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, 2022, with the exception of the Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill, which is held separate until its sale to a third party 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. Targets may be adapted as a result of Resolute becoming a privately owned company pursuant to the merger of Resolute with a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation on March 1, 2023.
Environment Commitments
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Report to CDP's climate change questionnaire, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions |
Maintained B management-level score on CDP’s climate change questionnaire, 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 |
| Establish 2026 GHG emission (scope 1 and 2) reduction target in 2022 in line with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) |
Announced 2026 GHG emission reduction target (scope 1 and 2) to reduce emissions by 41.5%, as validated by SBTi on August 5, 2022
Rating: + |
By 2026, reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 41.5% compared to 2015, in line with SBTi |
| Establish 2026 scope 3 GHG emission reduction target in 2022 in line with SBTi |
Announced 2026 scope 3 GHG emission reduction target to reduce emissions by 16.5%, as validated by SBTi on August 5, 2022
Rating: + |
By 2026, reduce scope 3 GHG emissions by 16.5% compared to 2015, in line with SBTi |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Record 12 or fewer class 1 and 2 environmental incidents |
Recorded 14 class 1 and 2 environmental incidents
Rating: x |
Record 12 or fewer class 1 and 2 environmental incidents |
| 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 |
| Implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at U.S. sawmills |
Completed ISO 14001 EMS certification at Cross City (Florida) sawmill; achieved recommendation for certification at El Dorado (Arkansas) sawmill; certification of Glenwood (Arkansas) sawmill in progress (two external audits completed)
Rating: > |
Complete ISO 14001 EMS certification at Glenwood sawmill |
| By 2023, implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at Hagerstown (Maryland) tissue converting facility |
Implementation planned in 2023
Rating: > |
Implement ISO 14001 EMS certification at Hagerstown tissue converting facility |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Forest Management (FM)
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ 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's forests questionnaire |
Received B management-level score on CDP’s forests questionnaire, demonstrating our management practices address the environmental impacts of our business
Rating: + |
Report to CDP’s forests questionnaire |
| Record no more than five forest management incidents leading to regulatory infractions in Canada, excluding those of a strictly administrative nature |
Received three notices of infraction for forest management incidents recorded in Ontario between 2018 and 2021 – total penalties of C$16,000
Rating: + |
Record no more than five forest management 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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Complete integration of U.S. sawmills into Resolute's multisite chain of custody (CoC) certification |
Completed integration of U.S. sawmills into Resolute's multisite CoC certification
Rating: + |
|
| Maintain CoC certifications to internationally recognized standards at 100% of certified 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 manufacturing facilities |
| By 2026, increase externally sourced certified fiber supply to 75% |
Increased externally sourced fiber to 58%
Rating: > |
By 2026, increase externally sourced certified fiber supply to 75% |
| Reduce roundwood consumption by 0.025 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities |
Reduced roundwood consumption by 0.090 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities compared to 2021
Rating: ++ |
Reduce roundwood consumption by 0.025 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities compared to 2022 |
| By 2026, reduce roundwood consumption by 0.125 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities compared to 2021 |
Reduced roundwood consumption by 0.090 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities compared to 2021
Rating: > |
By 2026, reduce roundwood consumption by 0.125 m3/mfbm at wood products facilities compared to 2021 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Waste and Residue Management
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| By 2026, reduce waste to landfill by 15% at all pulp, paper and tissue mills against 2018 levels |
2026 target achieved: Reduced waste to landfill by 33% against 2018 levels
Rating: ++ |
New target pending |
| Record fiber losses of no more than 39 kg per mt of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Recorded fiber losses of approximately 35 kg per mt of production at all pulp, paper and tissue mills
Rating: ++ |
Record fiber losses of no more than 42 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 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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Establish annual water reduction targets for each of our pulp, paper and tissue mills |
Established annual water reduction 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's water security questionnaire |
Received C disclosure-level score on CDP’s water security questionnaire, measuring the comprehensiveness of Resolute's water management
Rating: + |
Report to CDP’s water security questionnaire |
| |
|
New Target
Deepen understanding of water-related physical risks in specific operating regions |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Social Commitments
Safety Incidents
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Achieve an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) incident rate of 0.55 or less |
Achieved an OSHA incident rate of 0.63
Rating: x |
Achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.55 or less |
| Achieve a severity rate of 16 or less |
Achieved a severity rate of 19.03
Rating: x |
Achieve a severity rate of 16 or less |
| By 2026, achieve an OSHA incident rate of 0.40 or less |
Achieved 0.63 OSHA incident rate in 2022
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* |
7.25 million incident-free hours achieved in 2022*
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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Ensure 100% of hourly employees submit at least two proactive near-miss reports |
91% of hourly employees submitted at least two proactive near-miss reports; target not achieved due to integration of recently acquired U.S. facilities
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 91% of submitted proactive near-miss reports
Rating: ++ |
Review and resolve more than 75% of submitted proactive near-miss reports |
| Ensure 100% of hourly employees create and review at least four job safety analysis (JSA) or safe operating procedure (SOP) reports |
92% of hourly employees created and reviewed at least four JSA or SOP reports, excluding woodlands operations; target not achieved due to integration of recently acquired U.S. facilities
Rating: x |
Ensure 100% of operations review at least 10 JSA or SOP reports that meet the company's stringent quality criteria |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Key Strategic Partnerships
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Ensure and sustain ongoing outreach with stakeholders, and develop key strategic partnerships across our operations |
Engaged in development of Working Forests Initiative, a partnership supported by U.S. companies and trade associations that seeks to promote broad range of benefits generated by working forests
Continued to engage in Forestry for the Future, an initiative led by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) that highlights how Canadian forestry supports a more sustainable future
Announced C$1.75 million commitment over five years (2023 and 2028) to University of Quebec in Chicoutimi to support boreal forest research consortium
Pledged C$35,000 over five years (2022 to 2027) toward C$6 million initiative led by University of Quebec in Outaouais and supported by National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI)
Completed fifth year of C$150,000 funding partnership for Confederation College in Thunder Bay (Ontario)
Continued partnership with Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), committing C$60,000 over four years to support the Carapace Project
Engaged 120 suppliers and business partners in fundraising C$232,800 through a number of events
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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Implement new leadership and human resources practices to create an inclusive and diverse workplace |
Continued focus on emerging talent program, promotion of employee referral program and development of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) strategy (see Human Rights and Diversity)
Deployed learning and development strategy, including Resolute power skills initiative
Assessed 1,431 salaried employees through demonstrated effectiveness appraisal process; completed 38 performance review sessions bringing together managers
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 1,350 employees, including 148 foreign workers: 114 in Quebec and 34 in Ontario; 165 more expected in 2023
Recorded 23.4% turnover rate, including 14.3% resignation rate
Recorded 128 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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Renew 20 collective agreements covering 1,160 employees at pulp and paper operations and 860 employees at wood products facilities |
Renewed 26 collective agreements covering 1,700 employees at 7 Canadian pulp and paper mills and 8 Quebec sawmills
Rating: ++ |
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 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Human Rights and Diversity
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Train 100% of new employees on workplace respect and civility |
Sensitized 100% of new employees on workplace respect and civility at Resolute and provided training to 100% of managers, including executive team
Rating: x |
Train 100% of managers on workplace respect and civility with focus on unconscious biases |
| Establish diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) steering committee |
Established DE&I steering committee composed of employees from all business segments and corporate to provide recommendations and input toward decisions on DE&I projects and initiatives; held six meetings during the year
Rating: + |
Convene DE&I committee at least eight times to develop committee governance charter and deploy company-wide DE&I communications program |
| Adopt human rights policy according to international best practices to complement Resolute's existing policies related to human rights |
Developed human rights policy according to international best practices to complement Resolute's existing policies related to human rights
Rating: + |
|
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Community Outreach and Contributions
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ 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, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders, with monthly reporting average of 68%
Rating: + |
Ensure 100% of operations report community outreach activities consistently and transparently, focusing on local engagement with external stakeholders and improving over 2022 monthly reporting 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 the corporate and operations levels:
- $248,000 at operations level
- $217,000 through Board of Directors Safety Award program
- $315,000 through other corporate donations
- $297,000 in academic support*
- $150,000 through local fundraisers in Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec
- $64,000 to Centraide
Total: $1.290 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 $1,074,000 in 2022, 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 Board of Directors Safety Award program |
Contributed $217,000 in 2022
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 $76,000 in awards from Resolute endowment funds as well as amounts disclosed under strategic partnerships
Public Policy
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Maintain 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 Maryland operations |
Through the Resolute PAC, made $60,500 in contributions to 29 political campaigns
Raised $51,939 via employee PAC contributions
Rating: = |
Maintain participation in the Resolute PAC at the U.S. operations level and communicate regularly with PAC participants |
| Ensure a Resolute voice in public policy discussions that impact company operations, employees, communities and partners |
Ongoing engagement with public authorities and related stakeholders to continue to preserve Resolute's social license to operate
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 in an effort to provide stakeholder awareness on facts related to the boreal forest and to address anti-boreal legislative and regulatory initiatives
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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Maintain sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of sustainability committee and board's environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHSS) committee |
Maintained sustainability oversight and risk management practices via four meetings of sustainability committee and board's EHSS committee
Rating: = |
Maintain sustainability oversight and risk management practices via quarterly meetings of sustainability committee |
| Develop governance charter for sustainability committee |
Developed governance charter for sustainability committee
Rating: + |
|
| Disclose adoption of related persons policy in 2022 Management Proxy Statement |
Disclosed adoption of related persons policy in 2022 Management Proxy Statement
Rating: + |
|
| Provide board directors, executive team and sustainability committee members training on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure |
Provided 100% of board directors, executive team and sustainability committee members training on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure
Rating: + |
Provide senior management and sustainability committee members ESG-specific training, such as climate scenario analysis |
| Maintain enterprise risk management (ERM) process to address risk factors identified by the corporate disclosure committee and executive management, as well as the board of directors' audit committee, as outlined in the company's Form 10-K for 2022 |
Maintained an ERM process to identity and address risk factors
Rating: = |
Maintain an ERM process to identify and address risk factors |
| Introduce GHG emission reduction incentive into the company's annual short-term incentive plan (STIP), building on safety and environmental performance measures already in place |
Introduced GHG emission reduction incentive into the company's annual STIP, building on safety and environmental performance measures already in place
Rating: + |
Continue tying annual STIP to GHG emission reductions as well as safety and environmental performance |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Sustainability Reporting and Transparency
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Maintain commitment to transparency and annual sustainability reporting by completing materiality assessment of shared priorities according to the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) new GRI Universal Standards, and aligning reporting according to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) |
Completed materiality assessment of shared priorities according to new GRI Universal Standards via engagement with 114 individual stakeholders from 10 stakeholder groups, and aligned reporting according to UN SDGs and SASB standards for forestry management and pulp & paper products
Rating: + |
Report according to GRI's new GRI Universal Standards, UN SDGs and SASB standards for forestry management and pulp & paper products |
| Assess compliance of annual disclosures with SASB standards |
Assessed compliance of annual disclosures according to SASB standards through third-party assessment
Rating: + |
Introduce web-based climate reporting framework according to Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures (TCFD) |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Ethics and Conduct
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Conduct annual review of the company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy |
Conducted annual review of the company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy
Rating: = |
Conduct annual review of the company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Reporting Policy |
| Train 100% of new employees on the company’s Code of Business Conduct |
Trained 100% of new employees on the company’s Code of Business Conduct
Rating: + |
Train 100% of new employees on the company’s Code of Business Conduct |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Data Security and Privacy
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Report twice a year to the board's audit committee on Resolute's security posture |
Reported twice to the board's audit committee on Resolute's security posture
Rating: + |
Report twice a year on the company's security posture to the internal oversight authority |
| Assess reporting according to GRI Standard 418-1: Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data |
Given Paper Excellence Group/Resolute transaction, assessment of GRI Standard 418-1 is ongoing
Rating: > |
Complete assessment of GRI Standard 418-1 |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Customer Satisfaction
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Continue measuring quality and service key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor established processes for pulp, paper and tissue, and integrate wood products into the initiative |
Developed reporting process for wood products to measure quality and service KPIs; continued tracking and monitoring quality and service KPIs for pulp, paper and tissue
Rating: > |
Determine appropriate KPI for measuring and monitoring root cause problem elimination (RCPE) cases related to wood products |
| Ensure 90% of RCPE cases are reviewed and closed for pulp, paper and tissue segments |
Reviewed and closed 96% of RCPE cases for pulp, paper and tissue segments
Rating: ++ |
Ensure 93% 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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Leverage Regional Supplier Registry across all operations to support development of local, regional and Indigenous businesses in our operating communities |
Registered 2,809 suppliers through the portal since 2020; ongoing effort focused on contractors and subcontractors
Rating: > |
Measure penetration rates toward establishing annual targets for regional and Indigenous procurement spend |
| |
|
New Target
Develop supplier recognition program |
| By 2026, create an online, one-stop procurement portal for local, regional and global suppliers to highlight supply chain transparency |
Action plan to be set out in 2023
Rating: > |
By 2026, create an online, one-stop procurement portal for local, regional and global suppliers to highlight supply chain transparency |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Indigenous Business Opportunities and Employment
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Promote economic participation of Indigenous peoples and businesses in forest products sector |
Maintained consultative relationships and business partnerships with close to 40 Indigenous communities and organizations in Ontario and Quebec
Awarded more than $95 million in procurement contracts among three operating regions: Northwestern Ontario and the regions of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Mauricie in Quebec
Engaged in five-year, C$175,000 commitment to fund Laval University's educational leadership chair in Indigenous forestry via Quebec Forest Industry Council
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
| 2022 Targets |
2022 Performance |
2023+ Targets |
| Complete construction and ramp-up of cellulose filaments plant at Kénogami (Quebec) paper mill |
Launched initial start-up phase of cellulose filaments plant at Kénogami mill in November 2022
Rating: > |
Reach target production levels at cellulose filaments plant at Kénogami paper mill |
++ Surpassed commitment + Achieved commitment = Maintained achievement
> Ongoing progress x Commitment unattained |
Updated April 14, 2023