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International Paper appoints first chief sustainability officer

International Paper has named its first chief sustainability officer, who will be tasked with leading the company into the circular economy.

Sophie Beckham will direct the company’s recently announced Vision 2030, which outlines goals for the company, its people and the environment.

“Customers, investors and employees depend on us to be leaders in environmental stewardship and to strengthen our people and communities; appointing a chief sustainability officer is the next step in our continuing progress,” says Mark Sutton, chairman and chief executive officer of International Paper, in a release.

“Sophie is uniquely qualified to lead the pursuit of our Vision 2030 goals and drive sustainability efforts that create value for all of our stakeholders.”

Beckham will lead the development and execution of the company’s sustainability strategy, including efforts to integrate the Vision 2030 goals into the strategic, operating, people and financial plans across the company’s global businesses.

Among the goals are to to create products that are 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable, reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent, and reduce water use by 25 per cent.

“For more than 120 years, forest stewardship has been at the core of how we have operated our company,” said Beckham. “Today, we recognize the broader role we can play in advancing sustainable outcomes–both environmental and social.”

Beckham joined International Paper in 2013 to manage the company’s forest stewardship and sustainability efforts.