The American Forest & Paper Association released its 2016 Sustainability Report, showcasing the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry’s commitment to sustainability across the value chain, including progress toward achieving the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals. “Sustainable manufacturing processes enable our industry to produce essential products that are widely used every day, while ensuring that the renewable resources used to make them will be plentiful for future generations,” added Mark Kowlzan, chairman and CEO of Packaging Corporation of American and chairman of the AF&PA Board of Directors.

2016 AF&PA Sustainability Report highlights include:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from AF&PA member facilities were reduced by 16 percent, surpassing the 15 percent reduction goal ahead of schedule.

• Over 63 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. has been recovered for recycling for each of the past seven years, reaching a record 66.8 percent in 2015.

• Pulp and paper mills self-generate, on average, about two-thirds of their energy needs from biomass and renewable fuels.

• The paper and wood products manufacturing industry uses combined heat and power technology to generate 97.6 percent of the electricity it produces on site.

• Water used by mills for production of paper and wood products is reused ten times, on average.

  For a detailed overview of the industry’s progress, including the full report, a video of highlights and other materials, copy and paste the following link into your browser:

• http://sustainability.afandpa.org/.

  Stay tuned for ways that you can bring awareness to your communities on the work that the paper industry has, and continues, to do around sustainability, biomass and renewable energy. In a future issue of Monday Morning Minute, we will highlight talking points that you can use in letters to the editor to showcase the industry’s (and your particular location’s) commitment to sustainability.