By The Numbers: International Paper Recaps Its Community Response to the Pandemic

Dec 8, 2020 11:35 AM ET

The year 2020 has been a difficult one for communities around the world, and International Paper teams stepped up to address the critical needs in their respective communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Mexico to Russia, IP facilities responded to their local communities with donations, including the essential products we make. A quick look at the numbers reveals the magnitude of our team members’ support to date:

  • 15 countries reached: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the U.S.
  • 20,000+ cartons of cut sheet paper

  • 30,000 pounds of paper rolls

  • 250,000 kraft paper bags

  • 3,600 feminine hygiene care kits

Rounding out this support, we have nearly met our commitment to donate two million corrugated boxes to food banks around the world through our collaborations with The Global FoodBanking Network and Feeding America. We are on track to deliver all two million boxes before the year concludes.

Because of the need for social distancing, volunteerism looked a little different this year with a variety of independent volunteer opportunities offered to employees. International Paper’s U.S. and Canada locations saw the following results:

  • 1,619 volunteers, resulting in more than 3,300 socially distant volunteer hours valued at more than $91,000 in labor 

  • More than 1,400 of these volunteers participated in virtual volunteer projects during the United Way Day of Caring

  • 100 of these volunteers were global summer interns who also volunteered virtually.

“These numbers are amazing, but they don’t adequately illustrate the behind-the-scenes work of numerous employees around the world to safely produce and coordinate delivery of these essential donations,” said Dr. Alissa Campbell Shaw, senior manager, Community Engagement, and executive director IP Foundation. “Working together across facilities, businesses and time zones, IP employees pulled together to ensure they met the critical needs in their communities during the pandemic.”

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue, and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ more than 50,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2019 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com. See how we’re building a better future for people, the planet and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030.