Georgia-Pacific Corporate Principles


 

I. Management
II. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Resources
III. Protection of Health and the Environment
IV. Promote Community Awareness

 




I. Management

 

A.  MANAGEMENT POLICY.  Georgia-Pacific's policy is to practice pollution prevention by minimizing environmental impacts of our products and operations, practicing sustainable development, and promoting continuous improvement through measurable goals.

B.  MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT.  Protecting people and the environment is an integral part of management commitment. Georgia-Pacific will maintain a senior officer who will report to the Chief Executive Officer, work with senior management officials to integrate environmental management systems throughout the company, and establish, monitor, and review corporate environmental policy, practice and performance. This individual will chair an Environmental Policy Committee, composed of senior management officials, which will report to the Chief Executive Officer, and, through the Chair, to the Board of Directors. This Committee will oversee the development and implementation of environmental policies and programs. The Chair will present an environmental report to the Board of Directors at every regular meeting. The Chief Executive Officer and senior management will ensure that the necessary resources and commitment are available to implement corporate environmental policy. The Board of Directors will view awareness of environmental concerns as one of the factors it considers in the selection of future Board members.

C.  EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND EDUCATION.  Georgia-Pacific employees will be trained in the environmental aspects of their jobs and will be responsible for performing their individual duties in accordance with that training. Employees also will receive periodic communication about Georgia-Pacific's environmental activities.

D.  SUPPLIER AND CUSTOMER INVOLVEMENT.  Georgia-Pacific will assist customers and suppliers on environmental issues and, where appropriate, will devote resources to helping them develop their own principles which allow their practices to be consistent with those of Georgia-Pacific.

E.  AUDITING PERFORMANCE AND PROGRAMS.  Georgia-Pacific will audit, on a rotating basis, environmental performance and management systems at every manufacturing facility, forestry facility, forestry operation, and distribution center the company owns or operates. The company will use a combination of internal and third-party audits. The results of all audits will be used as feedback to corporate and facility management to maintain and improve environmental performance.

F.  EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY.  Each Georgia-Pacific employee should report environmental infractions to company management, either at the facility in question or through the company's Business Conduct and Security Hotline (1-800-234-4321). No action will be taken against employees for the reporting of incidents or dangerous conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

II. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Resources

 

A.  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.  Sustainable development, broadly defined, is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Georgia-Pacific will participate with the scientific community and others in defining sustainable practices applicable to its operations.

B.  SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT.  Georgia-Pacific will manage its forests for sustained yield by ensuring that projected growth balances timber harvests on a long-term basis. The company will practice a land stewardship ethic which integrates the growing, nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat.

C.  CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.  Georgia-Pacific is committed to long-term conservation of natural resources. The company will reduce life-cycle environmental impact through source reduction, innovations in processes and products, and reduction of environmental burden through reuse, recovery, and recycling.

D.  ENERGY EFFICIENCY.  Georgia-Pacific's goal is to reduce the amount of fossil fuel and purchased electricity consumed per unit of product produced. The company will improve efficiency through careful planning and increased use of self-generated and renewable fuels.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

III. Protection of Health and the Environment

 
 

A.  CLEAN AND SAFE OPERATION.  Georgia-Pacific's goal is to minimize adverse impacts from its operations. The company will utilize sound operating and maintenance practices, safety-conscious design, employee training, routine audits, and incident investigations, with the goal of minimizing risks to its employees, the environment, and the communities in which it operates. In addition, Georgia-Pacific will work with individuals and organizations, including local, state and federal authorities, to address environmental damage, if any, caused by past practices. Georgia-Pacific will be prepared to respond professionally should an incident occur.

B.  EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH.  A top priority at Georgia-Pacific is to provide a safe and healthy working environment for its employees. The company will provide employees with the necessary training and skills to identify unsafe conditions or acts and the necessary resources to correct deficiencies so that they can perform their work safely. Georgia-Pacific will also participate with government and other organizations in developing responsible safety and health standards such as laws, regulations and voluntary guidelines to ensure employee safety.

C.  DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.  Georgia-Pacific will participate with government and other organizations in creating responsible, reasonable, and necessary environmental standards and guidelines to safeguard the community and the environment.

D.  WASTE REDUCTION.  Georgia-Pacific will reduce and, where feasible, eliminate waste through source reduction and recycling. Waste will be handled and disposed of through safe and responsible methods in accordance with applicable standards.

E.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.  Georgia-Pacific will champion the use of sound science and innovative technology in environmental decision-making. The company will support credible scientific research, encourage leading edge research on improved environmental technologies and reward internal technological innovation that leads to improved environmental results.

 
 


IV. Promote Community Awareness

 
 

A.  COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.  Georgia-Pacific will regularly participate in dialogue with our community members. The company is committed to being an active contributing member of the communities in which it operates so that community preferences and concerns can be reflected in its overall environmental plan.

B.  RESPONSE TO CONCERNS.  Georgia-Pacific will recognize and respond to community and employee concerns about its operations. The company will report promptly to officials, employees, customers, and the public, information on environmental incidents at its facilities.

C.  VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE.  Georgia-Pacific supports the concept of public accountability for environmental performance and will report regularly on its performance and progress against established goals in candid, consistent, and measurable terms. The company will encourage comments from the public with respect to its performance.

 

 
 

 


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