Month: August 2024

Originally published in International Paper’s 2023 Sustainability Report

Healthy forests are essential to a healthy future for our planet: they mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, clean our water and provide habitat that wildlife populations need to thrive. With more than 1.6 billion people reliant on them for their livelihoods, forests also deliver substantial economic benefits. And at International Paper, forests are at the heart of everything we do.

Maintaining the health, well-being and resilience of our forests is integral to global ecosystems — and our business model. That’s why we are committed to producing the products our customers need while being a responsible steward of the world’s natural resources.

Protecting forests in the face of a changing climate

International Paper’s success depends on the sustainability of forests — and so does the future of our planet. The health of our forests and the species that call them home is intricately connected to a changing climate. To maintain the powerful and diverse benefits that forests offer, we need to sustain working forest landscapes for generations to come. That means enabling reliable end markets for wood fiber so forest landowners will choose to keep their land forested and sustainably managed rather than selling it for other uses.

Conserving rather than converting forestland protects our planet by helping to regulate the climate and sustain essential ecosystems that support countless plant and animal species. With biodiversity loss accelerating and a growing number of animals and plants threatened with habitat loss, according to the United Nations, healthy forests can act as a safe harbor for nature. Healthy forests can also make ecosystems more resilient to the shocks brought on by extreme weather events and a changing climate.

When these ecosystems are sustainably managed, forests can play a critical role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. That’s why we work closely with forest landowners, wood suppliers and other partners to avoid deforestation, promote responsible forestry practices that protect high conservation value forests, and ultimately ensure the integrity of forests for the years and decades to come.

Our responsibility to the land

As diligent stewards, our responsibility to protect natural resources begins with our relationships with landowners and suppliers. Given our dependence on sourcing renewable fiber from working forests, we aim to operate an unparalleled fiber procurement system that is consistent with our core values. Since nature-related impacts and dependencies are location specific, we take local, context-specific steps to responsible fiber sourcing to enhance the environmental values of the forests from which we source. To that end, we engage in responsible fiber sourcing, which includes:

Conducting due diligence throughout our supply chainValidating origin on direct uncertified fiber purchasesUsing mapping systems to monitor harvest activities and policy compliance via ForSite™, our geographic information system (GIS)

As we deliver on our Vision 2030 responsible fiber sourcing target, in 2023 we purchased and used:

48M tons of new and recycled fiber

5.2M tons of recovered fiber

Our Vision 2030 progress

Our leadership in forest stewardship centers on two targets that are driving progress toward our Vision 2030 goal.

Goal

Lead forest stewardship efforts globally

Target

100% Source 100% of fiber from sustainably managed forests

1M Conserve and restore 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland (400,000 ha)

Impact

89% 89% fiber is verified as derived from a sustainably managed forest

73% 732,770 total acres of ecologically significant forestland conserved and restored

Our 2023 fiber sourcing in context

100% meets the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Controlled Wood Standard100% direct sourcing from uncertified forests traceable to origin100% direct sourcing verified no conversion of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs)100% indirect sourcing traceable to a country and county level of origin100% suppliers monitored to meet IP’s Global Sourcing Policy95.6% from forests within the U.S.: 97% Southeast U.S., 3% Oregon3.5% from forests in Canada (Alberta province)0% sourcing from peatlands or High Carbon Stock (HCS) forest0% sourcing from Intact Forest Lands (IFLs)

Conserve and restore 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland

373,145 total acres of ecologically significant forestland have been conservedImproved forest management on 3,145 acres as part of due diligence efforts in ForSite™As part of our Forestland Stewards Initiative with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we conserved and restored 370,000 acres of forests throughout North AmericaTotal goal completion progress: 732,770 acres improved (73%) since 2020The remaining 11% of fiber volume complies with International Paper’s Global Fiber Procurement Policy; we will continue to increase verification efforts toward our Vision 2030 goal

Our approach

As complex ecosystems, forests support countless plant and animal species, regulate freshwater cycles and contribute to the overall ecological balance of our planet. International Paper recognizes that a sustainably managed forest is one that maintains and enhances economic, social and environmental values for the benefit of present and future generations. As one of the world’s largest users of wood fiber, we are passionate about pursuing forest conservation and restoration activities that complement our commitment to sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing. We further aim to enable healthy forest landscapes beyond our own supply chains by investing in research, restoration and conservation initiatives that benefit forests, watersheds and biodiversity.

Our approach to forest stewardship has three main elements: responsible fiber procurement, forest certification and collaboration with forest and wildlife conservation partners.

Disclosure on nature

We will continue to gather data on how we interact with biodiversity using our GIS-based sourcing platform, ForSite™ (see page 29). In 2024, International Paper will go through the scoping phase of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) methodology across our sourcing and manufacturing footprint, with an intent to disclose information in 2025.

Read more

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.

August 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Lenovo is proud to announce it was recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by the Disability Equality Index. The index is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool used by Fortune 1000 companies to measure disability workplace inclusion. Lenovo has been ranked on the index in the US for four years, and 2024 marks the first time the global technology powerhouse has been recognized in the United Kingdom and Brazil as a best place to work for disability inclusion.

In 2024, 542 corporations, including 71 of the Fortune 100, and 220 firms listed in the Fortune 500, utilized the Disability Equality Index to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.

“On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today’s global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.

Lenovo is committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusion are instilled in its workforce. Employee resource groups: A Better Lenovo for Everyone (ABLE) in North America and Asia Pacific, People with Disability (PwD) in EMEA, and Lenovo Inclusion Plus (LEIN+) in Latin America, cultivate a culture of disability inclusion by fostering awareness, providing resources, and encouraging innovation.

“I’m proud to see Lenovo’s continued commitment to accessibility and best practices in the US, and also happy to see best practices and recognition spread to the United Kingdom and Brazil,” says Calvin Crosslin, Human Resources VP, Chief Diversity Officer, and Lenovo Foundation President at Lenovo. “It’s truly our employee resource groups that continue to be the catalyst for inclusion at Lenovo. They inspire and inform our programs like the PDO, Business Diversity and philanthropy while empowering the system-level changes driven by our D&I team. While this award helps our business shine, it could not be accomplished without our strong culture of inclusion in the workplace.”

People with disabilities represent 1.3 billion individuals worldwide. At Lenovo, we believe ‘Smarter Technology for All’ means for everyone; that’s why in 2020, Lenovo created its Product Diversity Office (PDO) to embed Diversity & Inclusion into its product design and development process. By 2025, 75% of Lenovo’s products will be vetted by inclusive design experts to ensure they work for everyone, regardless of physical attributes or abilities.

Lenovo has partnered with organizations in Brazil, the UK, and the US to create better access to technology for people with disabilities.

In Brazil, Lenovo announced at Tech World in October 2023 an AI-powered sign language translation solution for Libras, the official Brazilian sign language. This real-time solution, pioneered by Lenovo researchers together with CESAR, a Brazilian innovation center should transform the lives of countless individuals, among them the 2.3 million people in Brazil who are deaf or hard of hearing.Lenovo has partnered with the UK-based Scott-Morgan Foundation to develop assistive technology, including a collaboration with DeepBrain AI to develop an avatar that creates new communication possibilities for people with severe disabilities like ALS.In the US, Lenovo’s PDO has collaborated with Governor Morehead School for the Blind to receive feedback on Lenovo’s laptop user experience for people with vision loss, including product donations supporting the students.

You can learn more about Lenovo’s accessible innovations and inclusive workplace in Lenovo’s latest Environment, Social and Governance Report.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a pocket-to cloud portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

About the Disability Equality Index® 

The Disability Equality Index has become the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs, and is now trusted by more than 70% of the United States Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500. Such companies must increasingly consider how emerging global reporting directives and stakeholder expectations surrounding social and corporate governance factors impact their operational, cultural, reputational and financial performance.

The Disability Equality Index is an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist business in advancing inclusion practices. It is a comprehensive benchmark that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity. Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the benchmark year.

Findings from a two-year Global Disability Equality Index pilot informed the launch of a scored benchmark that opened in 2024 to seven new countries in addition to the United States. These include: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Now in its 10th year, the Disability Equality Index has grown nearly 7x since 2015, expanding from 80 companies in its first year to 542 in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 edition received 753 submissions spanning the eight benchmarked countries.

About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.

About Disability:IN®

Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index; best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN.