THUNDER BAY — Resolute Forest Products is once again turning heads to the Thunder Bay pulp and paper plant after their thermal energy project was awarded the 2022 Environment + Energy Leader Award.
The plant was recognized for combining technology, conservation measures and fuel switching to reduce annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Seth Kursman, vice-president of Resolute’s corporate communications, sustainability and government affairs, says the company is pleased to receive additional recognition for its sustainability leadership.
“Resolute has demonstrated sustainability leadership with (greenhouse gas) reductions in terms of mitigating climate change, in the areas of safety, our forestry practices, the transparency of our reporting, and in the relationships that we’ve developed with communities and Indigenous communities,” Kursman said.
He said the recognition that they are receiving from this award is broad, which makes Resolute attractive, especially during the ongoing transaction with Paper Excellence Group, which has signed a deal to purchase the company valued at US$2.7 billion. That deal is expected to close before the middle of 2023.
According to one of the award judges, it was determined that Thunder Bay’s thermal energy project has demonstrated its achievements in decarbonization with the use of thermal energy technology to recover and recycle lost heat by returning it through the manufacturing process. This resulted in a 20-per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the plant.
Resolute actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are a cornerstone of their sustainability strategy.
In 2021, they achieved a 34-per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across company operations compared to their 2015 levels.
The Environment + Energy Leader awards recognize products and projects from a variety of industries based on their success in providing sustainability and energy management results.
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