KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (NYSE: KS) recently released its 2013 sustainability report, which shows significant progress toward its 2020 sustainability goals. These goals, which were set based on the company's commitment to social responsibility, extend well beyond applicable laws and regulations mandated by federal, state, and local governmental entities.
The report conforms to rigid and voluntary standards defined by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and uses company performance reported in 2010 as the baseline.
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation President, Matt Kaplan, says: "We are proud of the fact that we are setting the bar high for ourselves in categories that are of importance to our customers and society in general. We are committed to doing the right thing for our customers, our planet, our people, and the communities where we operate. We believe that by doing the right thing in any one of these areas, we're doing the right thing for all of them."
Three areas of importance to society and business throughout the world are addressed in the report, including the company's focus on: 1) producing environmentally-sound product solutions for customers; 2) protecting the environment in all of its manufacturing and business processes; and 3) ensuring a better future for employees and communities.
In the area of environmentally-sound product solutions, the company reports that it produces innovative paper grades with significant environmental advantages. These grades allow customers to create packaging that uses less fiber, generates less waste, and at the same time, utilizes highly-valued renewable and recyclable fiber sources as the raw materials. KapStone's innovative products span several market segments, including high performance multiwall bags, specialty kraft papers, containerboard, corrugated packaging, and solid fiberboard packages.
In regards to environmental protection, the company reports that at the end of 2013 it achieved 75 percent of its goal to have SFI® and PEFC™ Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification for all mill division operations. The company also reports that 100 percent of its paper mill operations will have achieved this goal by June 2014. In addition, KapStone reports that it has exceeded 2020 goals in reducing criteria air emissions and water usage and is making good progress against reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the category of people and community, the company reports a 37 percent reduction in workforce injuries since 2010, which is over 50% of its 2020 goal. It also reported on the strength of its internal training programs, the support provided to communities, and to the charitable contributions made.
