MONTREAL, March 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Resolute Forest Products (NYSE:
RFP) (TSX: RFP) today issued its 2012 Annual Report, which includes an
overview of the Company's 2012 sustainability performance. While
Resolute will continue to produce its Annual Sustainability Report
using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, the Company is now
also integrating sustainability performance information into its annual
financial disclosure.
"Resolute recognizes that focusing on sustainability is good business.
Our decision to produce a report combining financial and sustainability
performance demonstrates our commitment to balancing environmental,
social and economic priorities," said Richard Garneau, President and
Chief Executive Officer. "We work hard to integrate sustainability into
the way we do business because we believe this approach brings value to
our customers, our shareholders, our employees and the communities
where we live and work."
In 2012, Resolute made important progress on several of its key
sustainability commitments, including:
Carbon Management - As part of its membership in the World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers
program, Resolute committed to achieving a reduction in absolute
greenhouse gas emissions of 65% below 2000 levels by 2015. In 2012,
Resolute achieved a reduction of over 62% and is on track to meet its
WWF commitment.
Fiber Sourcing - The Company obtained chain of custody certification at all of its
North American pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities, to
either Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)®, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) standards.
Forest Certification - Resolute is at the forefront of fiber certification, with 100% of the
woodlands managed by the Company certified to internationally
recognized sustainable forest management standards. Resolute is
progressing toward its commitment to add FSC certification to 80% of
its managed woodlands by 2015, and as of press time for the report, the
Company had reached 65% certification. In 2012, Resolute achieved the
distinction of being the largest manager of FSC-certified forests in
the world. Taken all together, the Company's FSC-certified forests
cover an area larger than Greece.
Product Stewardship - The Company launched its AlignTM brand of eco-efficient, budget-friendly, high-performance papers, which
are made using 50% less fiber and fewer chemicals than competitive
papers. Depending on the grade, the carbon footprint for Align papers
is 35% to 86% lower than for competitive papers.
First Nations - Resolute developed and published a formal policy on First Nations
relations.
Health and Safety - The Company achieved a world-class Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) incident rate of 1.13, meeting Resolute's goal of
1.2 or below. For 2013, the Company is committed to further reducing
the number of workplace injuries and has set an OSHA target of 1.0 or
below.
While the 2012 Annual Report is Resolute's first report combining
financial and sustainability performance, this is the Company's fourth
year publishing sustainability-related performance data. More
comprehensive data and details related to the Company's sustainability
performance for 2012 will be included in its GRI-compliant Annual
Sustainability Report to be released online later this year.
About Resolute Forest Products
Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products
industry with a diverse range of products, including newsprint,
commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company
owns or operates over 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products
facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea, and power
generation assets in Canada. Marketing its products in close to 90
countries, Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed
woodlands to at least one of three internationally-recognized
sustainable forest management standards, including 65% certified to the
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the
stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto
Stock Exchange.
Resolute and other member companies of the Forest Products Association
of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are
partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to
identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of
balancing equally the three pillars of sustainability linked to human
activities: environmental, social and economic. Resolute is also a
member of the World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers program, in which
businesses establish ambitious targets to voluntarily reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and work aggressively toward achieving them.
SOURCE: Resolute Forest Products Inc.
