ITC – PSPD: AN ICON OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
ITC is one of India’s foremost private sector companies with a market capitalisation of more than US $ 50 billion and Gross Sales Value of US $ 10 billion. The Company’s businesses span Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Hotels, Packaging, Paperboards & Specialty Papers, Agri-business and Information Technology. Its businesses and value chains support sustainable livelihoods for over 6 million people.
ITC’s coveted status as an exemplar in sustainability is manifest in its status as the only company in the world to be carbon, water and solid waste recycling positive for over a decade. ITC’s Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division (PSPD) is a key driver of the Company’s environmental stewardship.
ITC-PSPD is India's largest, most environment-friendly and technologically advanced paper and paperboards business. It straddles the entire spectrum of paperboards - from 100% virgin, food-grade boards made from renewable and sustainable sources of pulpwood to 100% recycled boards. Having pioneered many specialty applications, ITC-PSPD enjoys market leadership in the value-added paperboards segment, and also has a significant share of the Indian fine papers market. It is the largest exporter of coated boards from India.
ITC-PSPD’s customer-centricity is reflected in its diverse range of paper and paperboards products, grades and value-added services. It delivers superior solutions co-created with the customers to enhance their competitive advantage. The creation of extensive sustainable plantations as a means of responsibly sourcing pulpwood is central to ITC-PSPD’s efforts at generating more value for the customer. These plantations have greened more than 720,000 acres to date, generating 130 million person days of employment.
ITC has twin Forest Stewardship Council certifications
ITC-PSPD obtained the prestigious Forest Stewardship CouncilTM – Chain of Custody (FSCTM – CoC) certification in 2010 and was the first paper company in India to receive the FSC – Forest Management certification in 2012. These twin FSC certifications provide assurance that the pulpwood used by ITC-PSPD is from responsibly harvested and verified sources, demonstrating ITC's continued commitment towards sustainable business practices and building an inclusive and secure future for all stakeholders.
These certifications have also helped strengthen the relationship with customers, who are increasingly recognising the criticality of responsible fibre sourcing. The traceability system ITC has created at its Units for FSC allows it to comply with the Due Diligence System for European Union Timber Regulation as well.
Currently, all four ITC-PSPD units are FSC – CoC certified and approximately 81,000 acres of plantations are FSC – FM certified.
Customers have shown an increasing preference for FSC-certified grades and the number of repeat customers who seek such grades and environment related data from ITC has increased four times over the last three years. ITC-PSPD today is a benchmark in India for FSC certifications and even advises many of its customers who wish to obtain these certifications.