Goals Build on 40% Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decrease in the U.S. Achieved during the Last Decade

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is committing to use 15 percent less energy and to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020. Using 2010 as a baseline, these goals are the first in a set of comprehensive sustainability goals the company will announce in the next six months.

"Our commitment to sustainability spans our 110 year history and these goals are a natural next step in demonstrating that we can make the products that matter to people in a way that matters," said David Kiser, International Paper vice president, environment, health, safety & sustainability.

International Paper plans to achieve these reductions by increasing manufacturing efficiencies, exploring new technologies and engaging our employees to find innovative solutions in its operations.

"The goals of improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions go hand-in-hand. Less energy means fewer emissions and in the last five years we have been able to reduce our energy usage by 12 percent. We are confident we can achieve these goals while still delivering our industry leading products, performance and customer service," Kiser added.

International Paper is announcing these goals in conjunction with recent recognition it received from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders program for achieving voluntary fossil fuel greenhouse gas emission reductions of more than 40 percent from 2000 to 2010.

"We congratulate International Paper for meeting their goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Leaders Program," said Beth Craig, EPA's Acting Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs. "They are proving that they can be both industry leaders and leaders in the fight against climate change."

EPA's Climate Leaders is an industry-government partnership that works to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Participating companies commit to reduce their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Program participants are recognized by the EPA as corporate environmental leaders.

Nalco (NYSE: NLC), providing essential expertise for water, energy and air, announced that Chief Information Officer Stewart McCutcheon has been named 2011 CIO of the Year by The Executives' Club of Chicago and the Association of Information Technology Professionals. McCutcheon received the award today at The Executives' Club of Chicago's quarterly Technology Conference at the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel.

McCutcheon was selected from a field of 27 top IT executives at some of Chicago's largest and best known companies. A panel of 11 judges, including several past winners, reviewed nominations that were scored in 16 weighted categories, to determine the 2011 winner.

McCutcheon scored highest or tied for highest in six categories including Leadership in Driving Business Value, Leadership in the Global Economy, Leadership in Innovation, Customer Contribution, Current Role in the Business, and Career Background.

He has served as Nalco CIO since 2009, applying innovative solutions to expand competitive advantage and increase productivity across the company. In 2010, he was also named Chief Productivity Officer and given responsibility to achieve annual companywide productivity gains of $100 million in areas such as Supply Chain, Procurement and Administrative Functions.

"The successes we have achieved using information technology to support the key business drivers of Nalco and our customers are the result of a great team effort," said McCutcheon. "The Nalco IT organization has embraced the challenge of becoming the next generation IT team that truly partners with our business units to apply technology to create competitive advantage."

Prior to joining Nalco he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Ascis, a leading supply chain software provider and SAP partner. From 2001 to 2006, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer for Elemica, a business-to-business e-commerce solution provider. McCutcheon previously served in a variety of global business, manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and IT management roles for DuPont. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

"The CIO of the year award spotlights the importance of the senior information leadership to overall performance. This is one of the ways The Executives' Club seeks to facilitate knowledge transfer between CIOs and other senior executives," said Melissa Bean, President & CEO, The Executives' Club.

Established in 2003, The Executives' Club's CIO of the Year award recognizes the increasingly important role of chief information officers in value realization and company growth, as well as the importance technology plays in Chicago's economic development. The award is given in collaboration with the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP).

The Executives' Club of Chicago

The Executives' Club of Chicago is a business forum for thought leadership, professional development, and best business practices. Founded in 1911, The Club is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious business organizations. The Club serves Chicago's business community by providing information and resources needed to establish effective global partnerships, enhance intellectual exchange, develop business leaders, and promote Chicago as a world class global business center. In 2011 the Club celebrates its Centennial, with four Summits addressing Women's Leadership, Technology, New Leaders, and U.S.-India trade and investment relations.

Zweibrücken, Germany (26 October 2011) – Bernd Huber has been appointed CFO of Pallmann Group, effective October 1. Pallmann is the world’s largest specialist manufacturer of machines for materials size reduction and processing technology.

Mr Huber is ideally qualified for this position because of his long business management experience in the machine construction sector, as well as working for associated automotive suppliers and also in the consumer goods industry.

His professional career has included 10 years as CFO and later as CEO of a medium-sized automotive supplier company which developed and manufactured automotive powertrain parts and modules for European car manufacturers. His work also embraced the company’s other area of expertise, mainly the development, manufacture and international distribution of hydraulic parts for machine construction.

Most recently, Mr Huber has been Head Group Controller for a global automotive supplier company. Here, the focus was on the manufacture at all 13 plants, with responsibility for the distribution/development and joint ventures for market development.

Log exportation from New Zealand continues to rise at a record pace, with almost onethird of the country’s timber harvest being processed at sawmills in China. The high demand for logs from overseas has increased domestic sawlog prices to their highest levels in 15 years, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Log exports from New Zealand in 2011 are set to reach a new record high. During the first eight months, total shipments were 25 percent higher than the same period last year (54 percent higher by value) and total exports for 2011 may reach as high as 13 million m3, which is more than a doubling from just three years ago. It is worth noting that almost half of the timber harvest in the 2Q was shipped overseas in log form and that almost one-third of the timber harvest in New Zealand is shipped to Chinese sawmills.

While log exports have increased substantially this year thanks to demand in China, lumber exports have actually declined from last year. This highlights the concern in the industry that domestic sawmills increasingly have difficulty competing for logs with the log exporters and thus may have to reduced production and the layoff of employees. Sawlog costs for domestic sawmills have continued to go up during 2011 because of competition from the export market. Pine sawlog prices reached record highs in the 3Q/11 with almost a doubling in US dollar terms from early 2009. With the recent price increases, log costs in New Zealand are just below the Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI), as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly.

The steady increase in log exports the past five years may very well continue in the coming 15 years as the theoretical harvest level in New Zealand is set to double to 55 million m3 by 2024. Most observers in the industry agree that, for a number of reasons, this timber harvest scenario is less likely. Depending on market conditions, a more realistic level of annual timber harvests in 15 years would be between 35 and 45 million m3 annually. Even this lower harvest outlook alternative would increase available log supply from the current levels by over 50 percent.

International Paper has announced the following three senior leadership moves effective Nov. 1, 2011.

• Tim Nicholls named senior vice president, Printing and Communications Papers, the Americas

• Carol Roberts named senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer, IP

• Mark Sutton named senior vice president, Industrial Packaging

Tim Nicholls is being named senior vice president, Printing and Communications Papers, the Americas. In this role, Nicholls will have responsibility for the Commercial Printing and Imaging Papers, and Converting Papers and Pulp businesses, as well as IP Latin America, which includes IP Brazil.

John Faraci, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Tim has led the IP finance function as CFO for the past four years and during that time has built a stronger more effective organization. He knows our businesses and can apply his deep understanding of IP's financial levers directly to our North American and Latin American uncoated freesheet paper businesses."

Carol Roberts is being named senior vice president and Chief Financial Officer, International Paper. In addition to her responsibilities as CFO, Roberts will lead the Finance organization, including Internal Audit, Tax, Accounting, Trust Investments, Investor Relations and Treasury. Information Technology and Strategic Planning will also report to Roberts. The IP Audit team will continue to report jointly to the CFO and Chairman and CEO.

"Carol has done an excellent job building, leading and strengthening our Industrial Packaging business over the past seven years," Faraci said. "Her business expertise and strong leadership skills make her an excellent choice for this significant enterprise role."

Mark Sutton is being named senior vice president, Industrial Packaging. In this role Sutton will have responsibility for Containerboard, Container the Americas and Recycling.

"Mark's taking this business at an important time," said Faraci. "His leadership skills, supply chain and company knowledge complement the already strong industrial packaging team as they plan and prepare to integrate Temple Inland's packaging business."

Commenting on the overall leadership changes, Faraci said, "International Paper has a strong and deep bench and these moves reflect the talent of the entire senior leadership team. These changes also demonstrate our commitment to people development and give these individuals opportunities to continue to broaden their experience base and contribute to the future success of International Paper."

SOURCE International Paper

Study Shows World Heritage Sites Benefit from Forest Stewardship Council Certification

A new study conducted by the Rainforest Alliance found that World Heritage Sites and other protected areas benefit when neighboring forests achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. According to study co-author Deanna Newsom, “The FSC certification process required forestry operations located close to World Heritage Sites to take many actions that help protect the habitat of threatened and endangered wildlife and ward off invasive species. Other actions -- such as hiring local people -- reduce incentive for illicit activities within park boundaries, such as illegal logging and wildlife poaching.”

FSC requirements for certified forests that were found to benefit World Heritage Sites include the identification and conservation of high conservation value forests and habitats for threatened and endangered species, the prevention of fires and the movement of invasive species, decent pay for workers, the availability of jobs for local communities, access to the harvesting of non-timber forest products, and access to forests for cultural practices and traditional rituals.

“The key to conserving any area -- whether it be a working forest or a World Heritage Site -- is to ensure that community members have a direct interest in protecting it,” noted Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. “Through FSC certification, local communities learn about the importance of protecting their natural resources and are provided with the financial incentive to do so.” 

FSC certification requirements are widely considered the “gold standard” for sustainable forest management, and the Rainforest Alliance is the leading FSC certifier worldwide. The recent study conducted by Deanna Newsom and David Hughell evaluated nine FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certified forestry operations located within 12 miles of a World Heritage Site. These include: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and Waterton Glacier International Peace Park on the Canada/US border), Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras, the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra in Indonesia, Central Sikhote-Amin in Siberia and Tikal National Park in Guatemala.

Since the adoption of UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1972, the designation ‘World Heritage Site’ has been awarded to 911 properties of outstanding natural or cultural importance. According to the 2012 watch list recently published by the World Monument Fund, 67 World Heritage sites in 41 countries are currently threatened.

By targeting the areas around World Heritage Sites and other protected areas for FSC certification, the social and environmental benefits of certified forestry can extend beyond the forest’s boundaries and into nearby forests and communities, giving a measure of extra protection to some of the world’s most precious natural sites.

Buckeye Technologies Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors approved funding to increase the high-end specialty wood pulp capacity by 42,000 tons at its Buckeye Florida "Foley" operation. The cost of the project is expected to be approximately $79 million with an anticipated rate of return of 15% to 20%. Engineering and design work is nearing completion, and construction is expected to begin in January 2012 with project startup planned for December 2012. This investment will be funded by cash flow from operations.

Expands high-end specialty capacity by 42,000 tons
Supports strategic customers' growth
Returns well above cost of capital

Buckeye's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Crowe said, "This specialty expansion project will provide much needed high-purity specialty volume for strategic customers in all of our high-end markets including casings, tire cord, ethers, filtration, micro-crystalline cellulose, and acetate. Additionally, this will improve our overall plant product mix from 42% specialty wood pulp to just over 50% specialty wood pulp while maintaining the Foley plant's existing total capacity at 465,000 tons per year. This is the type of high-return organic growth opportunity that we will continue to target as we allocate our free cash flow to its highest and best use. We believe this project will provide excellent value to our customers and our shareholders."

SOURCE: Buckeye Technologies Inc.

Emerson announces the first Global Users Exchange in Europe. The three day event runs from May 29 – 31, 2012 in Düsseldorf Germany

The three day event in Düsseldorf, Germany aims to help Emerson users improve efficiency and reduce costs with enhanced automation

Emerson announces the first Global Users Exchange in Europe. Themed “Exchanging Ideas. Creating Solutions”, the three day event will run from 29-31 May 2012 at the Hotel Maritim, Düsseldorf, Germany. Tailored to meet the needs of users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, delegates will learn about best practices and see how colleagues are meeting new regulatory requirements, increasing yields, improving efficiency and reducing costs with enhanced automation.

The European event will follow the same format as the October 2011 Emerson Global Users Exchange held in Nashville, USA. The event will include workshops, presentations, industry forums, short courses, technology exhibits and product roadmaps. Delegates will be able to choose from themed presentations in English, German and Russian.

“We are delighted to announce the details of the first Global Users Exchange for our many users across Europe and others who will join us from other regions,” said Bob Sharp, President, Emerson Process Management Europe. “The Emerson Global Users Exchange is much more than an industry-leading technical conference. It is a community of manufacturing leaders committed to extracting the most from their automation investment and sharing their learning with each other.”

The event also provides an opportunity for delegates to understand what their peers, other suppliers and customers in the industry are doing to compete in these dynamic times. Attendees will be provided with a unique opportunity to touch and experience the breadth of innovative Emerson technologies – all in one place.

An important element of the event is the opportunity it provides to network with other delegates and industry leaders to make the right connections. Delegates will also be able to meet with the experts behind the technologies and learn how innovative technologies can be put to work.

The Emerson Global Users Exchange organisation is now looking for users to share their experiences and expertise with their process automation peers by giving a presentation, workshop or short course at the event. Presenting at the Global Users Exchange provides a unique opportunity for users to showcase their company and its successful operational practices.

For more information about the event, including how to submit presentations, the conference programme and venue please visit: www.emersonexchange.org/emea