Paper, packaging, and wood products
                                    The world's largest forest products company.
                            Company Assessment
            (Last updated Sep 2025)        
        
        
            Praise
            Criticism
            Information
        
                                
                International Paper Company
            
                            
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         CDP Forests score of A-
        CDP Forests score of A-
    
    
        In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests score of A-.
    
            Source: CDP
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         CDP Water Security score of B
        CDP Water Security score of B
    
    
        In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of B.
    
            Source: CDP
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         6.5/20 in Social Benchmark
        6.5/20 in Social Benchmark
    
    
        The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2022 and received a score of 6.5/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
    
            
    
         18% in Gender Benchmark
        18% in Gender Benchmark
    
    
        In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 18 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
    
            
    
         19.2% in Nature Benchmark
        19.2% in Nature Benchmark
    
    
        The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2022 and is ranked #274/816, with a total score of 19.2/100.
    
            
    
         CEO Pay Ratio of 278:1
        CEO Pay Ratio of 278:1
    
    
        In 2024 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$78,960. The CEO was paid 278 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
    
            Source: AFL-CIO
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         Forest destruction in Southern USA
        Forest destruction in Southern USA
    
    
        For continuing to support, uphold and even fund greenwashing for business as usual destructive forestry practices like logging endangered forests, ditching and draining wetlands, large-scale clearcutting and converting natural forests to tree plantations.
    
            Source: Dogwood Alliance
                                    (2010)
                            
        
    
         Excessive CEO pay
        Excessive CEO pay
    
    
        As You Sow's 2019 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Mark S. Sutton came in at number 92 on the list, having been paid US$19,446,293 in 2018. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
    
            Source: As You Sow
                                    (2019)
                            
        
    
         FSC certification
        FSC certification
    
    
        This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC Controlled Wood, FSC Mix, and FSC Recycled.
    
            Source: FSC
                                    (2025)
                            
        
    
         Climate action commitments
        Climate action commitments
    
    
        As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
    
            Source: We Mean Business
                                    (2021)
                            
        
    
         Ellen MacArthur Foundation member
        Ellen MacArthur Foundation member
    
    
        This company is a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose stated mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works with business, government and academia to build a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design. 
    
            
    
         Forests Forward partner
        Forests Forward partner
    
    
        Forests Forward, launched by WWF in June 2021, is a global program engaging companies to improve forest management, promote sustainable supply chains, and support restoration and biodiversity, succeeding the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN). It requires participants to commit to measurable projects, targeting 150 million hectares of sustainably managed forests by 2030, tracked via an interactive platform.
    
            Source: WWF
                                    (2025)
                            
        
    
         Paper Industry Progress Report
        Paper Industry Progress Report
    
    
        This company was graded in the Dogwood Alliance's 2015 Paper Industry Progress Report, which measures paper industry sustainability in the south of the US.
    
            Source: Dogwood Alliance
                                    (2015)
                            
        
    
         CDP Climate Change score of C
        CDP Climate Change score of C
    
    
        In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of C.
    
            Source: CDP
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         44% in Forest 500 Rankings
        44% in Forest 500 Rankings
    
    
        Forest 500 identifies and annually assesses the 500 companies and 150 financial institutions most exposed to deforestation risk in their supply chains and investments on the strength and implementation of their commitments on deforestation and human rights. This company received a score of 44%.
    
            Source: Forest 500
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         Modern Slavery statement
        Modern Slavery statement
    
    
        California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
    
            Source: company website
                                    (2017)
                            
        
    
         OpenSecrets.org profile
        OpenSecrets.org profile
    
    
        OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
    
            Source: Open Secrets
                                    (2024)
                            
        
    
         JUST Capital ranking
        JUST Capital ranking
    
    
        JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2025 rankings the public identified 17 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 350th of 940 companies, and 17th of 49 Industrial Goods companies.
    
            Source: JUST Capital
                                    (2025)
                            
        
    
         Medium ESG Risk
        Medium ESG Risk
    
    
        Sustainalytics, a top ESG research firm, evaluates environmental, social, and governance risks for over 16,000 companies. Its ESG Risk Rating reflects how much risk a company faces in its industry and how well it manages those risks. The final score includes both unmanaged and unmanageable risks, and companies are rated on a scale from negligible (0-10) to severe (40+). This company received an ESG Risk Rating of 22.2, placing it in the "medium risk" category (retrieved April 2025).
    
            Source: Sustainalytics
                                    (2025)
                            
        
    
Company Details
Type:
                Public company
                                        Founded:
                1898
                                        Revenue:
                20.6 billion USD
                                            (2020)
                                    
                                        Employees:
                51,000
                                            (2020)
                                    
                                             
                    