Impact and dependencies assessment
The company has not holistically assessed its impacts or how it depends on nature, including biodiversity. It has an opportunity to start such an assessment across its value chains, focused on quantification of its impacts or dependencies.
Key areas and species
The company does not disclose key species or areas important for biodiversity affected by its operations or suppliers. It has an opportunity to increase its transparency.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
International Paper has committed to sourcing 100% of its timber from sustainable forests, however it has not been determined from the evidence available in the public domain that this target is aligned with zero deforestation. The company does not disclose some activities to achieve conversion-free supply chains. It does not disclose time-bound targets to achieve conversion-free supply chains. Through its Global Fiber Procurement Policy, International Paper has disclosed a commitment to minimise ecosystem conversion, along with some activities to minimise ecosystem conversion. While International Paper aims to conserve and restore ecologically significant forest lands, there is no evidence that the company’s restoration efforts are aimed at restoring ecosystems that have been directly impacted by its activities. The company does not disclose details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
The company does not disclose its inputs, including its material footprint. The company does not report quantitatively on its group-wide circularity performance. The company does not disclose efforts to improve soil health.
Water
International Paper reports a decrease of 1.76% between 2019 and 2021 in water use intensity, thus demonstrating it is reducing water withdrawal in its own operations. It reports that 7% of its water withdrawn is in locations with water-stress. The company does not engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawals. It does not disclose relevant information related to water quality and pollution, in its operations or supply chains. International Paper does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water. It does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
Solid and air pollution
International Paper does not disclose relevant information regarding hazardous waste in its operations or supply chains. It reports regularly on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants. The company does not report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
While International Paper discloses information relative to its scope 1 and 2 emissions, no evidence that the company had a reduction in these, nor any progress towards its targets, was found. It has 35% reduction target by 2030 for its scope 1 and 2 emissions, which is aligned with a well-below-2-degree trajectory. No evidence that the company reduces its scope 3 emissions was found and it not disclose a time-bound target to reduce its scope 3 emissions.
Invasive species
The company has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive alien species in its own operations.