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Our Approach to Water Stewardship: Preserving Essential Resources at International Paper

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International Paper (IP) outlines its water stewardship initiatives in its 2023 Sustainability Report. The company aims to reduce water use per ton of production by 25% under Vision 2030. IP is implementing the EGENZ system for improved water data collection and automation, while promoting water conservation through its Water Wise Campaign, which has achieved a reduction of 1,744 gallons per year at successful mills. Only two of IP's mills are in water-stressed basins, with the Madrid facility using primarily reclaimed wastewater. The company reports that 89% of water used in manufacturing is returned to the environment. IP's Madrid mill project aims to reduce potable water use by 27% per ton of production.

International Paper (IP) descrive le sue iniziative di gestione dell'acqua nel suo Rapporto di Sostenibilità 2023. L'azienda mira a ridurre il consumo d'acqua per tonnellata di produzione del 25% nell'ambito della Visione 2030. IP sta implementando il sistema EGENZ per migliorare la raccolta e l'automazione dei dati sull'acqua, promuovendo al contempo la conservazione dell'acqua attraverso la sua Campagna Water Wise, che ha ottenuto una riduzione di 1.744 galloni all'anno nei mulini di successo. Solo due degli impianti di IP si trovano in bacini idrici soggetti a stress, con l'impianto di Madrid che utilizza principalmente acque reflue trattate. L'azienda riporta che l'89% dell'acqua utilizzata nella produzione viene restituita all'ambiente. Il progetto del mulino di IP a Madrid mira a ridurre il consumo di acqua potabile del 27% per tonnellata di produzione.

International Paper (IP) esboza sus iniciativas de gestión del agua en su Informe de Sostenibilidad 2023. La empresa tiene como objetivo reducir el uso de agua por tonelada de producción en un 25% bajo la Visión 2030. IP está implementando el sistema EGENZ para mejorar la recolección y automatización de datos hídricos, al tiempo que promueve la conservación del agua a través de su Campaña Water Wise, que ha logrado una reducción de 1.744 galones por año en los molinos exitosos. Solo dos de los molinos de IP se encuentran en cuencas con estrés hídrico, siendo la planta de Madrid la que utiliza principalmente agua residuales recicladas. La empresa informa que el 89% del agua utilizada en la fabricación es devuelta al medio ambiente. El proyecto de la planta de Madrid de IP tiene como objetivo reducir el uso de agua potable en un 27% por tonelada de producción.

International Paper (IP)는 2023년도 지속 가능성 보고서에서 수자원 관리 이니셔티브를 제시합니다. 이 회사는 비전 2030에 따라 톤당 생산량 기준으로 수자원 사용량을 25% 줄이는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. IP는 향상된 수자원 데이터 수집 및 자동화를 위해 EGENZ 시스템을 구현하고 있으며, 성공적인 공장에서 1,744갤런의 수자원 절약을 달성한 Water Wise 캠페인을 통해 물 절약을 촉진하고 있습니다. IP의 두 개의 공장만이 물 부족 지역에 위치해 있으며, 마드리드 공장은 주로 재활용된 폐수를 사용합니다. 회사는 제조에 사용되는 물의 89%가 환경으로 되돌려진다고 보고합니다. IP의 마드리드 공장 프로젝트는 톤당 생산량 기준으로 음용수 사용량을 27% 줄이는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.

International Paper (IP) présente ses initiatives de gestion de l'eau dans son Rapport de Durabilité 2023. L'entreprise vise à réduire l'utilisation de l'eau par tonne de production de 25% dans le cadre de la Vision 2030. IP met en œuvre le système EGENZ pour améliorer la collecte et l'automatisation des données sur l'eau, tout en promouvant la conservation de l'eau à travers sa Campagne Water Wise, qui a permis de réduire de 1.744 gallons par an dans les usines performantes. Seules deux des usines d'IP se trouvent dans des bassins hydriques sous contrainte, avec l'usine de Madrid utilisant principalement des eaux usées recyclées. L'entreprise rapport que 89% de l'eau utilisée dans la fabrication est restituée à l'environnement. Le projet de l'usine de Madrid d'IP vise à réduire l'utilisation d'eau potable de 27% par tonne de production.

International Paper (IP) skizziert seine Wasserbewirtschaftungsinitiativen im Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2023. Das Unternehmen hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, den Wasserverbrauch pro Tonne Produktion bis 2030 um 25% zu reduzieren. IP implementiert das EGENZ-System zur Verbesserung der Wasser Datensammlung und Automatisierung und fördert gleichzeitig den Wasserschutz durch seine Wasserweise Kampagne, die eine Reduktion von 1.744 Gallonen pro Jahr in erfolgreichen Mühlen erreicht hat. Nur zwei der IP-Mühlen befinden sich in wasserarmen Gebieten, wobei die Anlage in Madrid hauptsächlich gereinigtes Abwasser verwendet. Das Unternehmen berichtet, dass 89% des in der Produktion verwendeten Wassers an die Umwelt zurückgeführt wird. Das Projekt der IP-Mühle in Madrid zielt darauf ab, den Verbrauch von Trinkwasser pro Tonne Produktion um 27% zu reduzieren.

Positive
  • Water Wise Campaign achieved 1,744 gallons reduction per year in successful mills
  • 89% of water used in manufacturing operations is returned to the environment
  • Madrid facility project expected to reduce potable water use by 27% per ton of production
  • Only 2 out of all mills are located in water-stressed areas
Negative
  • Two mills operate in water-stressed basins requiring additional resource management
  • Significant capital expenditure needed for Madrid facility water system upgrades

Insights

This sustainability report update, while comprehensive in detailing IP's water management initiatives, does not constitute market-moving news. The report outlines ongoing operational improvements and environmental commitments, including:

  • A Vision 2030 target to reduce water use per ton by 25%
  • Implementation of the Water Wise Campaign resulting in 1,744 gallons per year reduction
  • Improvements in Madrid facility reducing potable water use by 27%

While these environmental initiatives are important for long-term sustainability, they represent routine corporate sustainability reporting rather than material financial developments that would immediately impact investor decision-making or stock performance.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 31, 2024 / International Paper Company

Originally published in International Paper's 2023 Sustainability Report

As one of the most precious resources on Earth, water is essential to sustaining life, ecosystems and economic development. It is also critical to IP's operations; we could not make our products without large volumes of good quality, reliably available fresh water. Water is used to preserve wood, to produce steam and energy, transport materials to process equipment and to produce paper and paperboard. In forests, we are working to advance responsible practices that protect watersheds and allow trees to absorb and filter as much water as possible. At our facilities, we are focusing our water use reduction efforts on the mills experiencing the most significant water risks today and in the future.

Advancing water stewardship

Water is essential to nearly every process in our production facilities - pulping, steam generation, papermaking and more. In light of this resource's critical importance to our operations and communities around the globe, IP is dedicated to conserving and protecting local water resources. Our water stewardship activities are closely aligned with our manufacturing objectives. This approach optimizes how we integrate water reduction into our operations and ensures that our water stewardship efforts are more effective and impactful.

As we work toward our Vision 2030 target of reducing our water use per ton of production by 25%, we are analyzing risks and opportunities for water use reduction at each of our facilities with the ultimate objective of minimizing our impact on freshwater sources. We monitor water consumption at all of our mills through flow metering and engineering methods, track this data as part of our internal environmental management system, and report as required by our permits at all locations.

Improving data completeness and quality

As part of improving our internal data controls process, we are including water influent data collection and automation in our EGENZ system (see page 62). This work is ongoing, as incoming water quantification can pose challenges at certain sites with numerous water collection locations and methods. We expect to use this system to report for our 2024 sustainability disclosures. Moreover, we are ensuring that all mills have water input meters that directly measure major sources of water flow, allowing us to move away from estimates. These flow meters will be regularly monitored and calibrated, and data consolidated at the corporate level, monthly, in EGENZ. This will improve data credibility and reduce unreliable data variability associated with water use.

Reducing water use

We've addressed water consumption in our operations through awareness-raising measures and by closely monitoring and recording how we use water. Some mills have completed mill water balances to find opportunities for water use reduction.

Water Wise

We also share best practices across our mill system through our internal Water Wise Campaign, which helps mills make operational improvements to water consumption. Based on prior performance and benchmarks, we are working with sites to decrease their water use to the best applicable levels. This has resulted in a reduction of 1,744 gallons per year at successful mills. In particular, our containerboard mills in Valliant, Oklahoma and Springfield, Oregon have used awareness-raising measures, eliminated leaks and cleaned process systems to cut their water use. International Paper intends to place greater emphasis on the Water Wise campaign going forward.

Water stress

We use the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Water Aqueduct tool to assess water-related risks at our locations. Two of our mills are in basins considered to be water-stressed, they have a "high" or greater level of Baseline Water Stress (BWS) per WRI Aqueduct Version 3.0. One mill is located along the U.S. Southeastern Atlantic coast, which has not experienced water supply challenges to date. The second mill is in Madrid, Spain, and is considered to have a "very high" level of BWS. This recycled containerboard mill uses primarily reclaimed wastewater in partnership with the local municipal utility and minimizes impact to local water-stress challenges. In 2023, we continued to partner with WRI through its Aqueduct Alliance program to stay connected to the latest research, tools and best practices across industries.

89% of water used in our manufacturing operations is returned to the environment

Minimizing potable water consumption in Madrid

We are completing a project to reduce potable water and use more reclaimed water at our Madrid, Spain Mill, which is located in an area of high water stress. The mill still requires potable water for some of its overall use. The project will result in an estimated 27% reduction in potable water use per ton of production. This involves capital expenditure on pumps and pipelines to switch the effluent treatment plant's source from potable to reclaimed water. The result is a significant contribution towards our overall target to reduce our water consumption.

Watershed protection

All water issues are local. And every watershed has unique characteristics, threats and opportunities. Healthy watersheds are essential to communities, the environment and the manufacturing of our products. That's why we are committed to improving the long-term sustainability of shared water resources and are working to understand the characteristics of each basin where we operate to address the most important water issues for our company, local communities, other water users and ecosystems. We recognize that collaboration with the communities in which we operate is fundamental to strengthening water stewardship.

We were the first-ever private-sector participant in the Savannah River Clean Water Fund, where approximately 78% of the basin is currently forested. International Paper, along with The Nature Conservancy and a diverse set of partners, are leveraging public and private dollars to facilitate land production and better forest management to benefit water quality in the river basin. Through this partnership, 10 miles of the Savannah River were protected, along with more than 4,000 acres across two states, impacting drinking water quality for local residents.

78% We were the first-ever private-sector participant in the Savannah River Clean Water Fund, where approximately 78% of the basin is currently forested

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About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE:IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper - EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.


View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Paper Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: International Paper Company
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-paper-company
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: International Paper Company



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FAQ

What is International Paper's Vision 2030 water reduction target?

International Paper aims to reduce water use per ton of production by 25% by 2030.

How much water does International Paper return to the environment from its manufacturing operations?

89% of water used in International Paper's manufacturing operations is returned to the environment.

What is the expected potable water reduction at International Paper's Madrid facility?

The Madrid facility project is expected to achieve a 27% reduction in potable water use per ton of production.

How many International Paper mills are located in water-stressed areas?

Two International Paper mills are located in water-stressed basins, one on the U.S. Southeastern Atlantic coast and one in Madrid, Spain.

International Paper Co.

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