Key Practices
The concept of sustainability has been on the agenda of world leaders for decades. Recently it has gained momentum among businesses.
One of the ways Georgia-Pacific practices sustainability is through the company's Wood & Fiber Supply organization, which secures fiber for the manufacturing operations of the company. Wood & Fiber adheres to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Standard. GP successfully completed two SFI certification audits in March 2001 and November 2003 that were conducted by an accredited independent third party. Currently, all wood and fiber delivered to GP manufacturing facilities in the United States is processed through our 100% SFI-certified procurement system.
When GP purchases wood and fiber from outside North America, we also seek to ensure that all our purchased raw material is acquired in a legal and sustainable manner. Contracts with our suppliers require that wood fiber we purchase be harvested, transported, manufactured, traded and exported in full compliance with the laws and regulations of the country or countries of origin. We further request information regarding our suppliers' commitment to the principles of sustainable forestry, including any certification programs or other sources of compliance.
Whether buying wood fiber, harvesting timber or assisting landowners, each GP forester takes measures to support environmental stewardship on all lands. Since sustainable forestry is the foundation for all Wood & Fiber Supply operations, we also are able to focus on economic viability and building partnerships within the environmental community. We believe this balance is needed for long-term sustainability and maintaining a healthy forest landscape for future generations.
The sustainable forestry principles at the core of GP operations include:
All principles, policies, and procedures are implemented by our foresters in ongoing relationships with Forest Management Assistance Program (Forest MAPSM) clients, private landowners, logging professionals, forestry professionals, and communities where we operate. GP reviews these policies periodically in order to stay aligned with corporate principles and goals, while achieving compliance and continuous improvement with the SFI program. This also enables GP to adapt to changing information and technology regarding forest management and harvesting operations.