Practices and Plans for Sustainability in Georgia’s Pulp and Paper Sector: Results from the Georgia Manufacturing Survey 2008, 2009 TAPPI Engineering, Pulping, Environmental Conference

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Sustainability is a subject that encompasses a range of technologies, techniques and outcomes. The pulp and paper industry provides a context for examining issues of sustainability practice and performance, in part because of its diversity of size and business focus (mills versus converters), but also because of the energy intensity of the industry. According to the Georgia Manufacturing Survey 2008, pulp and paper manufacturers have adopted sustainability practices into more of their manufacturing processes than other manufacturing subsectors. However, pulp and paper manufacturers are less likely to offer sustainability training to employees than manufacturers in other subsectors. We also show that reducing energy intensity, measured as energy expenditures per million dollars of sales, is associated with increased productivity in terms of value-added per employee. This presents an opportunity for pulp and paper manufacturers to maintain green practices.