WASTE MANAGEMENT

In 2013, we worked to develop the target for this goal. We also approved a global “Waste Management Performance Standard” that defines acceptable global waste-handling practices. We already beneficially reuse about half of our manufacturing residual waste. The new standard uses Manufacturing Excellence principles to maximize efficiency and minimize waste, and is aligned with our newly adopted solid waste sustainability goal.
A 30 percent reduction by 2020 is seen as a “stretch” goal because the resources needed to achieve the goal are limited, and because sometimes, in many instances, the cost of beneficial use exceeds that of economical onsite landfill disposal.
Leadership is a key element in achieving our zero waste management goal. Near-zero manufacturing waste to landfills has been approached by some of our major converting sites, which stress efficiency and recycling wherever possible to minimize waste. As new technologies for separating waste components becomes more cost-effective, zero manufacturing waste to landfills is expected to become feasible at pulp and paper mills as well.

While our road map to achieving our waste management goal is still being developed, we expect it will include the following initiatives:
- Driving best practices through our manufacturing network;
- Developing site-specific waste reduction plans by 2015;
- Incorporating e-waste reduction progress into employees’ work performance criteria and objectives;
- Incorporating waste minimization criteria into our capital project review process; and
- Recognizing plants and employees for most improved and best-in-class performance.

Solid waste performance in 2013 versus the 2010 baseline year reflects improvement in the efficiency of our operations, both in terms of waste generated (seven percent less waste generated) and waste beneficially used (57 percent reused versus the baseline of 53 percent). The metric for our revised goal, which we plan to track moving forward, is “percent reduction in manufacturing waste to landfill per ton of pulp and paper production.” Production in this context refers to product suitable for sale.
Our 2010 “metric tons of manufacturing waste landfilled per 1,000 metric tons of production” baseline was 64 and our 2013 value is 54, a 15 percent decline and progress toward our new goal of 30 percent reduction by 2020. We believe land application of pulp and paper manufacturing residual waste materials will play a key role in the pursuit of our 2020 landfill waste-reduction goal.