International Paper Awarded AF&PA Leadership in Sustainability Award for Resilient U.S. Forests

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced its Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 Sustainability Award winners. The awards recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in paper and wood products manufacturing.  

International Paper was honored to receive a Leadership in Sustainability Award for Resilient U.S. Forests for its innovative approach to promote forest bird awareness and conservation within the forest product supply chain in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). 

“We are honored by AF&PA’s recognition of our efforts in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy,” said Sophie Beckham, VP and Chief Sustainability Officer, IP. “This partnership has given us the opportunity to work with landowners, suppliers, conservationists, and bird specialists to support wildlife diversity in the landscapes from which we source fiber.”  

In 2020, IP and ABC formalized a multi-year partnership with the goal of integrating bird conservation into IP’s fiber procurement operations. This partnership advances IP’s commitment to sustaining forests and reversing the decline of forest birds.  

“This partnership has given us the opportunity to work with landowners, suppliers, conservationists, and bird specialists to support wildlife diversity in the landscapes from which we source fiber.”  

Sophie Beckham

IP and ABC recognized that both organizations share the need for sustainably managed forests to meet their missions and support their respective business models. Given the scale and scope of IP’s operations, this partnership brought together IP’s strengths and expertise in fiber procurement and ABC’s expertise in bird conservation to contribute to reversing population declines in forest birds.  

Through the partnership and working with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), IP and ABC found that Swallow-tailed Kites are excellent ambassadors for sustainable working forests in the U.S. South. Kites are relatively easy to identify; they nest and forage on southeast working forests; and they migrate thousands of miles back to their wintering grounds in South America in late summer. Tracking kites allows IP to monitor their movements all year long to further understand their specific habitat needs and use the data to target conservation and outreach in the most strategic areas. 

“Our sustainability awards are outstanding examples of our goals in action,” said AF&PA 

President and CEO Heidi Brock. “We received our highest number of sustainability awards applications to date. We are so pleased to present these awards and deeply value the innovative work being done across our industry to advance safety, sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

Better Practices, Better Planet is one of the longest standing sustainability initiatives for a U.S.  manufacturing industry. The program was established more than a decade ago. 

The sustainability award winners demonstrate the industry’s long-held commitment to improving practices that advance sustainable products for a sustainable future. The 2023 Sustainability Award winners were selected by a judging panel with representatives from Clemson University, the Department of Energy, GreenBlue, the National Association of Manufacturers, Pure Strategies and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

Visit afandpa.org for videos from all of the award-winning projects.