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Resolute sustainability strategy aligned with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

Resolute Forest Products has aligned its sustainability strategy with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company shares in a statement that while ending global poverty might not seem like an obvious goal for a forest products company, through this step it is taking action for a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous future.

Developed in 2015 by the UN, the SDGs are a universal call to action to promote prosperity while protecting the planet, explains Resolute. They recognize that ending poverty goes hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection and job opportunities while tackling climate change and environmental protection. There are 17 SDGs in all and Resolute identified eight that align with its sustainability commitments:

1. Water management (Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation): Resolute is committed to managing water efficiently with annual water reduction targets for each of its pulp, paper and tissue mills.
2. Energy (Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy): Resolute is optimizing the use of renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity and carbon-neutral biomass while reducing its consumption of fossil fuels.
3. Employee health, safety and wellness (Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): The company is committed to implementing new leadership and human resources practices to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, one where safety remains a core value and where the collective bargaining process and our employees’ right to freedom of association are fundamental to its way of doing business.
4. Economic performance and infrastructure investments (Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Resolute established a plant specializing in the production of cellulose filaments, a sustainable biomaterial, and modernized equipment at its Kénogami (Quebec) paper mill to enhance the facility’s competitiveness.
5. Waste management (Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production): Resolute is focused on reducing waste sent to landfills by identifying beneficial-use alternatives such as land spreading, and pursuing process efficiencies, such as optimizing fibre use to minimize the cost of effluent treatment.
6. Climate change (Goal 13: Climate Action): Resolute reduced its scope 1 and 2 absolute GHG emissions by 32 percent compared to 2015 levels ahead of its 2025 schedule. This past year, the Science Based Targets initiative validated its new emission reduction targets, which include a 41.5 percent reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2026 from a 2015 base year, and a 16.5 percent reduction in scope 3 emissions within the same timeframe.
7. Forest management, fibre sourcing practices and biodiversity (Goal 15: Life on Land): Resolute maintains internationally recognized forest management certification at 100 percent of its owned or managed forests, and 100 percent of the woodlands it harvests are regenerated. On fibre sourcing practices, the company maintains chain of custody certifications to internationally recognized standards at all our facilities. The company also participates in woodland caribou research and recovery plans and actively protects biodiversity and species at risk through its forest management plans.
8. Environmental compliance (Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Resolute’s sustainability strategy is focused on moving beyond regulatory compliance and incident management to position the company as an environmental supplier of choice. It tracks environmental and forest management incidents, disclosing them annually.

Resolutes notes that committing to these goals will help the company be more efficient and competitive, a better employer and a stronger business partner. It will allow the company to be even more deeply engaged with its communities.