Month: June 2023

ALBERTA, Canada, June 13, 2023 /3BL Media/ – International Paper (IP) and Via Separations Inc. (Via) are pleased to announce a collaboration aimed at reducing the energy intensity and carbon emissions of the kraft pulping process.

After four successful pilot demonstrations, Via Separations Inc. will break ground on a new manufacturing technology enhancement – the first of its kind – at IP’s Grande Prairie mill in Alberta, Canada, in the second quarter of 2023.

Via’s Black Liquor Concentration System displaces steam use in evaporators, electrifies the separation, and provides modular demand response for kraft pulp mills translating to cost, energy and emissions savings for the facility. This first-of-a-kind deployment will unlock repeatable projects across other IP mills.

“We are proud to be a leading global supplier of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and fiber-based products people depend on every day,” commented Clay Ellis, senior vice president, Global Cellulose Fibers, International Paper. “We believe in being responsible stewards of our resources and this project is a great example of our Vision 2030 commitment to reduce enterprise greenhouse gas emissions by 35% and ensure our manufacturing process is sustainable for generations to come.”

International Paper is one of the world’s leading producers of fiber-based products. Beyond creating products people depend on every day, IP is creating what’s next through innovative solutions, sustainable operations and collaboration with innovative companies like Via.

Shreya Dave, CEO of Via Separations said, “Via is decarbonizing industries today by changing the way we manufacture our most important chemical and material products. The pulp and paper sector is a perfect focus for us due to its renewable products and focus on sustainability. Our collaboration with IP demonstrates their commitment to energy efficient solutions that boost the economy and create jobs.”

Via Separations Inc. and International Paper are excited to join with Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (NRCan IFIT) program to support the collaboration. NRCan IFIT is designed for innovative and transformational capital investments to ensure industry competitiveness in the forestry industry.

“The collaboration with NRCan and Via Separations has allowed us to bring our technology to one of our most innovative mills to reduce emissions and advance a key industry in the Alberta and Canadian economy,” said IP’s Government Relations Director, Dave Kluesner. “It’s an honor to work with both groups.”

About Via Separations: 
Based in Watertown, MA & spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Via Separations eliminates energy use in industrial processes, enabling pathways for a more sustainable, resource efficient future. With its core filtration technology, Via has applications across industrial manufacturing. Via is a venture-backed company with investors such as The Engine, Safar Partners, Prime Impact Fund, NGP ETP, and MassCEC, along with federal and state support such as the National Science Foundation. More information is available on its website at www.viaseparations.com.

About International Paper:

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America’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 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting www.internationalpaper.com

Originally published in Covia’s 2022 ESG Report

2022 was another remarkable year for Covia as we continued to grow, evolve, and leverage our best-in-class capabilities to position ourselves as an industry-leading provider of diversified specialty minerals. I am proud of the progress we have made during the year, and inspired by the teamwork, collaboration, and “One Covia” mindset that our Team Members demonstrate every day.

In our second year as a privately held company, we delivered another year of substantial growth, allowing us to further invest in our long-term strategy. In 2022, this meant expanding capacity at several sites to capture new growth opportunities, reducing our environmental impact through targeted investments, and building new capabilities to drive innovation and operational excellence for those who rely on us — all while navigating a challenging economic environment. And, above all, the safety of our Team Members and stakeholders remains our priority — for this reason, we refocused and revitalized our program to reinforce a Safety First mindset.

2022 also represented our first year of measured progress against our Goals that Inspire and I feel a great sense of accomplishment for what we have achieved thus far. Enhancing our safety program decreased our all-incidence rate and our continuous improvement mindset drove progress toward our environmental goals. Through The Covia Foundation, we donated approximately $1.2 million within our local communities and our Team Members collectively contributed 10,800 volunteer hours to local projects and organizations meaningful to them. We also became a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and are committed to further incorporating its ten principles into our strategies, policies, and procedures.

We are pleased that our progress to date has us on track to meet our goals, and we continue to push forward to deliver against each of our commitments. As we evolve our organizational strategy and ESG objectives in 2023 and beyond, we value the opportunity to refine our programs, implement best practices, and align with our stakeholder needs to create a more sustainable future for all. Looking ahead, we remain focused on improving our Team Member experience and helping our local communities thrive.

Operationally, we are committed to responsibly producing the minerals and materials that provide essential components of everyday products while advancing both environmental and societal objectives.

I am grateful for our dedicated Team Members, who remain relentless in the pursuit of achieving our objectives, both in the short and long term. This report provides a look inside our organization and the importance we place on ESG throughout our business. As you read it, you will find numerous stories, highlights, and photos (all of which were taken by our Team Members) that demonstrate our collective efforts and many celebrated successes. Every single one of our sites has made important contributions to our progress during the year. It’s exciting to see ALL of them represented in this report, showcasing the importance of the individual contributions that collectively set us on the path toward WHERE WE’RE GOING.

Thank you for taking the time to read Covia’s 2022 ESG Report, and for your continued support of Covia and our ESG journey.