected
- continuing to require loggers to use both mandatory and voluntary state forestry best management practices
- continuing certification of wood and fiber procurement practice
- increasing the internal rate of post-consumer recycled fiber within the company’s total recycled fiber supply system to 50%.
Headquartered at Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of building products, tissue, packaging, paper, cellulose and related chemicals. The company employs more than 40,000 people at approximately 300 locations in North America, South America and Europe.
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