Sappi wants to cuts its water usage and in its Southern African supply chain.

The company is aiming to cuts its water usage by 10% by 2015, against a base year of 2007. The company has reduced its water use by 4% globally between 2009 and 2013. Sappi has also reduced its total suspended solids by 7.8% and chemical oxygen demand by 1.1%.

Sappi used 87 million litres of water in its mills during 2013, returning approximately 89.7% to the environment after treating it.Reducing water usage in its mills and improving the quality of water returned to the environment remains a key area of focus for the company.

Growing a sustainable company

Sappi places a lot of emphasis on sustainability.

The firm’s plantations are not irrigated and use comparatively little water.

51.5% of the energy used in Sappi’s mills is from renewable sources, mainly “black liquor” – a biofuel by-product of paper pulp production.

73% of the 4.5 million tonnes of wood fibre the company used in Southern African operations came from plantations to owned or leased.The company has planted 1.2 trees for every one harvested.86 % of the wood fibre used is Forest Stewardship Councilcertified.

Sappi also hopes to reduce its purchase of fossil fuels by 15% by 2015, against a base year of 2000.