Environmental Performance

Environmental Performance

Our commitment to stewardship builds on our history of environmental responsibility. Over 20 years ago, we voluntarily adopted responsible practices and began measuring our performance. For the past 15 years, we have reported on our environmental record and corporate responsibility efforts.

We are dedicated to compliance with the letter and spirit of all federal and state environmental requirements, and, in special circumstances, to going even further to provide enhanced environmental protection. MWV sets high standards, and we equip our employees with the tools, education and training to ensure that we remain good stewards of the environment.

MWV uses environmental management systems to ensure compliance and to drive the implementation of Safety, Health and Environmental best practices. These systems are similar to an ISO 14001 framework, and reinforce an integrated systems approach in our management of safety and health, as well as the environmental aspects of our businesses, including resource utilization efficiency and waste minimization.  Where appropriate, facilities have received ISO 14001 certification with third party audits, such as at our Brazilian mill and Austrian converting facility, and most recently, registration at our Evadale, Texas mill in 2006.

Environmental Performance Metrics

For more information, please read our Environmental Performance Metrics report (.pdf).

Environmental Footprint
MWV has historically reported environmental metrics for the company in aggregate. In order to better manage and reduce our environmental emissions and to increase transparency, we now report these metrics by major business segment.

Beneficial Uses of Waste Materials
Much of the process waste from MWV manufacturing activities is non-hazardous and can be reclaimed for beneficial uses. By actively researching and pursuing such beneficial uses, we continue to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while generating additional revenue. We reclaim many of our waste products and recycle them into biofuels, an important energy source for our company and one that reduces cost while decreasing emissions of new carbon dioxide.

Water Resources
Water is an important component in manufacturing operations. MWV has realized new efficiencies in water use by recovering and reusing water in manufacturing. Any water that is not recycled in our manufacturing is treated to established standards. 

Air Quality
MWV monitors air emissions to ensure they meet regulatory permit limits and public expectations for the environment. In addition, we seek new ways to reduce total air emissions from our facilities.

Water Quality
MWV is committed to meeting or exceeding all regulatory standards that pertain to water usage, acknowledging that water is essential in manufacturing many of our products. We are also committed to recycling water in our manufacturing processes and to ensuring that it is treated to established standards before we return it to nature.

Hazardous Waste Disposal
We seek new ways to minimize hazardous waste-through our choice of processes and our choice of manufacturing materials. All our waste materials are managed in accordance with strict federal guidelines and internal policies and procedures.

Capital Investment for Pollution Control
Capital expenditures for safety, health or environmental projects throughout the company are driven by our commitment to comply with regulations and to continuously improve our operations.  We expect each MWV operation unit to consider resource effectiveness and pollution prevention strategies in the design and review of all new processes, products and equipment.

Environmental Incidences
The MWV environmental policy requires all employees to comply with environmental laws of the countries where we operate, striving to continuously improve our environmental performance of our key metrics. The company uses a variety of systems to monitor a vast amount of process and environmental parameters to help us comply with environmental requirements and to determine those occasions where corrections need to be made.  Proactive efforts are made to avoid any occasions of noncompliance with environmental requirements.  MWV works diligently to remedy any occasions where we are not in full compliance. 

At times, in spite of our best efforts, environmental incidents occur and can lead to legal action by governmental agencies. When a violation is deemed to have occurred MWV may receive a Notice of Violation (NOV) from the governmental agency.  When this occurs, MWV fully cooperates with the agencies and aims to provide the best outcome for all parties involved and the environment. Environmental fines have been paid for air emission events and reporting and recordkeeping deficiencies under various environmental laws.

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) from U.S. Facilities
MWV facilities in the U.S. report annually on the release of toxic chemicals to air, water and land, as well as those transferred off-site for disposal. These releases are defined in the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.