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Water Use and Conservation

Weyerhaeuser recognizes water use and water quality as global social and environmental issues.

Making pulp and paper requires large volumes of water, and we are working on ways to reduce water use in our operations. Since 2003, Weyerhaeuser has reduced the amount of water required (measured by process and cooling water discharge) to produce a ton of pulp and paper by 32 percent. The majority of the water we use in the manufacturing process is treated and returned to the environment.

As part of our membership in the U.S. Business Roundtable S.E.E. Change initiative, we set a water-use reduction goal in May 2008. Our goal is to reduce water use at our cellulose fibers mills 20 percent by 2012, using a 2007 baseline. The goal setting process during 2007 included analyzing water use at our cellulose fibers mills and comparing performance to industry benchmarks. As a result of this analysis, beginning with 2007, we will include separate cooling water discharges as part of our total water use at these mills.

We also monitor our effect on water tables in our forestry operations. For instance, in Uruguay, where we've planted trees on former grazing land, we initiated a long-term study in 1999 to determine the effect of the land use change on the region's water table. Since then, we've collaborated with a Uruguayan organization and North Carolina State University to determine the effects of change in land use, including annual water yield, peak runoff rates, and water quality.

We've Reduced Water Use Since 2003
Total water use: Estimated gallons of water used per ton of production at Weyerhaeuser's North American facilities
2003 2004 2005 2006 20073
Pulp and paper mills total wastewater discharged1 13,070 12,400 12,610 11,940 8,850
Wood products facilities water use 120 119 99 87 85
Corrugated packaging, bag plants, recycling operations water use2 – 85 73 73 80
  1. Wastewater discharged is used as a surrogate measurement for water use and includes separate cooling water discharges.
  2. Corrugated packaging and bag plant data were first collected in 2004; recycling plant data and Mexico operations first collected in 2007.
  3. In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar Inc. to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. Operations included in the Domtar transaction are not part of 2007 data.

Last updated May 27, 2008.