SCA Tissue named to World’s Most Ethical Companies List

The Ethisphere Institute has selected SCA, the global parent company of SCA Tissue North America, from among 5,000 companies for inclusion in its 2008 World’s Most Ethical Companies list.

The Ethisphere Institute — a think-tank dedicated to the research and promotion of profitable best practices in global governance, business ethics, compliance and corporate responsibility— announced the award June 3 at an ethics-in-business conference co-sponsored with Forbes magazine.

The rigorous selection process reviewed more than 5,000 of the world’s leading companies on six continents and ended with recognition for 95 companies in 33 industries.

SCA, which is based in Sweden and does business in 90 countries, was one of only three companies honored in the Forestry, Paper & Packaging category.

SCA Tissue North America, headquartered in Philadelphia, operates a paper mill, a converting facility and offices in the Neenah/Menasha area and employs nearly 1,000 people in the Fox Cities.

“We applaud SCA, which is among the companies honored this year because they have developed impressive and meaningful ethical business practices, making them true standouts within their industries,” said Alexander Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. “They go well beyond legal minimums, opting instead to bring about innovative ideas that contribute to the public well being. By their actions, they are forcing their competitors to follow suit or fall behind. SCA truly embodies the notion that ethical business practices are more profitable in the long run.”

The 2008 World’s Most Ethical Companies methodology committee is comprised of leading attorneys and government officials, professors and leaders who care about ethical and honest business practices. Ethisphere analysts reviewed codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluated investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looked at companies’ activities to improve corporate citizenship; studied nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers; and worked with consumer action groups for feedback and rating.

Thomas Wulkan, president of SCA Americas, said being named to such a prestigious list represented more of a milestone rather than an achievement for SCA. “Our management-employee team believes the commitment to corporate social responsibility must be an ongoing journey, characterized by continuous review and refinement,” Wulkan said.

“Our business model is built on a foundation of sustainability, which includes not only environmental conscientiousness but also adherence to the highest standards in all of our business practices,” said Don Lewis, president of SCA Tissue North America. “We strive to not only set the industry bar when it comes to environmental responsibility but to lead the way in social and ethical responsibility.”

In addition to being recognized by the Ethisphere Institute this year, SCA was ranked in 2007 as the second most environmentally-friendly company in the world by The Independent, a major British newspaper, in conjunction with Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS), a leading non-profit provider of independent research into the social, environmental and ethical performance of more than 2,800 companies worldwide.