Consumables

Domtar marks milestone with sale of millionth ton of FSC-certified paper

Friday 25. September 2009 - Domtar Corporation (NYSE/TSX: UFS) announced today that it has marked a significant milestone with the sale of its millionth ton of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. This achievement is a direct result of the commitment Domtar made nearly a decade ago to pursue FSC certification for all of its forests and facilities.

Since the company’s first FSC-certified ton was manufactured in 2002, Domtar’s offering has evolved from one product to a full line of environmentally and socially responsible papers, known collectively as Domtar EarthChoice(R). Today, the EarthChoice family includes a wide range of products for a variety of end uses, including copying, printing, mailing, publishing and more.
“Domtar EarthChoice(R) papers are one of Domtar’s strongest statements about our commitment to responsible environmental practices and I am proud to say that some of the most recognized companies and brands in the world have chosen EarthChoice to put on paper their own commitment to sustainability,” said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I would like to thank our nearly 10,500 employees, our loyal customers and our supplier partners for helping us reach this milestone. I look forward to continuing to make EarthChoice the responsible choice for years to come.”
All Domtar EarthChoice(R) products are certified to FSC standards, publicly supported by WWF-Canada and endorsed by Rainforest Alliance. Domtar has earned this endorsement by not only committing itself to the FSC certification of the forests it manages but also by increasing the amount of FSC-certified fiber procured from suppliers.
Tensie Whelan, President of Rainforest Alliance, said, “The Domtar EarthChoice(R) commitment has brought sustainability into the mainstream with more than one million tons of Rainforest Alliance/FSC-certified product sold. This has been good for business for Domtar, bringing the company new customers and sales, as well as good business for the trees – on which we depend for water, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. Thanks a million, EarthChoice!”
Gerald Butts, President and CEO of WWF-Canada added, “As an early adopter of FSC certification – the most rigorous and widely endorsed forest certification standard – for all its forests and facilities, Domtar has proved itself a true leader in environmental responsibility. We congratulate them on the success of the EarthChoice product line and celebrate the millionth ton of FSC-certified Domtar paper in the marketplace.”
“The choice Domtar and others are making for FSC is generating concrete social and environmental benefits for the world’s forests and the people who depend on them. The sale of the first million tons of FSC-certified paper is another landmark in the company’s commitment to sustainability. Congratulations to Domtar for its leadership and to its entire staff for making this a reality,” said Andre de Freitas, Executive Director of FSC International.
Domtar currently has over 40 FSC-certified sites, including 11 paper mills, three market pulp mills, 14 offsite converting operations as well as regional replenishment centers located across its North American manufacturing footprint. Thanks to this network, the Domtar EarthChoice(R) line continues to expand and help meet increasing customer demand for more responsible paper products in the marketplace.