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Clearwater Paper Publishes First Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Friday 11. January 2013 - Pledges five-year reduction goals for water, air, greenhouse gases, waste, energy

Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) today announced publication of its initial Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability and outlining our undertaking for continuous improvement.
The CSR will serve as a benchmark against which to measure the company’s progress on several key metrics. The report pledges resource investments in strategies and projects that reduce the company’s environmental footprint associated with water, air, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and energy.
“Sustainability has been part of our DNA for more than a century,” said Linda Massman, president and CEO of Clearwater Paper. “This report formalizes our long-demonstrated commitment to doing business in a way that is good for people, good for the environment, and good for the future of the company.”
Specifically, Clearwater Paper’s CSR outlines the company’s goals to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, energy consumption by 15 percent, manufacturing solid waste to landfills by 20 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2017.
“Developing and issuing our first CSR gave us the opportunity to share information about our innovative historical projects as well as define future sustainability expectations,” said Marv Lewallen, vice president of environmental, energy, and sustainability. “Sharing future CSR’s will be an exciting and constructive method in which to show progress against our goals and demonstrate our successes in all aspects of our sustainability efforts.”
Most of Clearwater Paper’s carbon emissions are related to consumption of purchased energy used to produce paper products at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Clearwater Paper has already taken significant strides as a pioneer in green power generation. Since 1980, the company has generated approximately 50 megawatts annually in renewable energy at its Lewiston, Idaho, woody biomass facility. In another example, the company’s East Hartford tissue facility generates a significant portion of its electrical needs with a combined heat and power system, which also generates approximately 10 percent of its steam and heat water requirements.
Supply chain management is another area of importance. Clearwater Paper will build from existing initiatives including the practice of sourcing 100 percent of the wood fiber used in products from certified or controlled sources and using recycled material in packaging.
The CSR report also calls for renewed emphasis on employee health and well-being. The company’s safety performance and an enhanced employee wellness program are among the areas of the company’s focus.
“From major initiatives such as sourcing fiber from certified suppliers to less-visible practices like our employee safety program, we have a shared responsibility to our stakeholders and stockholders to ensure that our company, industry and the environment endure for future generations,” concluded Massman.