At Sappi, integrated thinking lies at the heart of how we create and preserve value. It connects our purpose, strategy, governance, and operations and ensures that sustainability considerations are embedded in every decision we make. Our approach is guided by the Thrive strategy, which sets out our ambition to be a sustainable, diversified, and resilient company that delivers long-term value for all stakeholders.
The Thrive strategy is underpinned by our core values – safety, integrity, courage, making smart decisions and executing with speed. These values shape our culture and guide how we operate responsibly, collaborate with stakeholders, and deliver on our purpose.
Our sustainability framework is built around the 4Ps – Principles, Prosperity, People and Planet – reflecting our belief that lasting success depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, social, and environmental performance. Through a double materiality lens, we identify our material matters by engaging regularly with stakeholders across our value chain, understanding their expectations, and aligning them with our strategic priorities and risk management processes.
By assessing both the financial and non-financial impacts of these material matters, we ensure that sustainability is fully integrated into our enterprise risk management and capital allocation processes. Dedicated capital is assigned to projects that advance our sustainability goals and reduce our exposure to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. We also consider the interdependencies between climate, nature, and social impacts, recognising that our future success depends on the health of the ecosystems and communities in which we operate.
Sappi is entirely reliant on natural resources, particularly sustainably managed woodfibre, to produce our renewable and innovative products. With our large manufacturing footprint, we are committed to minimising our environmental impact through responsible energy and water management, waste reduction, and continuous efficiency improvements. Equally, we recognise our social impact, especially in regions like South Africa where we are often a major employer and play a critical role in supporting rural economies through our forestry operations and community initiatives.
Sustainability at Sappi is a journey, one that requires balance between ambition and practicality. Our policies and timebound targets, which are directly linked to our material issues and Thrive strategy, guide our progress and accountability. To reinforce alignment, our remuneration and incentive schemes incorporate key sustainability KPIs, ensuring that our commitments translate into action and performance across all levels of the business.
We maintain strong governance structures, with clear accountability embedded throughout the organisation. Recognising the geographical and contextual differences across our regions, we integrate sustainability action plans into regional strategies and business plans to ensure relevance and impact. Collaboration across the group, with our stakeholders, partners, and industry peers, strengthens our collective ability to drive progress and advocate for sustainable transformation in line with our global commitments and policy frameworks.
Through continuous monitoring and transparent reporting, Sappi remains committed to open dialogue, integrity, and improvement. Our integrated approach ensures that sustainability is not a separate initiative but a core part of who we are and how we thrive – today and into the future.