As South Africa emerged into democracy and re-joined the world community, the country focused on nation building with a collective expectation of inclusive growth and development. For Sappi, this has been a period of tremendous growth and change, both domestically and globally. Working from our South African base, we expanded our production base into the largest markets and built our customer base to now cover over 100 countries. In the process we became one of the world’s leading pulp and paper companies. 

Our growth has earned significant foreign exchange for South Africa, and our leadership in DWP (dissolving wood pulp) has been developed from our base in South Africa. We have invested in world class plantation forestry research and development in partnership with local universities; and we have expanded our domestic DWP production to one-million tons through multiple significant investments. Equally we have invested to ensure that we can meet the demand for containerboard and fluting from the fast-growing fruit export market.  This has enabled us to invest in our people and in our communities, creating opportunities for new businesses. 

We are confident in South Africa’s competitive advantages, and we are fully committed to investing further in South Africa’s growth and development path. To move the country forward requires clear and strong political leadership to unshackle the economy and a return by our social partners to constructive collective efforts – only in this way will we create the skills we require and address the dangerous levels of unemployment which threaten us.