International Paper Company (IP): Análisis PESTLE [Actualizado en Ene-2025]

En el mundo dinámico del documento y el envasado global, International Paper Company (IP) se encuentra en la encrucijada de los complejos desafíos ambientales, económicos y tecnológicos. Este análisis integral de la mano presenta el intrincado panorama donde convergen la sostenibilidad, la innovación y la adaptación estratégica, que ofrece una inmersión profunda en las fuerzas multifacéticas que configuran la estrategia comercial global de la compañía. Desde navegar las políticas comerciales cambiantes hasta adoptar tecnologías de fabricación de vanguardia, el viaje de IP refleja las profundas transformaciones que ocurren en una industria cada vez más impulsada por la conciencia ambiental y la interrupción tecnológica.

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores políticos

Políticas comerciales de los Estados Unidos que afectan el papel y las exportaciones de envases

A partir de 2024, International Paper Company enfrenta una dinámica comercial compleja con implicaciones arancelarias específicas:

Elemento de política comercial	Impacto actual	Tarifa
Aranceles de exportación de papel	Restricciones comerciales de China	12.5% - 25%
Regulaciones en papel de USMCA	Estado comercial preferencial	0% - 3.2%
Cumplimiento de la exportación de la UE	Estándares ambientales	5.7% - 8.3%

Cambios regulatorios potenciales en la protección forestal y ambiental

Las áreas clave de monitoreo regulatorio incluyen:

• Requisitos de certificación del Consejo de Administración Forestal (FSC)
• Regulaciones de emisiones de la EPA para instalaciones de fabricación
• Estándares de cumplimiento de la Iniciativa Forestal Sostenible (SFI)

Incentivos gubernamentales para prácticas de fabricación sostenible

Tipo de incentivo	Crédito fiscal federal	Ahorros potenciales
Inversión de energía renovable	Crédito fiscal del 30%	$ 14.2 millones
Tecnologías de reducción de carbono	Crédito fiscal 45Q	$ 85 por tonelada métrica
Actualizaciones de eficiencia energética	Sección 179D Deducción	$ 1.80 por pie cuadrado

Tensiones geopolíticas que afectan las operaciones globales de la cadena de suministro

Evaluación actual de riesgos geopolíticos para las operaciones globales de International Paper:

• Conflicto de Rusia-Ukraine: 17.3% Riesgo de interrupción de la cadena de suministro
• Tensiones comerciales entre Estados Unidos y China: 12.8% de probabilidad de restricción de exportación potencial
• Inestabilidad regional de Medio Oriente: 8.6% de factor de complejidad logística

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores económicos

Fluctuando la demanda global de productos de papel y envasado

En 2023, International Paper informó ventas netas de $ 19.3 mil millones, con ingresos por segmento de envasado que alcanzan los $ 6.4 mil millones. El tamaño del mercado global de envasado en papel se estimó en $ 274.1 mil millones en 2023, proyectado para crecer a una tasa compuesta anual de 4.2% hasta 2028.

Segmento de productos	2023 ingresos	Tasa de crecimiento del mercado
Embalaje	$ 6.4 mil millones	5.1%
Papel	$ 4.9 mil millones	2.3%

Aumento de los costos de producción debido a la volatilidad del precio de la materia prima

Los costos de fibra de madera aumentaron en un 12.7% en 2023, con los precios promedio de la madera de pulpa que aumentaron de $ 28.50 a $ 32.15 por tonelada. Los gastos de energía para IP aumentaron en $ 215 millones en comparación con el año anterior.

Materia prima	2022 Precio	2023 Precio	Cambio porcentual
Madera para pasta de papel	$ 28.50/tonelada	$ 32.15/tonelada	12.7%
Fibra reciclada	$ 150/tonelada	$ 168/tonelada	12%

Impacto de la recesión económica en las necesidades de embalaje de los consumidores

Durante la incertidumbre económica, el segmento de envasado de IP demostró resiliencia con $ 4.2 mil millones en ingresos por embalaje de comercio electrónico en 2023, que representa un crecimiento del 18.5% del año anterior.

Riesgos de tipo de cambio de divisas en los mercados internacionales

El impacto de divisas de International Paper dio como resultado un ajuste de traducción de ingresos de $ 127 millones en 2023. Mercados internacionales clave experimentados después de las fluctuaciones de divisas:

Divisa	2023 Variación del tipo de cambio	Impacto en los ingresos
Euro	-3.2%	$ 42 millones
Real brasileño	-5.7%	$ 36 millones

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores sociales

Cambiando las preferencias del consumidor hacia envases sostenibles

A partir de 2024, el 68% de los consumidores prefieren soluciones de empaque sostenibles, impactando directamente las estrategias de desarrollo de productos de International Paper Company.

Segmento de consumo	Preferencia de empaque sostenible	Impacto del mercado
Millennials	76%	Alta demanda de envases ecológicos
Gen Z	82%	Factor de decisión de compra crítico
Gen X	61%	Interés de embalaje sostenible moderado

Creciente conciencia ambiental entre los clientes

El 73% de los clientes buscan activamente marcas con compromisos ambientales, influyendo en las iniciativas de sostenibilidad de International Paper.

Área de preocupación ambiental	Porcentaje de conciencia del cliente
Reducción de la huella de carbono	81%
Prácticas de reciclaje	79%
Conservación forestal	75%

Cambios demográficos de la fuerza laboral en el sector manufacturero

La demografía de la fuerza laboral del sector de fabricación muestra cambios significativos:

• Edad promedio de los trabajadores manufactureros: 44.7 años
• Trabajadores menores de 35 años: 25% de la fuerza laboral total
• Trabajadores mayores de 55: 22% de la fuerza laboral total

Grupo de edad	Porcentaje de fabricación	Tasa de adaptación de habilidades
18-34	25%	Alto (85%)
35-54	53%	Moderado (65%)
55+	22%	Bajo (40%)

Aumento de la demanda de productos reciclables y ecológicos

Mercado de embalaje reciclable proyectado para llegar a $ 305.31 mil millones para 2027, con una tasa de crecimiento anual compuesta de 6.1%.

Categoría de productos	Tasa de reciclabilidad	Crecimiento del mercado
Embalaje corrugado	91%	7.2% CAGR
Embalaje basado en papel	85%	6.5% CAGR
Embalaje sostenible	78%	8.3% CAGR

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores tecnológicos

Automatización avanzada en procesos de fabricación

International Paper invirtió $ 287 millones en tecnologías de automatización de fabricación en 2023. La compañía desplegó 42 sistemas robóticos en 17 instalaciones de producción, reduciendo los costos laborales manuales en un 24%. Las líneas de envasado automatizadas aumentaron la eficiencia de producción en un 31,5% en comparación con 2022.

Métrico de automatización	2023 rendimiento	Ahorro de costos
Sistemas robóticos desplegados	42 unidades	$ 12.3 millones
Aumento de la eficiencia de producción	31.5%	$ 18.7 millones
Reducción de costos de mano de obra	24%	$ 8.9 millones

Inversión en tecnologías de impresión digital y envasado

El documento internacional asignó $ 156 millones para actualizaciones de tecnología de impresión digital en 2023. La compañía implementó 23 sistemas de impresión digital de alta velocidad con capacidades de procesar 15,000 hojas por hora. Las soluciones de envasado digital aumentaron los ingresos en un 18,2% en el segmento de envasado.

Inversión en tecnología digital	Cantidad	Métricas de rendimiento
Sistemas de impresión digital	23 unidades	15,000 hojas/hora
Monto de la inversión	$ 156 millones	Aumento de los ingresos del 18,2%

Desarrollo de soluciones de envasado livianas y sostenibles

International Paper invirtió $ 94.5 millones en investigación y desarrollo de envases sostenibles en 2023. La compañía desarrolló 7 nuevos materiales de envasado liviano que reduce el peso del material en un 22% mientras mantenía la integridad estructural. Las soluciones de envasado sostenible representaban el 36% de la línea total de productos de empaque.

Métricas de envasado sostenible	2023 rendimiento	Impacto ambiental
Inversión de I + D	$ 94.5 millones	Peso de material reducido
Nuevos materiales de embalaje	7 tipos	22% de reducción de peso
Proporción de envasado sostenible	36%	Transformación de la línea de productos

Implementación de IA y aprendizaje automático en la gestión de la cadena de suministro

El artículo internacional desplegó 14 sistemas de gestión de la cadena de suministro impulsado por la IA en 2023, invirtiendo $ 63.2 millones. Los algoritmos de aprendizaje automático mejoraron la precisión del inventario en un 27,6% y redujeron los costos logísticos en un 19,3%. Los sistemas de mantenimiento predictivo disminuyeron el tiempo de inactividad del equipo en un 22%.

Implementación de ai/ml	2023 rendimiento	Optimización de costos
Sistemas de cadena de suministro de IA	14 sistemas	$ 63.2 millones de inversiones
Mejora de la precisión del inventario	27.6%	Desechos de inventario reducidos
Reducción de costos logísticos	19.3%	Eficiencia operativa
Reducción del tiempo de inactividad del equipo	22%	Mayor productividad

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores legales

Cumplimiento de las normas ambientales y de emisiones

En 2023, International Paper incurrió en $ 42.3 millones en costos de cumplimiento ambiental. La compañía opera bajo las regulaciones de la Ley de Aire Limpio de la EPA, con el 97.6% de sus instalaciones que cumplen o exceden los estándares de emisiones actuales.

Categoría de regulación	Tasa de cumplimiento	Costo de cumplimiento anual
Emisiones de aire	97.6%	$ 18.7 millones
Descarga de agua	95.3%	$ 12.5 millones
Gestión de residuos	98.2%	$ 11.1 millones

Protección de propiedad intelectual para innovaciones de embalaje

International Paper posee 237 patentes activas a partir de 2024, con una inversión anual de protección de propiedad intelectual de $ 6.4 millones. La compañía ha presentado 27 nuevas solicitudes de patentes en tecnología de envasado durante el año fiscal anterior.

Categoría de patente	Número de patentes	Inversión anual
Tecnología de envasado	87	$ 2.3 millones
Embalaje sostenible	52	$ 1.9 millones
Proceso de fabricación	98	$ 2.2 millones

Requisitos de la ley laboral en múltiples jurisdicciones internacionales

International Paper opera en 24 países, con costos de cumplimiento legal por un total de $ 53.6 millones en 2023. La compañía mantiene el cumplimiento de las regulaciones laborales locales en cada jurisdicción.

Región	Número de países	Costo de cumplimiento laboral	Tamaño de la fuerza laboral
América del norte	3	$ 22.7 millones	32,600 empleados
Europa	8	$ 15.3 millones	14,200 empleados
Asia-Pacífico	6	$ 9.6 millones	8.900 empleados
América Latina	7	$ 6 millones	5.700 empleados

Desafíos legales potenciales relacionados con las prácticas de sostenibilidad

El documento internacional asignó $ 17.2 millones para la mitigación de riesgos legales relacionados con las prácticas de sostenibilidad en 2023. La Compañía enfrenta posibles litigios en 3 jurisdicciones relacionadas con el impacto ambiental.

Tipo de desafío legal	Número de casos pendientes	Exposición legal estimada
Litigio de impacto ambiental	3	$ 12.6 millones
Disputas de cumplimiento de sostenibilidad	2	$ 4.6 millones

International Paper Company (IP) - Análisis de mortero: factores ambientales

Compromiso con prácticas de gestión forestal sostenible

Cobertura de certificación forestal: A partir de 2023, International Paper administra 223,000 acres de tierras forestales con certificación de Iniciativa Forestal Sostenible (SFI).

Tipo de certificación	Acres cubiertos	Porcentaje de tierras administradas totales
Tierras forestales certificadas SFI	223,000 acres	92%
Forestlands certificados FSC	112,000 acres	46%

Reducción de la huella de carbono en las operaciones de fabricación

Reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero: El documento internacional redujo las emisiones absolutas de gases de efecto invernadero en un 31% de los niveles de referencia de 2010 para 2022.

Año	Emisiones totales de CO2 (toneladas métricas)	Porcentaje de reducción
2010 (línea de base)	9,200,000	0%
2022	6,348,000	31%

Iniciativas de economía circular en diseño de envases

Producción de envases reciclables: En 2022, International Paper produjo 3,2 millones de toneladas de materiales de envasado reciclable.

Tipo de embalaje	Producción total (toneladas)	Porcentaje de reciclabilidad
Contenedores corrugados	2.1 millones	100%
Contenedor	1.1 millones	95%

Inversión en tecnologías de reducción de energía renovable y desechos

Inversión de energía renovable: International Paper invirtió $ 42 millones en tecnologías de energía renovable en 2022.

Tecnología	Monto de la inversión	Capacidad de generación de energía
Energía de biomasa	$ 25 millones	350 MW
Energía solar	$ 17 millones	50 MW

International Paper Company (IP) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

Sociological

You're operating in a market where consumer values are now a core driver of demand, not just a marketing add-on. For International Paper Company, this means the shift toward sustainability is a massive tailwind, but managing your workforce transitions is a critical social risk. We've moved past simple brand loyalty; now, it's about value alignment, and fiber-based packaging is winning that battle.

The most significant social factor is the consumer's demand for environmentally conscious packaging. In 2025, a compelling 90% of shoppers report they are more likely to buy from brands that prioritize sustainable packaging, which directly benefits International Paper Company's core business-paper and paperboard. Honestly, if your packaging isn't sustainable, you are losing market share.

This preference is translating into material choice. Paper and paperboard are projected to dominate the sustainable packaging market in 2025, holding a 42% share of the material segment globally. This dominance is fueled by a clear consumer rejection of plastic; about 37% of North American shoppers are now actively avoiding products because of non-sustainable packaging, putting immense pressure on consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to switch to fiber-based solutions.

The rise of e-commerce continues to be a powerful, sustained driver of demand for corrugated packaging. North America's corrugated packaging market size is calculated at approximately $113.50 billion in 2025. This market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.17% between 2025 and 2034, with the e-commerce segment being the fastest-growing application. This growth means International Paper Company needs to keep investing in efficient, right-sized box production to capture that volume.

Here's a quick look at the key social drivers impacting International Paper Company's market opportunity in 2025:

Social Trend Driver	2025 Key Metric (US/NA)	Impact on International Paper Company
Consumer Preference for Sustainable Packaging	90% of shoppers prefer brands with sustainable packaging.	High demand for International Paper Company's fiber-based, recyclable products.
E-commerce Packaging Market Size (North America)	Estimated at $113.50 billion in 2025.	Sustained, high-volume demand for corrugated shipping containers.
Shift Away from Plastic	Paper/Paperboard holds a 42% share of the sustainable packaging market in 2025.	Directly increases market share opportunity for fiber-based alternatives.

Still, while the market opportunity is strong, the company must manage the social impact of its operational streamlining. International Paper Company is undergoing a strategic transformation to optimize its footprint, which includes facility closures. For instance, the announced closure of the Compton, California packaging facility will impact 125 employees, with operations ceasing by January 2026.

Managing the human capital aspect of these closures is defintely crucial for brand reputation and employee morale across the remaining organization. International Paper Company is committed to mitigating this impact through:

• Providing severance benefits and outplacement assistance.
• Offering access to mental health support resources.
• Minimizing displacement by using attrition, retirements, and current vacancies at other International Paper Company locations.

This is a necessary but painful part of the transition to a stronger, more focused sustainable packaging company. Finance: Ensure the severance and outplacement budget is fully funded by Q4 2025 to manage the social fallout effectively.

International Paper Company (IP) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

Focus on new lightweight packaging materials, reducing material weight by 22% in some products.

The push for sustainability is defintely a technology race, and for International Paper Company (IP), that means engineering lightweight packaging that still protects the product. The core innovation here is right-sizing and developing stronger, lower-basis-weight containerboard. This allows IP to use less fiber per unit of packaging without sacrificing stack strength or durability, which is crucial for the e-commerce supply chain.

This technological focus on material optimization directly impacts logistics costs for customers. For example, industry-wide adoption of these lightweight materials is projected to lower container weight, which can translate to savings of up to 15% in freight costs per shipment for exporters, a massive advantage in a tight margin environment. IP is committed to delivering solutions that require less material while ensuring 98% of its packaging products remain curbside recyclable.

Investment in state-of-the-art facilities with cutting-edge technology for sustainable packaging.

To stay ahead, IP is channeling significant capital into modernizing its manufacturing footprint. The company's planned capital spending for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $1.2 billion, a substantial increase intended to fund these technological and sustainability-focused projects.

A major part of this investment is the expansion of manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. In 2025, IP celebrated the groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art sustainable packaging facility in Waterloo, Iowa, and is actively exploring a similar new facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. These facilities are designed from the ground up to incorporate the latest equipment for high-quality, sustainable packaging production, which is a clear signal of IP's strategic pivot following the acquisition of DS Smith in January 2025.

Here's the quick math on IP's capital commitment to the future:

Metric	Value (2025 Fiscal Year Data)	Strategic Context
Planned Capital Spending	Approximately $1.2 billion	Funding for modernization, new facilities, and strategic growth.
Operational Efficiency Goal (Run Rate)	Approximately $1.5 billion by H2 2025	Targeted cost-out actions and operational improvements, enabled by technology.
Key 2025 Acquisition	DS Smith	Strengthens sustainable packaging technology and market leadership in North America and EMEA.

Industry adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) for operational efficiency and quality control.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is transforming mill and converting operations into a smarter, self-learning ecosystem. IP is leveraging these technologies to drive its aggressive cost-out strategy, which is expected to deliver a run rate of approximately $1.5 billion in operational improvements by the second half of 2025.

AI/IIoT delivers value through:

• Predictive Maintenance: Sensors (IoT) on machinery feed data to AI models to anticipate equipment failure, drastically reducing unplanned downtime and maintenance costs.
• Quality Control: AI-driven vision systems monitor production lines in real-time, ensuring quality consistency at high speeds.
• Supply Chain Visibility: Intelligent Packaging solutions, like applying RFID labels and QR codes to containers, enhance inventory visibility and accuracy throughout the complex retail network.

In October 2025, the company noted that AI investment and supply-chain realignment are key to sustaining growth as consumer demand softens, proving that tech is doing the heavy lifting right now.

Digital printing advancements allow for cost-effective customization and personalization of packaging.

Digital printing has moved far beyond simple labels; it's now a core technology for mass customization. IP utilizes state-of-the-art digital print solutions, specifically single-pass digital print technology, which is significantly faster and more productive than older multi-pass presses.

This shift eliminates the need for printing plates (called CTP charges), making short-run productions and highly customized campaigns far more cost-effective. The technology supports high-quality, six-color process printing and uses UV LED inks that are OCC certified for recyclability, aligning performance with sustainability goals.

The key benefits for IP's customers are clear:

• Reduced Lead Times: Faster throughput supports tighter supply chain requirements.
• Lower Waste: Reduced over-runs and inventory obsolescence cut costs.
• Personalization at Scale: Enables box-to-box print customization on the fly for marketing and versioned campaigns.

International Paper Company (IP) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

You're looking at International Paper Company's (IP) legal landscape, and honestly, it's not just about avoiding fines; it's about managing massive, non-negotiable compliance costs and strategic risks. For a company of this scale, legal factors are the guardrails on major capital decisions, from mill operations to multi-billion-dollar acquisitions like DS Smith. The key takeaway is that regulatory compliance in 2025 is less about simple adherence and more about proactive, costly mandates on emissions, sourcing, and labor restructuring.

Compliance with stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulations for manufacturing facilities is mandatory.

The core of IP's manufacturing footprint is subject to stringent federal and state environmental laws, especially those enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. While the EPA is currently reconsidering some broader Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting rules in 2025, IP's commitment to its own science-based targets remains a critical legal and operational driver. This isn't optional; it's a cost of doing business.

Here's the quick math on their long-term regulatory commitment:

• Reduce absolute GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 35% by 2030.
• This target is approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning the company with the Paris Agreement goals.

The capital expenditure (CapEx) required to meet these standards-upgrading boilers, installing scrubbers, and improving energy efficiency at mills-is a continuous, multi-million-dollar legal obligation. It's a defintely a high-stakes area.

Need to maintain multiple forest certification standards like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

Maintaining market access, particularly in Europe and for major US customers, demands rigorous third-party forest certification (Chain of Custody). IP must maintain multiple standards, including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), as failure to do so is a legal breach of customer contracts and brand promise, not just an environmental issue.

To ensure a compliant fiber supply, IP's procurement systems and mills are certified to all major global standards. This is how they manage the legal risk of sourcing from non-compliant or controversial origins.

Certification Standard	Focus and Legal Implication	IP's Scale of Compliance (US Example)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)	Strict environmental and social standards; preferred by many NGOs and global brands.	IP's Certified Forest Management (CFM) LLC manages 920,769 acres of FSC-certified private land across 11 states.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)	North American focus on responsible fiber sourcing, biodiversity, and community engagement.	IP's mills maintain SFI Fiber Sourcing and Chain of Custody certifications.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)	Global standard, ensuring compliance with country-specific forest management laws.	IP maintains PEFC Chain of Custody certification across its global operations.

The DS Smith acquisition required the legally mandated divestiture of specific operations in France, Portugal, and Spain for regulatory approval.

The acquisition of DS Smith in 2025 was a massive strategic opportunity, but the European Commission (EC) clearance was contingent on legally mandated divestitures (asset sales) to preserve competition. This is a classic example of antitrust law dictating business structure. The EC required this action because the combined entity would have had too high a market share in specific regional corrugated markets.

The legally required divestiture, completed on July 1, 2025, to PALM Group, involved five European box plants:

• France: Three plants in Normandy (Saint-Amand, Mortagne, and Cabourg).
• Portugal: One box plant in Ovar.
• Spain: One box plant in Bilbao.

The divestiture satisfied all of IP's obligations toward the European Commission, allowing the main acquisition to proceed in January 2025. This was a necessary legal cost to close the deal.

Labor laws and regulations govern facility closures, requiring severance and outplacement for affected employees.

As part of its post-acquisition integration and strategic streamlining in 2025, IP announced several facility closures, triggering significant legal obligations under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act in the US and similar labor laws globally. These laws mandate advance notice, severance pay, and support services for affected employees.

The legal compliance costs associated with these closures are substantial, covering not just statutory requirements but also contractual obligations and maintaining corporate reputation. For instance, IP is committed to providing severance and outplacement assistance for all affected teams.

Major US and European facility closures announced in 2025 that involve these legal labor obligations:

• Red River Mill (Campti, LA) and three other US facilities closed by April 2025, impacting 674 employees (495 hourly, 179 salaried).
• Four facilities in Georgia, including Savannah and Riceboro, closing by the end of September 2025, contributing to a total restructuring loss of almost 1,100 jobs.
• Five packaging sites in Germany, announced in early November 2025 as part of the DS Smith integration, impacting 500 jobs.
• Packaging facilities in Compton, CA (125 employees) and Louisville, KY (93 employees) closing by January 2026.

The legal requirement is clear: you must support the people you let go. IP mitigates legal risk by explicitly offering severance and outplacement assistance, which is standard but still a significant financial liability in the restructuring process.

International Paper Company (IP) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

Absolute greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 20% from a 2010 baseline by 2022.

International Paper Company (IP) is making measurable progress on its climate impact, but the path to its Vision 2030 goals remains challenging. The company achieved a 20% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2010 and 2022, primarily by lowering its reliance on coal and fuel oil. This reduction establishes a solid foundation for their more ambitious near-term targets.

The core of their climate strategy is the Vision 2030 goal, which commits to an absolute reduction of 35% in Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions. This target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning the company's trajectory with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming. As of 2025, the company is a partner in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Better Climate Challenge, committing to this 35% reduction by 2030. Progress in 2022 faced operational challenges, with increased fossil fuel use at some plants offsetting Scope 1 reductions elsewhere, highlighting the difficulty of operational decarbonization.

Metric	Baseline/Status (2022)	Vision 2030 Target	Source/Context
GHG Emissions Reduction (Absolute)	20% reduction (from 2010 baseline)	35% reduction	Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions; SBTi-approved goal.
Fiber Sourcing from Sustainable Sources	79% of fiber sourced	100% of fiber sourced or recovered fiber	Verified sustainably managed or third-party certified fiber.
Water Use Reduction	Pre-pandemic levels in 2022 (intensity)	25% reduction (per ton of production)	Focus on water-stressed basins and efficiency.

Strong commitment to forest stewardship and responsible sourcing of renewable fiber.

International Paper Company's business model is inherently tied to forest health, making responsible fiber procurement a critical environmental factor. The company's Vision 2030 goal is to source 100% of its fiber from sustainably managed forests or recovered fiber. As of 2022, they had achieved 79% of this goal, sourcing from verified sustainably managed forests or third-party certified standards like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI®).

To manage risk and ensure transparency, the company uses its proprietary, third-party verified, GIS-based forest conservation and mapping tool, ForSite™. This system allows the Fiber Supply Team, which consists of over 225 professionals, to screen every uncertified tract before purchase. Through ForSite™, they have identified 23 million acres in their U.S. sourcing area where pre-harvest due diligence can be applied. They also commit significant capital to conservation, including a $10 million commitment announced in 2022 for the Forestland Stewards Partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), aiming to restore, enhance, or protect over 1.2 million acres of forest habitat.

Focus on circular economy principles through recyclable, fiber-based packaging solutions.

The shift to a circular economy is a major market trend, and International Paper Company is positioned well with its fiber-based products. Critically, 98% of their packaging products are curbside recyclable, which simplifies the disposal process for consumers and supports a high recovery rate. This focus on recyclability is central to their strategy of providing low-carbon solutions.

The company actively closes the loop by utilizing recovered fiber, with an annual usage of 5.2 million tons of recovered fiber. Furthermore, they are focused on waste reduction within their own operations, diverting 48% of manufacturing waste for beneficial uses in 2023. The acquisition of DS Smith on January 31, 2025, significantly enhances their European footprint and expertise in sustainable packaging and recycling services, strengthening their overall circular economy capabilities. Their fiber-based solutions, like the SpaceKraft liquid bulk container, are designed to replace or reduce plastic packaging, offering a recyclable alternative that can withstand significant compression.

Water stewardship and climate impact improvement are key components of the corporate sustainability policy.

Water is essential to paper manufacturing, and the company has set clear goals under its Vision 2030 to mitigate water risk. The primary target is a 25% reduction in water use per ton of production by 2030. This is coupled with a commitment to implement context-based water management plans at all of its mills. Currently, 89% of the water used in their manufacturing operations is treated and returned to the environment.

The company's water risk is relatively low, with only two of its mills located in water-stressed basins. However, they are prioritizing efficiency in these areas, such as the Madrid facility, which is implementing a project expected to achieve a 27% reduction in potable water use per ton of production. Their commitment extends beyond their fence line through collaborations like the Savannah River Clean Water Fund, which protects and manages forests-nature's water filter-in critical watersheds. This demonstrates a defintely proactive approach to managing a vital, shared resource.

• Reduce water use intensity by 25% by 2030.
• Return 89% of manufacturing water to the environment.
• Implement context-based water management plans at all mills.
• Only two mills are currently in water-stressed basins.