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Domtar explains its ESG approach and outlook

Domtar, a part of the Paper Excellence group of companies, takes a comprehensive view of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. In a press statement, the company shared its story as a sustainability leader through its ESG approach.

Paige Goff, Domtar’s vice-president of sustainability, recently spoke to business leaders at an MX.0Southeast event focused on data-driven, resilient and sustainable manufacturing. She shared more about the comprehensive structure of Domtar’s ESG approach and outlook.

When people talk about costs as a barrier to being more sustainable, Goff counters that it’s more expensive to do nothing.

“There is an initial investment, but it pays off in the long run,” she says. “Our customers expect us to do the right thing and be responsible stewards of the environment. Our reputational risk is their reputational risk.”

Similarly, she says, an effective ESG approach is important for recruiting and retaining talent.

The E in ESG gets the most attention at Domtar, with the emphasis on environmental responsibility and care for natural resources. But the G also plays a crucial role in the company’s ESG approach. Governance is how Domtar connects the dots from senior leadership to the frontlines of manufacturing, Goff says. Its ESG committee includes leaders from across the organization with a diverse collection of roles and responsibilities.

To lead efforts on Domtar’s six sustainability priorities, it created working groups with subject matter experts in each area. These groups focus on putting into practice the improvements that will advance the company in each priority area – water, waste, emissions, fibre sourcing, safety, community engagement and diversity and inclusion.

“Though carbon is the ‘it’ word right now,” Goff says, “we have long been focused on the bigger picture. Our ESG committee is deliberate about our environmental stewardship in a broad range of areas, including water management, responsible fibre procurement, transportation and more. These really take our efforts beyond just carbon and emissions — though that’s important — to see how we can improve in a number of areas.”

Additionally, she says, the S in ESG cannot be overlooked.

“Our social responsibility is important to us,” she says. “We have a legacy of being a good neighbour in our communities, long before ESG was its name. We continue to invest in the places where we operate so that our employees and our communities will thrive together.”