Resolute Forest Products’ sustainability performance is driven by our public commitments – a combination of ambitious long-term objectives, annually revised targets and aspirational goals designed to maintain our competitive position.
Based primarily on the shared priority issues identified by our stakeholders, Resolute's public commitments drive our sustainability activities and initiatives. They are reviewed and refined annually by our sustainability committee, a cross-functional group comprised of senior managers from various departments.
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 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) into our reporting.
The following tables provide a summary of Resolute’s sustainability performance for all of the operations we operated as at December 31, 2023, with the exception of the Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill, which was held separate until its sale to an affiliate of Atlas Holdings on August 1, 2023, as required by the Consent Agreement between Domtar Corporation and the Canadian Commissioner of Competition registered with the Competition Tribunal of Canada on December 28, 2022.
Environment Commitments
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Report to CDP Climate Change questionnaire, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions |
Maintained B management-level score on CDP’s climate change questionnaire reflecting coordinated action on climate issues; score is higher than the North America regional average of C, and higher than the Wood & Paper Materials sector average of B-
Rating: + |
Report to CDP climate change questionnaire, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions |
| By 2026, reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 41.5% compared to 2015, in line with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi)* |
Sale of Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill triggered obligation to recalculate our targets*
Achieved internal GHG reduction target associated with Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP)
Rating: > |
Assess feasibility of adopting a new SBTi-validated target |
| By 2026, reduce scope 3 GHG emissions by 16.5% compared to 2015, in line with SBTi* |
Achieved in 2022, surpassing our 2026 target by 37%; sale of Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill triggered obligation to recalculate
Rating: + |
Assess feasibility of adopting a new SBTi-validated target |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
* Resolute’s sustainability performance includes all of the operations we operated as at December 31, 2022, with the exception of the Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill, which was held separately until its sale to an affiliate of Atlas Holdings on August 1, 2023, as required by the Consent Agreement between Domtar Corporation and the Canadian Commissioner of Competition, as registered with the Competition Tribunal of Canada on December 28, 2022. Our SBTi targets were set before the sale of the Thunder Bay mill and are thus subject to re-evaluation in 2024.
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Record 12 or fewer class 1 and 2 environmental incidents |
Recorded 14 class 1 and 2 environmental incidents, one fewer than in 2022
Rating: x |
Pending Paper Excellence’s Global Sustainability Strategy |
| Maintain ISO 14001 EMS certification at 100% of certified operations |
Maintained ISO 14001 EMS certification at 100% of certified operations*
Rating: = |
Maintain ISO 14001 EMS certification at 100% of certified operations |
| Complete ISO 14001 EMS certification at Glenwood (Arkansas) facility |
Completed ISO 14001 EMS certification at Glenwood sawmill
Rating: + |
N/A - Target achieved |
| Implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at Hagerstown (Maryland) tissue converting facility |
Completed ISO 14001 EMS certification at Hagerstown tissue converting facility
Rating: + |
N/A - Target achieved |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
* Excluding Talladega (Alabama) chip mill and Senneterre (Quebec) thermal plant.
Forest Management (FM)
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ 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 to at least one internationally recognized FM standard
Rating: = |
Maintain certification of 100% of Resolute owned or managed woodlands to at least one internationally recognized FM standard |
| Report to CDP forests questionnaire |
Achieved an A- leadership score on CDP’s forests questionnaire by demonstrating use of current best practices; score is higher than the North America regional average of C, and higher than the Wood & Paper Materials sector average of B
Rating: + |
Disclose 2023 forest-related performance to CDP |
| Record no more than five FM incidents leading to regulatory infractions in Canada, excluding those of a strictly administrative nature |
Recorded one FM incident leading to regulatory infractions in Quebec, excluding those of a strictly administrative nature – total penalties of C$614
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
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Maintain internationally recognized chain of custody (CoC) certifications at 100% of manufacturing facilities |
Maintained CoC certifications to internationally recognized standards at 100% of certified facilities
Rating: = |
Maintain CoC certifications to internationally recognized standards at 100% of certified facilities |
| By 2026, increase externally sourced certified fiber supply to 75% |
Increased externally sourced certified fiber supply to 90%, surpassing our 2026 target three years ahead of schedule
Rating: ++ |
N/A – Target achieved |
| Reduce roundwood consumption by 0.025 m3/mfbm at wood product facilities compared to 2022 |
Reduced roundwood consumption by 0.080 m3/mfbm at wood product facilities compared to 2022
Rating: ++ |
N/A – Target achieved |
| By 2026, reduce roundwood consumption by 0.125 m3/mfbm at wood product facilities compared to 2021 |
Reduced roundwood consumption by 0.170 m3/mfbm at wood product facilities compared to 2021, surpassing our 2026 target three years ahead of schedule
Rating: + |
N/A – Target achieved |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Waste and Residue Management
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| By 2026, reduce waste to landfill by 15% at all pulp, paper and tissue mills compared to 2018 |
Achieved 2026 target in 2022: reduced waste to landfill by 33% compared to 2018
Rating: N/A |
N/A – Target achieved |
| Record fiber losses of no more than 42 kg per metric tonne (mt) of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Recorded fiber losses of 33.7 kg per mt of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills
Rating: ++ |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
| Establish annual fiber-loss targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Established annual fiber-loss targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills
Rating: = |
Establish annual fiber-loss targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Water Management
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Establish annual water-consumption targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Established annual water-consumption targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills
Rating: = |
Establish annual water-consumption targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
| Report to CDP water security questionnaire |
Increased to a B management-level score on CDP’s water security questionnaire reflecting coordinated action on water issues; score is higher than the North America regional average of C, and higher than the Wood & Paper Materials sector average of C
Rating: + |
Report to CDP water security questionnaire |
| Achieve a deeper understanding of water-related physical risks in specific operating regions |
Launched project to assess water-related risk analysis at operations in Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region
Rating: > |
Determine water-related physical risks in Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Social Commitments
Health and Safety Incidents
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.55 or less |
Achieved an OSHA incident rate of 0.63 across all Resolute operations
Rating: x |
Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.85 or less for Wood Products BU |
| |
|
Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.75 or less for Pulp and Tissue BU |
| Achieve a severity rate of 16 or less |
Achieved a severity rate of 23.1 across all Resolute operations
Rating: x |
Achieve a lost time frequency rate (LTFR) of 0.35 or less for Wood Products BU |
| |
|
Achieve an LTFR of 0.50 or less for Pulp and Tissue BU |
| By 2026, achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.40 or less |
Recorded an OSHA rate of 0.63
Rating: > |
By 2026, achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.40 or less |
| By 2026, achieve 30 million hours without a recordable incident across our operations* |
Reached 12 million hours without a recordable incident across our operations
Rating: > |
By 2026, achieve 30 million hours without a recordable incident across our operations |
++ 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 themselves are not consecutive
Health and Safety Procedures
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Ensure 100% of hourly employees submit at least two proactive near-miss reports |
96% of hourly employees submitted at least two proactive near-miss reports
Rating: x |
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 90% of submitted proactive near-miss reports
Rating: ++ |
Review and resolve more than 75% of submitted proactive near-miss reports |
| Ensure 100% of operations review at least 10 job safety analysis (JSA) or safe operating procedure (SOP) reports that meet company’s stringent quality criteria |
96% of operations reviewed at least 10 JSA or SOP reports; on track to achieve target
Rating: x |
Ensure 100% of operations review at least 10 JSA or SOP reports that meet company’s stringent quality criteria |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Key Strategic Partnerships
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Ensure and sustain outreach to stakeholders and develop key strategic partnerships across our operations |
Committed annual contributions of US$250,000 to the Working Forests Initiative and C$750,000 to Forestry for the Future through 2027, for a total of $5 million (combined currency)
Continued to fund C$6 million initiative led by Université du Québec de l’Outaouais with a C$7,000 annual contribution
Continued partnership with Nature Conservancy of Canada by contributing C$15,000 to support Carapace Project in Mauricie (Quebec), and donating 200 hectares (494 acres) of biodiversity-rich land on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary in Quebec’s Charlevoix region
Engaged 150 employees and suppliers in raising C$175,000 for three worthy organizations serving Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region
Committed annual contribution of C$350,000 over five years for a total of C$1.75 million to UQAC research consortium focusing on research of critical issues in the forest products industry
Rating: > |
Ensure and sustain outreach to stakeholders and develop key strategic partnerships across our operations |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Renewal and Retention
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Implement new leadership and human resources practices to create an inclusive and diverse workplace |
Integrated power skills assessment into demonstrated effectiveness appraisal process; 18 meetings with management from all functions and divisions; 1,094 salaried employees assessed so far on power skills; power skills integrated into specific team development activities
Rating: > |
Implement new leadership and human resources practices to create an inclusive and diverse workplace |
| Disclose annual hires, turnover rate and internal employee movement |
Hired 1,165 employees, including 198 foreign workers: 136 in Quebec and 62 in Ontario
Recorded 14.8% turnover rate, including 11.3% resignation rate
Recorded 240 internal employee movements
Rating: + |
Disclose annual hires, turnover rate and internal employee movement |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Collective Agreements
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Renew three collective agreements covering approximately 490 employees at pulp and paper operations and 10 collective agreements covering approximately 430 employees at wood products facilities |
Renewed 13 collective agreements covering 1,000 hourly employees in pulp and paper and woodlands operations, and five collective agreements extended for a duration of four years covering 520 employees at our wood products facilities
Rating: > |
Renew collective agreement covering five employees at pulp and paper operations and complete master agreement for Calhoun (Tennessee) tissue mill and Coosa Pines (Alabama) pulp mill |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Train 100% of managers on workplace respect and civility with focus on unconscious biases |
Trained 56% of managers on workplace respect and civility with focus on unconscious biases
Rating: x |
Complete training of 100% of managers on workplace respect and civility with focus on unconscious biases – initiated in 2023 |
| Convene DE&I committee at least eight times to develop committee’s governance charter and deploy its company-wide DE&I communications program |
Convened DE&I committee 10 times, developed committee’s governance charter, and deployed a company-wide DE&I communications program via multiple DE&I-focused communications
Rating: ++ |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Community Outreach and Contributions
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Ensure 100% of operations report community outreach activities consistently and transparently, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders and improving over 2022 monthly average |
100% of operations reported community outreach activities, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders with monthly average of 67%
Rating: + |
Ensure 100% of operations report community outreach activities consistently and transparently, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders and improving over 2023 quarterly average |
| Make annual community and charitable contributions of at least $1 million with emphasis on environmental stewardship, health and education programs, in addition to supporting operations and employee fundraising initiatives |
Made community, charitable and academic contributions at corporate and operations levels:
- $254,000 at operations level
- $246,000 through Safety Award Program
- $185,000 through other corporate donations
- $492,000 in academic support*
- $154,000 through local fundraisers in Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec
- $45,000 to Centraide
Total: $1.376 million
Rating: + |
Make annual community and charitable contributions of at least $1 million with emphasis on environmental stewardship, health and education programs, in addition to supporting operations and employee fundraising initiatives |
| By 2026, contribute at least $5 million to charitable community organizations across all operations |
Contributed $3.3 million since 2021, not including Safety Award Program
Rating: > |
By 2026, contribute at least $5 million to charitable community organizations across all operations |
| By 2026, donate at least $1 million to charitable community organizations through Safety Award Program |
Contributions of $694,000 since 2021
Rating: > |
By 2026, donate at least $1 million to charitable community organizations through Safety Award Program |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
* Includes $82,000 in awards from Resolute endowment funds as well as amounts disclosed under strategic partnerships.
Public Policy
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Maintain participation in Resolute’s political action committee (PAC) at the U.S. operations level and communicate regularly with PAC participants |
Through Resolute’s PAC, made $33,500 in contributions to 22 political campaigns
Raised $50,831 via employee PAC contributions
- 134 PAC participants
- Two facility visits by Members of Congress in Florida
- 54% of PAC members participated in Leadership Circle
Rating: = |
Expand PAC participation to eligible Domtar employees and outreach to include support for elected officials representing Domtar’s U.S. operations |
| Ensure Resolute has a voice in public policy discussions that affect its operations, employees, communities and partners |
Collaborated on special harvesting plans committee resulting from extensive forest fires in Quebec, led by Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests with representation from industry and key stakeholders
Continued efforts to oppose softwood lumber duties and support a long-term resolution to the dispute
Continued to work with forest industry associations and a range of stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada to ensure stakeholder awareness of facts related to the boreal forest and to address anti-boreal legislative and regulatory initiatives, focusing on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
Rating: > |
Ensure Resolute has a voice in public policy discussions that affect its 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
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Maintain sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of sustainability committee |
Maintained sustainability oversight and risk management practices via four meetings of sustainability committee; completed materiality assessment for Paper Excellence Group (PEG) of companies
Rating: = |
Establish PEG’s global governance structure for sustainability; maintain sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of Resolute’s sustainability committee |
| Provide senior management and sustainability committee members ESG-specific training |
Provided climate and carbon training to 49 managers and directors, including sustainability committee members, with a focus on tracking and reporting risks associated with climate change; provided 53 employees foundational training on ESG standards and trends
Rating: + |
Provide senior management and sustainability committee members focused training sessions on modern slavery legislation and European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) |
| Maintain enterprise risk management (ERM) process to address risk factors |
Maintained ERM process to address risk factors, leveraging it to further refine our climate-related risk assessment mechanisms as well as PEG materiality assessment
Rating: = |
Maintain an ERM process to address risk factors |
| Continue tying annual STIP to GHG emission reductions as well as safety and environmental performance |
Put in place 2023 STIP tied to GHG emission reductions as well as safety and environmental performance
Rating: + |
Continue tying annual STIP to material ESG metrics, focusing on employee safety |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Sustainability Reporting and Transparency
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Report according to Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) new GRI Universal Standards, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for forestry management and pulp and paper products |
Completed 2022 GRI reporting and external audit; aligned ESG by the Numbers with SASB Standards; completed reporting according to UNSDGs
Rating: + |
Help develop sustainability reporting policy framework for PEG and evaluate CSRD requirements |
| Introduce web-based climate reporting framework according to Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures (TCFD) |
Launched new webpage that highlights Resolute’s climate disclosures according to TCFD
Rating: + |
N/A – Target achieved |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Ethics and Conduct
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Conduct annual review of Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy |
Policies under review as part of PEG integration process; review of Resolute Code completed; PEG Code under development
Rating: > |
Implement PEG Code of Business Conduct |
| Train 100% of new employees on company’s Code of Business Conduct |
Trained 100% of new employees on Code of Business Conduct
Rating: x |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Data Security and Privacy
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Report twice a year on company’s security posture to highest oversight authority |
Security posture reported to executive team; PEG integration process to determine highest oversight authority
Rating: > |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
| Complete assessment of GRI Standard 418-1 |
Completed assessment as part of integration of latest materiality assessment into sustainability reporting: 418-1 no longer required
Rating: ++ |
N/A – Target achieved |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Customer Satisfaction
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Determine appropriate KPI for measuring and monitoring root cause problem elimination (RCPE) cases related to wood products |
Ongoing work with Wood Products to determine the appropriate publicly disclosed KPI; continued tracking and monitoring quality and service KPIs for pulp, paper and tissue
Rating: > |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
| Ensure 93% of RCPE cases are reviewed and closed for pulp, paper and tissue segments |
Reviewed and closed 100% of RCPE cases for pulp, paper and tissue segments
Rating: ++ |
Ensure 95% 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
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Measure penetration rates with a view to establishing annual targets for regional and Indigenous spend |
Increased Indigenous spend in Canadian operating regions compared to 2021, but slight decrease compared to 2022
Rating: + |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy and governance structure; direction from BU leadership |
| |
|
New Target
Undertake supply chain due diligence according to requirements of Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and submit related report to Public Security Canada |
| Develop supplier-recognition program |
Developed a new program; however, due to PEG integration, program currently on hold
Rating: x |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
| By 2026, create an online, one-stop procurement portal for local, regional and global suppliers to highlight supply chain transparency |
PEG’s global procurement program undergoing integration of PEG legacy companies; target to be re-evaluated on completion
Rating: > |
Pending Global Sustainability Strategy |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Indigenous Business Opportunities and Employment
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Promote economic participation of Indigenous peoples and businesses in forest products sector |
Signed 10-year MOA with Whitesand First Nation (WFN) for access to 250,000 m3 of fiber from Wabadowgang Noopming Forest (Ontario) via joint venture company in which WFN holds 51% ownership; first step toward WFN holding Sustainable Forest Licence in its name
Established agreement in principle with Atikamekw Council of Obedjiwan to provide byproducts to Opitciwan (Quebec) thermal plant and install a wood kiln at the sawmill
Renewed agreement in principle with Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation of Mashteuiatsh for access to approximately 250,000 m3 of wood fiber annually in Quebec; provided fiber for a small sawmill specialized in large-dimension wood products
Renewed partnership agreement with Kitigan Zibi First Nation for access to 128,200 m3 of softwood for Resolute operations in Quebec’s Outaouais region: Maniwaki sawmill and Gatineau newsprint mill
Finalized discussions with Lac Simon First Nation in Abitibi (Quebec) and Pessamit First Nation on the North Shore (Quebec) to establish basis for a business partnership and identify employment opportunities
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
| 2023+ Targets |
2023 Performance |
2024+ Targets |
| Reach target production levels of cellulose filaments project at Kénogami (Quebec) paper mill |
Production process stable, trials completed for concrete and food packaging applications
Rating: > |
N/A – Target achieved |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |