The Mead Corporation’s Coated Board division recently initiated a third-party audit of its forestry operations. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP conducted the audit under the American Forest & Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative(SM) (SFI) (SM) voluntary verification program. The results of the independent audit indicate that the Mead division is in conformance with the objectives of the SFI Standard on all Coated Board timberlands in Alabama and Georgia.

“We are pleased that our forestry management practices were found to either meet or exceed SFI program standards,” said Jack C. Goldfrank, president of the Mead Coated Board division. “Achieving third-party verification of our compliance with SFI demonstrates that we are keeping our commitment to operate both as a successful business and a responsible citizen.”

The audit examined Mead’s practices in protecting water quality and wildlife habitat, minimizing the impact of harvesting, improving wood utilization and continuing the prudent use of chemicals to ensure forest health. PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world’s largest professional service organization, was selected to conduct the audit because it is the leading provider of business services to the global forest products industry.

The Mead Corporation intends to have SFI audits conducted for all company timberlands by the end of 2001. This audit represents the first in a series of examinations that will take place during the process. These audits will examine management of all 2.1 million acres of Mead timberland in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio and Tennessee.

“Our goal in having our sustainable forestry practices reviewed by a third party is to verify that we are indeed keeping our commitment to the SFI program,” said Joe Lawson, manager, Forest Sustainability for Mead’s Corporate Woodlands group. “We also see the audits as a way to continue strengthening our performance by having independent experts identify areas for improvement.”

Mead has supported the SFI program since its inception in 1994. “We support SFI because it is based on sound science and effective forest management standards,” said Erm Venuto, vice president, Woodlands and Wood Products for Mead’s Coated Board division. “By integrating the SFI program with our own forestry standards, we are confident that the health of our forests will be sustained for generations to come.”

The Mead Coated Board division, based in Phenix City, Alabama, manufactures coated unbleached kraft paperboard for use in beverage multi-packaging and folding cartons. The division also manages Southern Wood Products—a producer of dimensional lumber and small timbers for building decks and other outdoor applications.

The Mead Corporation, a $3.8 billion forest products company, is one of the leading North American producers of coated paper, specialty paper, coated paperboard and school and office supplies, a world leader in multiple packaging, and a high-quality producer of corrugating medium. For additional information about Mead, visit www.mead.com on the Internet.

Mead Corporation

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