2008 Annual report - Sappi

Our sustainability performance in 2008
The following four pages are a snapshot of our approach to sustainability. More comprehensive details can be found
in our publication, Sappi and Sustainability, 2008 Report, or on our website:
http://www.sappi.com/SappiWeb/Corporate+responsibility/ Publications/Brochures+and+reports.htm
Our definition of sustainability
At Sappi, we define sustainable development as “development which meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”.* We are incorporating the principles of sustainable
development into our everyday business practices by developing a culture of
compliance. Our commitments are set out on page 8 and 9.
* The Brundtland Report ‘Our common Future’.
Milestones on our sustainable journey
Over the last year we have:
Published our 2007 Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. We revised the way we collect and
collate data in order to align our environmental performance reporting more closely with the GRI guidelines and enhance transparency.
Updated our Code of Ethics in order to realise our vision of growing and living our values. The Code gives all our employees,
contractors and stakeholders the guidance they need to act in line with our core values of Excellence, Integrity and Respect.
The Code was rolled out to employees and suppliers across the group.
Joined the United Nations Global Compact, a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and
strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour and anti-corruption.
Participated in a review by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), which captures the top 10% performers based
on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria of the biggest 2,500 companies worldwide. This was a valuable
benchmarking exercise in establishing our triple bottom line performance within our sector.
Established the Group Sustainable Development Council (GSDC) and regional committees in order to instil the principles of
sustainable development more fully into our everyday management of Sappi. An independent, non-executive board director
also sits on the GSDC. In North America, sustainability ambassadors are playing a valuable role in driving this process and we
envisage adopting this type of approach in all regions.
Revised our Charter to incorporate new and current commitments and present these in simpler language to make them more
meaningful and more easily understood by all our stakeholders.
Established Prosperity, People and Planet targets for each region in order to establish benchmarks for measuring our progress.
Participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project, a vehicle for reporting on climate change representing more than 385 investors
globally with US$57 trillion under management (aggregated).
Been assessed by London-based company Ethically Responsible Investment Services (EIRIS) for inclusion on the JSE’s Socially
Responsible Investment (SRI) Index. We maintained our listing and were assessed as satisfactory in all areas, with our response
to climate change assessed as good.
Compiled a publication which ‘Unpacks the 3Ps’ of Prosperity, People and Planet. The publication, which explains the
importance of each of our Charter commitments and sets out the way in which we are living up to these commitments, will be
launched in the first quarter of 2009.
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