Economic sustainability

Sustainable contributions to economic prosperity

The pulp and paper industry is an important economic pillar and contributes significantly to the competitiveness of Europe, and our products play an essential part in our every day life, providing hygiene, comfort and convenience. According to the Confederation of the European Paper Industries (CEPI), the industry employs more than 250,000 people and provides indirect employment to 1.8 million people. 

We define sustainability in terms of meeting the needs of society today without jeopardizing our ability to do so in the future. That means we take a long-term view and think about conservation as well as supply. It means we weigh different benefits – social, environmental and economic. And it means we consider alternatives before we make business decisions – and we are keenly aware of the trade-offs that are part of every business choice.

What does that mean in practice? We will consistently strive to apply sustainability to our business decisions. We will not market products that don't add value for our customers or don't actually improve environmental stewardship just to prove we are "green." We will look at credible scientific evidence in making decisions. We will ask ourselves the toughest questions – and if we think it is right, we will make long-term investments in a more sustainable future.

As a company that has more than 4,500 employees and operates over 20 facilities in Europe, Georgia-Pacific also has a commitment to being a prosperous business and to finding ways to add real, long-term value through sustainability – for our customers, for society and for the company.

To ensure that we continue to add value and meet the needs of our consumers and customers, we believe that our focus on innovation and research and development is of key importance.