2020 GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT



Government and regulatory bodies

 

Self-assessment of quality of relationships:

Good

Why we engage

We engage with government departments and regulatory bodies to provide input into issues and regulations that affect our industry. We also engage with regional and local governments and local authorities to obtain support for our operations, show how our activities contribute to local economic and social development and identify issues where we can work together for our mutual benefit.

A key issue in FY2020 was the classification of our operations as essential to enable us to continue with operations throughout the various national lockdown periods. Positive relations with governments enable us to provide assistance or partner on larger scale projects to bring positive impacts to communities and society.


Shared priorities   Our response

The social and economic
benefits of our industry
nationally as well as at
a local level

Increased investment

Energy issues in general and in
particular government moves
on carbon taxation

The impact of increased
regulations on business

  
  • In Europe, we actively follow and influence policy processes to support the development of polices that are both ambitious and practical for the private sector to implement. Sappi is represented on the High Level Group on Finance and Sustainability Transition as well as the High Level Group on Trade Policy Innovation.
  • We reviewed and provided input to the draft report of the European Parliament with Recommendations to the Commission on an EU Legal Framework to Halt and Reverse EU-driven Global Deforestation (2020/2006(INL)).
  • We support specific government initiatives, including in South Africa, the Public and Private Growth Initiative (PPGI) that targets agriculture (including forestry) as one of the key sectors growth and under which the Forestry Master Plan falls. Under the auspices of Forestry SA, we are providing input into the plan.
  • In North America, we review and provide input to pending legislation and regulations impacting our industry through state and Federal trade associations.
 
 
 

Opportunities for value creation

  • Promote understanding of issues and challenges as well as the strategic value of our industry
  • Help create a more receptive regulatory and policy environment
  

Challenges for value creation

  • Policies that take neither our high use of biobased energy into account nor recognise the important carbon sequestration role played by the sustainably managed forests and plantations from which we source woodfibre
  • Uncertainty about regulatory developments, for example: carbon tax
  • Administrative delays