Weyerhaeuser contributes to environmental impact reduction

Federal Way, WA— Weyerhaeuser Company continues to make gains reducing air and water emissions, according to its latest citizenship and environment report released in June.

Titled “Roadmap for Sustainability,” the 96-page report describes the company’s practices with respect to corporate ethics, managing environmental performance, practicing sustainable forestry, reducing pollution, and conserving natural resources. It also addresses how the company treats employees and supports communities. The full report is available online at www.wy.com/environment.

Since 1999, per ton of production, Weyerhaeuser mills have reduced waste going into landfills by 45 percent and cut energy consumption by 27 percent. Since 1996, wood products facilities have reduced air emissions of carbon monoxide by 71 percent, volatile organic compounds by 59 percent, and particulate matter by 67 percent. Because Weyerhaeuser no longer uses elemental chlorine for bleaching paper, releases of dioxin in wastewater have been practically eliminated.

The company uses virtually every portion of the logs brought into its mills, recycles 98 percent of the chemicals required for making pulp and paper, and generates 70 percent of its pulp and paper mill energy needs from the manufacturing process. Since 1980, it has reduced the amount of water required to produce a ton of pulp or paper by 59 percent.