Water quantity and quality concerns have been steadily rising in the last several years. Arguably, the crisis in Flint, Michigan has caused the country to focus on water issues more than it ever has before. While that focus, appropriately, is on drinking water infrastructure, water use and quality issues are and will continue to be of concern in many regions and communities. In those areas, AF&PA members are taking the steps necessary to be part of the solution. Through our Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative our members have committed to reduce water use in their pulp and paper mills by 12 percent from 2005 to 2020. In 2014, they are more then half way there, having reduced water use by 6.5 percent. They are making progress toward achieving this goal by taking simple, routine steps, such as upgrading to more efficient technologies, as well as more innovative projects. click Read More below for additional information

UPM is one of the first companies to link the pricing mechanism of a syndicated revolving credit facility (RCF) to both biodiversity and climate targets. The margin of the RCF is tied to two key performance indicators (KPIs): • achievement of a net positive impact on biodiversity in the company’s own forests in Finland • a 65% reduction of CO2 emissions from fuels and purchased electricity by 2030 from 2015 levels, in line with UPM’s commitment to UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C. “Connecting UPM’s sustainability performance to our financing demonstrates the importance of responsible business practises to our long-term value creation. Sustainable forest management plays an important role in mitigating climate change, as it ensures material long-term CO2 sequestration and improves adaptation to global warming. Enhancing biodiversity is not only about preserving forests, but is also a crucial element in sustainable industrial use, taking into account a wide range of flora and fauna. UPM is committed to achieving a net positive impact on biodiversity and we have developed indicators and methods to monitor it,” says Tapio Korpeinen, CFO, UPM.

2018 Sustainability Highlights: • 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence designation • 15 million pounds of film trim reclaimed from production processes in 2018 • 1.7 total case incident rate and 0.4 lost workday case incident rate safety record in 2018 which represents a total case incident rate reduction of over 50% since 2010 • 56% reduction in volatile organic compounds ("VOCs") since 2015, with 600 tons per year of VOCs eliminated through solvent-free production • Attained Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise (level E4) recognition from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Excellence Program for the Danville plant in 2018. Click Read More below for additional information.