International Paper Co Stock Price, News & Analysis

International Paper (NYSE: IP) has announced overwhelming shareholder approval for its pending acquisition of DS Smith (LSE: DSS). DS Smith shareholders have also approved the Combination earlier this week. The companies expect the deal to close late in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory clearance and other customary conditions.

Andy Silvernail, Chairman and CEO of International Paper, stated that the strong approval from both companies' shareholders confirms the support for this combination. He emphasized that merging the two companies will create a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, driving significant value for employees, customers, and shareholders.

International Paper (IP) and its spokestree Pinelope joined forces with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to promote literacy at Harriet Tubman Elementary School. This event is part of a six-year partnership between IP and RIF, which has provided 640,000 books to over 285,000 children nationwide through RIF's Books for Ownership program.

At the event, students enjoyed story time and selected their own books to take home. IP's partnership with RIF has benefited more than 400 schools, supporting IP's focus on literacy from birth through third grade as part of its community engagement initiatives.

Education is one of IP's signature causes, aiming to make a difference in communities by fostering early childhood reading skills, which form the foundation for all future learning.

International Paper Company's Cedar Rapids, Iowa containerboard mill and box plant recently hosted two local Boy Scout troops, providing them with a firsthand look at the papermaking process. This visit was part of the scouts' journey to earn their pulp and paper merit badge. The scouts observed the entire process, from recycled material entering the pulper tub to the creation of finished boxes.

The tour included demonstrations in the design lab, where structural designer Kelsey Schwartz showcased prototype cutting for customers. Jason Lee, NAC sales enablement manager and a scout parent, noted the scouts' enthusiasm for seeing large equipment in action and observing teamwork.

This event is part of IP's broader initiative to engage with youth organizations, schools, and technical programs to foster interest in papermaking and manufacturing careers. Maris Peno, retain and recruit program lead, emphasized the importance of these experiences in building a future workforce pipeline. The company encourages community involvement and exploration of manufacturing careers, with Manufacturing Day events available throughout October.

International Paper Company (IP) is celebrating Manufacturing Day in October by highlighting the importance of its manufacturing workforce. 90% of IP's total U.S. workforce is in manufacturing roles or facilities. The company is opening its doors to students, parents, educators, and community leaders to inspire future generations to pursue manufacturing careers.

IP produces sustainable packaging, pulp, and fiber-based products that are essential to various industries, including:

• eCommerce
• Food & Beverage
• Grocery & Retail
• Manufacturing
• Personal Care
• Shipping & Distribution

The company aims to showcase how its products and services are integral to everyday life and customer success. IP has provided links to two videos demonstrating box manufacturing processes and highlighting women in manufacturing at the company.

International Paper's 2023 Sustainability Report highlights the company's commitment to community engagement and forest conservation. Key initiatives include:

1. Partnering with the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation to support historically underserved communities in protecting forestland and building intergenerational wealth.

2. A decade-long collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, committing $10 million for wildlife and working forest conservation.

3. Ongoing work with The Nature Conservancy on reduced-impact logging and carbon sequestration projects globally.

4. Partnerships with the American Bird Conservancy and Arbor Day Foundation for bird conservation and community tree recovery programs.

5. Joining WWF's Forests Forward program to support nature-based strategies for forests.

In celebration of World Rivers Day, International Paper (IP) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are highlighting their collaboration through the Forestland Stewards Partnership. This partnership supports initiatives like The Longleaf Alliance to restore ephemeral and seasonal wetlands in the Savannah River watershed in South Carolina.

The restoration project, led by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Lab, aims to revitalize wetlands and surrounding longleaf pine forests to improve water quality and protect at-risk species. These efforts are important for maintaining the drinking water supply for over 500,000 residents and providing habitats for rare amphibians like the gopher frog.

IP is also part of the Savannah River Clean Water Fund, working with The Nature Conservancy to protect and manage forests across the watershed. These initiatives demonstrate IP's commitment to sustainable forestry management and ecosystem preservation.

International Paper's Chief Sustainability Officer Sophie Beckham received the Bronze Award at Futur/io's 2024 CSO Awards North America. The awards recognize North American CSOs driving corporate sustainability with high, scalable impact. Beckham was chosen through a rigorous selection process developed by Futur/io and partners, using a four-quadrant model criteria.

The selection considered corporate behaviors, ESG and SDG performance, environmental and human impact, and a self-assessment survey. A Grand Jury selected the final winners from the Top 20 ranking CSOs. Beckham, who holds a Master of Forestry degree from Yale, has been advancing IP's planet stewardship initiatives since 2013.

She expressed honor at being selected among talented sustainability leaders, attributing the award to the collective efforts at IP in advancing their Vision 2030 goals.

International Paper's 2023 Sustainability Report outlines the company's commitment to circularity as a key strategy. This approach prioritizes renewable, sustainably managed, recycled, and reused resources throughout their value chain. The company focuses on four pillars:

1. Using every part of the tree, including selling pine chemicals.
2. Sourcing sustainable raw materials, with 5.2 million tons of recovered fiber used annually.
3. Implementing circular manufacturing processes, with 48% of manufacturing waste diverted for beneficial uses in 2023.
4. Creating innovative products designed for sustainability and easy recycling.

IP also partners for IT circularity, remarketing over 2,500 systems and recycling 183,389 pounds of assets in 2023. The company collaborates with customers and partners to develop circular, low-carbon solutions, emphasizing the sustainability benefits of fiber-based packaging.

International Paper (IP) is progressing towards its goal of conserving and restoring 1 million acres of ecologically significant forestland by 2030. The company's strategy involves working with wood suppliers, forest landowners, community stakeholders, and conservation organizations. A key example is IP's long-standing relationship with Wise Batten, who owns a forest plantation in Black Swamp along the Savannah River floodplain.

Batten's land provides renewable fiber for IP's products while also serving as a habitat for wildlife, including the Swallow-tailed Kite. Through best management practices and conservation easements, Batten is helping to protect thousands of acres for future generations. IP collaborates with landowners like Batten to organize tours for customers, showcasing sustainable forestry practices and their importance in creating healthier, more abundant forests.