Our Global Outlook

At NewPage, we know that responsible forest management is essential to our longevity as a paper manufacturer. As a national industry leader, we’ve recently asked ourselves: “How can a North American company begin to affect positive change globally?”

We are committed to examining our paper production practices for insights on how to improve our shared environment on an international level. We understand that carefully managed ecosystems on any scale can sustain wildlife, mitigate climate change and provide for sustainable local economies. Our commitment: to actively support responsible forestry practices around the world.

A New Global Initiative with World Resources Institute for Forest Management

As part of our global sustainability strategy, NewPage has partnered with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to create positive environmental, social and economic change on a global scale. This partnership includes Project POTICO (Palm Oil, Timber, Carbon Offsets), an initiative to preserve endangered virgin rainforests in Indonesia.

Project POTICO: Restoring Balance to the Global Ecosystem

Deforestation is the leading cause of global greenhouse gas emissions and the leading threat to endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, the orangutan and many others in Indonesia.

Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer, which has demonstrated to be its primary driver of deforestation. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palm trees, and has been found versatile in its use. Cooking oil, snack foods, and consumer products such as soaps and cosmetics, as well as biofuel now contain palm oil. An international demand for this resource has lead to significant depletion of the nation’s forest cover.

How Project POTICO Works

Many oil palm companies already have concessions to clear cut large tracts of virgin rainforest and convert them into oil palm plantations. Under Project POTICO, however, the oil palm company will retire this concession and keep the virgin rainforest standing. Instead, with WRI assistance, a similar sized tract of degraded land will be located and the oil palm company will receive a concession to convert the degraded land into an oil palm plantation managed according to FSC guidelines. Palm oil produced from this site will be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

For additional information, watch our video and visit Project POTICO.