Fort Mill, South Carolina based Domtar shared in an article on its website, that several of its employees recently participated in the annual Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC) Fly-In in Washington, D.C., to engage members of Congress and their staff on legislative and regulatory issues affecting the pulp and paper industry.
The week-long event, held in June, provides an opportunity for employees to share perspectives on how U.S. federal policies affect manufacturing operations, forestry, rural communities and jobs. Through a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, this year’s participants highlighted the in dustry’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic growth and maintaining the global competitiveness of manufacturing.
“The PPRC Fly-In is an important reminder our employees are among the industry’s best advocates,” says Steve Henry, president, Domtar’s president in the U.S. and CEO of its paper and packaging business unit. “They bring real-world experience and credibility to conversations with policymakers.”
Among the topics discussed was international trade, including support for renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), preserving access to specialized manufacturing equipment, simplifying the European Deforestation Regulation and ensuring non-market economies are held accountable for their trade practices.
Participants also emphasized the importance of responsible forest management and support for legislation such as the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471). Domtar discussed concerns with expanding renewable fuel incentives in ways that could increase competition for wood fibre, raising costs for manufacturers and threatening production and jobs.
Environmental policy was another major focus this year. Attendees highlighted the industry’s significant progress in enhancing air quality, noting decades of investments in cleaner technologies and operational improvements. They encouraged policymakers to consider environmental, social and economic impacts when developing future regulations to ensure mills remain competitive while continuing to deliver environmental gains. They also discussed the industry’s strong recycling record.
Several meetings centered on the industry’s role as a leading producer of carbon-neutral bioenergy. Employees highlighted how paper and wood mills maximize use of renewable resources by converting manufacturing residuals into energy, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supporting local economies. They encouraged policymakers to provide regulatory certainty regarding carbon neutrality and to recognize bioenergy’s contributions in future legislation and tax policy.
Read the full article at www.domtar.com.
