Based primarily on the shared priority issues identified by our stakeholders, Resolute Forest Products developed a sustainability strategy that drives all of our sustainability activities and initiatives, including our public commitments.
In 2011, we established a set of ambitious commitments reflecting our approach to balancing the company’s sustainability priorities. Since then, we have been tracking and reporting our progress annually and updating our targets, as necessary, in order to promote continuous improvement, which requires the use of SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) targets. While some of the commitments meet the SMART standard, others are still being refined.
One of the main responsibilities of our sustainability committee is to review and refine our sustainability commitments on an annual basis. This cross-functional group, comprised of senior managers from various departments, recommends strategies, sets goals, measures results, oversees reporting, communications and continuous improvement, and assesses stakeholder expectations and sustainability trends.
Our year-over-year performance has steadily improved, and we continue to build on a solid base of what we believe are meaningful accomplishments. In 2021, we incorporated the the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our sustainability reporting. In addition, we aligned our reporting according to the Value Reporting Foundation's Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). By tying our ambitious targets and performance updates to these frameworks, we have enhanced our commitment to transparency, accountability and sustainability oversight.
The following tables provide a summary of Resolute’s sustainability performance for all the operations we owned or operated as at December 31, 2021.
Environment Commitments
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Report climate change data and management practices to CDP, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions |
Increased to “B” from “B-”, maintaining placement at management level and reflecting concrete actions on climate issues and steps taken to manage carbon footprint
Rating: + |
Report to CDP's climate change questionnaire, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions |
| By 2022 include wood products facilities' GHG emissions in the company’s inventory |
Wood products facilities now included in inventory and subject to GHG targets
Rating: + |
N/A – target achieved |
| By 2025 reduce pulp, paper and tissue mills' absolute GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 30% over 2015 levels |
Achieved 33.6% reduction over 2015 levels, including
all operations, attributable to scope
1 reduction initiatives as well as significant reductions in scope 2
emissions related to "greening" of U.S. electricity grid
Achieved 85.6% reduction compared to 2000 at pulp,
paper and tissue mills
Rating: ++ |
Establish a 2026 GHG emission (scope 1 and 2) reduction target in 2022 in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
New target for 2022 |
Develop scope 3 GHG emission reduction commitments
|
Submitted application to SBTi for establishing a science-based target in 2022, which will include a scope 3 emission reduction target
Rating: > |
Establish a 2026 scope 3 GHG emission reduction target in line with SBTi
New target for 2022 |
| Operate within FPAC's established GHG emission reduction framework, the ''30 by 30'' Climate Change Challenge, which aims to reduce the industry's emissions by 30 megatonnes a year by 2030 |
Ongoing work with FPAC to assess progress, which will be reported in 2022
Rating: > |
Operate within FPAC's established GHG emission reduction framework, the ''30 by 30'' Climate Change Challenge, which aims to reduce the industry's emissions by 30 megatonnes per year by 2030
|
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Record 15 or fewer environmental incidents, with a long-term goal of zero incidents |
Recorded 12 class 1 and 2 incidents; trained 165 directors, managers and superintendents to reinforce commitment to environmental management and compliance
Rating: + |
Record 12 or fewer class 1 and 2 environmental incidents |
| Maintain ISO 14001 EMS certification at 100% of certified operations |
Maintained certification at 100% of certified facilities
Rating: = |
Maintain ISO 14001 EMS certification at 100% of certified operations |
| Finalize ISO 14001 EMS certification at Menominee (Michigan) pulp mill and Florida tissue mills, and assess implementation of ISO 14001 EMS certification at U.S. sawmills, with goal of completing certification in 2022 |
Completed certification at Menominee and Florida mills; assessment underway at U.S. sawmills for expected completion in 2022; set target to complete certification at Hagerstown (Maryland) tissue converting facility in 2023
Rating: > |
Implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at U.S. sawmills |
| |
|
Implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at Hagerstown tissue converting facility
Target for 2023 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Forest Management (FM)
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Maintain certification of 100% of Resolute-owned or managed woodlands to at least one internationally recognized FM standard |
Maintained certification of 100% of Resolute-owned or managed woodlands
Rating: = |
Maintain certification of 100% of Resolute-owned or managed woodlands to at least one internationally recognized FM standard |
| Report forests data and management practices to CDP |
Received “A-”, the highest score granted in this category for North America-based forest products companies, placing us at leadership level and reflecting our environmental best practices, and actions taken to manage harvest risk and implement monitoring programs
Rating: + |
Report to CDP's forests questionnaire |
| Record no more than five FM incidents leading to regulatory infractions in Canada, excluding those of a strictly administrative nature, with a long-term goal of zero infractions |
Recorded two incidents in Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) woodlands related to machinery trespasses within 30-meter edges along a cut, for a total of C$4,190 in fines
Rating: + |
Record no more than five FM incidents leading to regulatory infractions in Canada, excluding those of a strictly administrative nature |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Fiber Sourcing and Management
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Complete integration of U.S. sawmills into Resolute's multisite chain of custody (CoC) certification |
Delayed until 2022; assessments of fiber supply sourcing underway
Rating: x |
Complete integration of U.S. sawmills into Resolute's multisite CoC certification |
| Maintain CoC certifications to internationally recognized standards at 100% of certified facilities |
Maintained CoC certification at 100% of certified facilities
Rating: = |
Maintain CoC certifications to internationally recognized standards at 100% of certified facilities |
| Integrate Hagerstown (Maryland) tissue converting facility into tissue group's multisite CoC certification |
Completed integration of Hagerstown into tissue group's multisite CoC certification
Rating: + |
Increase externally sourced certified fiber supply to 75% across company operations
New target for 2026 |
| |
|
Reduce roundwood consumption by 0.025 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities
New target for 2022 |
| |
|
Reduce roundwood consumption by 0.125 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities
New target for 2026 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Residue and Waste Management
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Record fiber losses of no more than 40 kg per metric ton (mt) of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Recorded fiber losses of 39.3 kg per mt of production
Rating: + |
Record fiber losses of no more than 39 kg per mt of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills |
| Establish annual fiber loss targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Established targets at all facilities
Rating: = |
Establish annual fiber loss targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
| |
|
Reduce waste to landfill by 15% at all pulp, paper and tissue mills against 2018 levels
New target for 2026 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Water Management
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Continue to establish annual water reduction targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Established targets at all facilities
Rating: = |
Establish annual water reduction targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
| Disclose water security management practices and data to CDP |
Sustained a “B” in the water security category, a management level score that reflects actions taken to evaluate and manage environmental risks relating to Resolute's use and treatment of water
Rating: + |
Report to CDP's water security questionnaire |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Social Commitments
Health and Safety Incidents
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.60 or less, with a long-term goal of zero injuries |
Achieved an OSHA incident rate of 0.47
Rating: + |
Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.55 or less |
| |
|
Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.40 or less
New target for 2026 |
| Achieve a severity rate of 16 or less |
Recorded a severity rate of 21.6
Rating: x |
Achieve a severity rate of 16 or less |
| |
|
Achieve 30 million hours without a recordable incident across our operations*
New target for 2026 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Health and Safety Procedures
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Ensure more than 95% of hourly employees submit at least two proactive near-miss reports |
98% of hourly employees submitted at least two proactive near-miss reports
Rating: + |
Ensure 100% of hourly employees submit at least two proactive near-miss reports |
| Review and resolve more than 75% of submitted proactive near-miss reports |
Reviewed and resolved 91% of proactive near-miss reports submitted
Rating: + |
Review and resolve more than 75% of submitted proactive near-miss reports |
| Ensure more than 95% of hourly employees create and review at least four job safety analyses (JSA) or safe operating procedure (SOP) reports |
99% of hourly employees created and reviewed at least four JSA or SOP reports
Rating: + |
Ensure 100% of hourly employees create and review at least four JSA or SOP reports |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Key Strategic Partnerships
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Ensure and sustain ongoing outreach with stakeholders, and develop key strategic partnerships across our operations |
Entered into partnership with Nature Conservancy of Canada committing C$60,000 over next four years to support Carapace Project in Mauricie (Quebec), a campaign to raise awareness about turtles on roads
Renewed five-year, C$175,000 commitment to fund Laval University's educational leadership chair in Indigenous forestry via Quebec Forest Industry Council
Rating: > |
Ensure and sustain ongoing outreach with stakeholders, and develop key strategic partnerships across our operations |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Renewal and Retention
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Continue developing our understanding of the attraction and retention challenges faced in each operating region, and implement new leadership and human resources practices to create an inclusive workplace that attracts, retains and engages a diverse workforce |
Ongoing implementation of international recruitment strategy
Completed benchmarking of compensation practices and tools
Supported Asset Performance team toward developing an asset performance and improvement culture
Continued focus on Emerging Talent Program, promotion of Employee Referral Program and development of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) strategy
Rating: > |
Implement new leadership and human resources practices to create an inclusive and diverse workplace
(see also: 'Human Rights and Diversity') |
| Disclose annual hires, turnover rates and internal employee movements |
Hired 1,490 new and permanent employees
Recorded 18.6% turnover rate, including a 4.7% involuntary turnover rate
Recorded 210 internal employee movements
Rating: = |
Disclose annual hires, turnover rates and internal employee movements |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Human Rights and Diversity
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Train 100% of new employees on workplace respect and civility |
Trained 100% of new employees on workplace respect and civility
Rating: + |
Train 100% of new employees on workplace respect and civility |
| |
|
Establish diversity, equity and inclusion working committee
New target for 2022 |
| |
|
Develop human rights policy according to international best practices to complement Resolute's existing policies related to human rights
New target for 2022 |
| |
|
Strive to increase women’s representation on the board of directors to 30% by 2024
New target for 2024 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Collective Agreements
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Renew six expired or expiring collective agreements covering 326 employees at wood products operations in Canada |
Signed seven collective agreements, covering 540 employees at our wood products facilities in Canada
Rating: > |
Renew 20 collective agreements covering 1,160 employees at pulp and paper operations and 860 employees at wood products facilities |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Community Outreach and Contributions
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Ensure 100% of operations report community outreach activities consistently and transparently, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders |
100% of operations reported community outreach activities, with monthly average of 75%
Rating: + |
Ensure 100% of operations report community outreach activities consistently and transparently, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders |
| Make annual community and charitable contributions of at least $1 million (with emphasis on environmental stewardship, health and education programs), and support operations and employee fundraising initiatives |
Made community, charitable and academic contributions at the corporate and operations levels:
- $250,111 at operations level
- $241,930 through Board of Directors Safety Award
- $148,425 through vaccination incentive program
- $166,042 through other corporate donations
- $295,047 in academic support**
- $118,650 through Resolute Golf Classic
- $56,736 to Centraide
Total: $1.3 million***
Rating: + |
Make annual community and charitable contributions of at least $1 million (with emphasis on environmental stewardship, health and education programs), and support operations and employee fundraising initiatives |
| |
|
Contribute at least $5 million to academic and charitable community organizations across all operations
New target for 2026 |
| |
|
Donate at least $1 million to charitable community organizations through the Board of Directors Safety Award program
New target for 2026 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Public Policy
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Maintain best-in-class participation in the Resolute political action committee (PAC) at the U.S. operations level and communicate regularly with PAC participants; make special solicitation effort at Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee operations |
Resolute PAC made $35,370 in contributions to 17 political campaigns
Raised $55,078 via employee PAC contributions
Rating: > |
Maintain participation in the Resolute PAC at the U.S. operations level and communicate regularly with PAC participants; make special solicitation effort at Arkansas, Florida and Maryland operations |
| Ensure a Resolute voice in public policy discussions that impact operations, employees, communities and partners |
Continued efforts to oppose softwood lumber duties and support a final resolution to the dispute on the basis of fair and open trade
Continue to work with
forest industry associations and a range of stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada
in an effort to provide stakeholder awareness on facts related to the boreal forest and to address anti-boreal legislation in the U.S.
Maintained Canadian public policy focus on harmonizing federal and provincial regulatory and legal frameworks – as well as interministerial collaboration within governments – with respect to land and species at risk management.
Rating: > |
Ensure a Resolute voice in public policy discussions that impact company operations, employees, communities and partners |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Governance and Economic Commitments
Sustainability Oversight and Risk Management
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Maintain effective sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of the sustainability committee |
Maintained sustainability oversight via four sustainability committee meetings as well as four meetings of board of directors' environmental, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) committee; in December 2021, EHS&S committee formally added sustainability to its name to better reflect the sustainability role for which it was already responsible
Rating: = |
Maintain sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of sustainability committee and board's EHS&S committee |
| |
|
Develop governance charter for sustainability committee
New target for 2022 |
| Improve governance disclosures in Resolute's Management Proxy Statement, including detailed disclosure of board member attendance |
Reported detailed disclosure of board member attendance in Management Proxy Statement
Rating: + |
Disclose adoption of related persons policy in Management Proxy Statement
New target for 2022 |
| |
|
Provide board directors, executive team and sustainability committee members training on environmental, social and governance (ESG)
New target for 2022 |
| Maintain enterprise risk management (ERM) process to address risk factors identified by the disclosure committee, executive management, as well as board of directors' audit committee, which are outlined in 2020 Form 10-K |
Included risk factors identified through ERM process in 2020 Form 10-K
Rating: = |
Maintain enterprise risk management (ERM) process to address risk factors identified by the disclosure committee, executive management, as well as the board of directors' audit committee, which are outlined in 2021 Form 10-K |
| |
|
Introduce GHG emission reduction incentive into the annual short-term incentive plan (STIP), building on safety and environmental performance measures already in place
New target for 2022 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Sustainability Reporting and Transparency
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Maintain commitment to transparency and annual sustainability reporting by integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into sustainability reporting prepared in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards |
Successfully integrated SDGs into Resolute's annual reporting practices; created new webpage under corporate website's sustainability section highlighting contributions to SDG targets; aligned sustainability reporting according to the Value Reporting Foundation's Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
Rating: + |
Maintain commitment to transparency and annual sustainability reporting by completing materiality assessment according to the new GRI Universal Standards |
| |
|
Continue to align reporting according to UN SDGs
|
| |
|
Assess compliance of annual disclosures with SASB standards for forestry management and pulp and paper products
New target for 2022 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Code of Business Conduct
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Conduct annual review of Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy |
Completed annual review of Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy
Rating: = |
Conduct annual review of Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy |
| Train 100% of new employees on Code of Business Conduct |
Trained 100% of new employees on Code of Business Conduct
Rating: + |
Train 100% of new employees on Code of Business Conduct |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Data Security and Privacy
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Review annually Resolute’s continuous improvement strategy for data security and privacy according to best practices, emerging trends and data security threats |
Implementing five-year continuous improvement strategy to consolidate our security design and controls; reported to the board of directors' audit committee on Resolute's security posture
Rating: > |
Report twice a year to the board's audit committee on Resolute's security posture
New target for 2022 |
| |
|
Assess reporting according to GRI Standard 418-1: Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data
New target for 2022 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Customer Satisfaction
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Focus on customer satisfaction by measuring quality and service key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitoring established processes for pulp, paper and tissue |
Wood products committed to participating in KPI initiative effective 2022; pulp, paper and tissue segments continued to track KPIs on a monthly basis, as in previous years
Rating: > |
Continue measuring quality and service KPIs and monitor established processes for pulp, paper and tissue, and integrate wood products into the initiative |
| Ensure 88% of root cause problem elimination (RCPE) cases are reviewed and closed for pulp, paper and tissue segments |
Reviewed and closed 95% of pulp, paper and tissue RCPE cases
Rating: ++ |
Ensure 90% of RCPE cases are reviewed and closed for pulp, paper and tissue segments |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Procurement
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Complete deployment of Regional Supplier Registry web portal across all operations to support development of local, regional and Indigenous business in our operating communities |
Completed deployment of Regional Supplier Registry web portal in Ontario and U.S. operations, after completing deployment in Quebec in 2020: over 5,000 businesses have signed up through the new portal
Rating: + |
Leverage Regional Supplier Registry across all operations to support development of local, regional and Indigenous business in our operating communities |
| Continue integration of sustainability practices by working with a representative sample of suppliers and related stakeholders to develop scope 3 GHG emission reduction commitments |
Updated scope 3 inventory for CDP climate change questionnaire; introduced new initiative to further refine inventory based on the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement’s (NCASI) new scope 3 emissions tool
Engaged with suppliers to reduce carbon footprint of product shipments: chemical vendor to establish new terminals in Thunder Bay (Ontario) and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) to shift long distance transportation of shipments from trucking to rail
Added a section to the
Code of Business Conduct indicating that it is every
employee’s responsibility to make environmental considerations an
integral part of their daily decisions, including following best sustainability
and environmental practices in daily work routine, and reducing their own
carbon footprint at work through responsible transportation and consumption
Rating: > |
See "Greenhouse Gas Emissions" for further information on scope 3 emissions |
| Complete implementation of '3E Connect' tracking system to support product stewardship and track conformity of our supply chain |
Completed implementation of '3E Connect' tracking system; new database now used to respond to customer requests and for other product stewardship initiatives
Rating: + |
N/A – target achieved |
| |
|
Create an online, one-stop-shop procurement portal for local, regional and global suppliers to highlight supply chain transparency
New target for 2026 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Indigenous Business Opportunities and Employment
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Provide equitable access to commercial opportunities and promote economic participation of Indigenous peoples and businesses in the forest products sector |
Ongoing consultative relationships and business partnerships with close to 40 Indigenous communities and organizations, including these 2021 highlights:
Held press event in Thunder Bay to celebrate 20 years of partnership with Fort William First Nation
Organized meetings in Northwestern Ontario between First Nation chiefs and our President and CEO
Donated C$25,000 to Lac des Mille Lacs Education Centre (Ontario), an innovative Indigenous-led school, to support experiential learning, Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) language instruction and a hockey program
Contributed C$3,000 to the economic development corporation of Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan First Nation (Quebec) to support the development of female entrepreneurship
Initiated discussions with local and regional partners on developing a model for the professional integration of Indigenous workers in Côte-Nord (Quebec) woodlands
Rating: > |
Promote economic participation of Indigenous peoples and businesses in forest products sector |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Product Innovation
| 2021 Targets |
2021 Performance |
2022 Targets |
| Continue developing new ways to efficiently produce and commercialize innovative bio-products derived from wood |
Construction of facility specializing in production of cellulose filaments at Kénogami (Quebec) paper mill scheduled for completion in 2022
At 2021 Edison Awards, won silver award in manufacturing, logistics and transportation category for thermomechanical pulp (TMP) biorefinery in Thunder Bay
Secured initial orders for TMP for use in absorbent agricultural products
Rating: > |
Complete construction and ramp-up of cellulose filaments plant at Kénogami paper mill |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
*Based on increments of facilities achieving 250,000 consecutive hours without a recordable injury; the 30 million hours are not consecutive
**Includes $85,085 in awards from Resolute endowment funds
***Includes amounts under Key Strategic Partnerships and Public Policy
Updated May 13, 2022