Diversity and Inclusion

Making a Global Commitment

Our vision is to embody a diverse and inclusive culture where all individuals are valued, engaged and contributing to company success, ensuring that every work environment exemplifies respect and dignity for each individual. Our mission is to build and sustain a work environment that embraces individuality and collaboration to drive exceptional results, valuing different viewpoints and backgrounds driving towards a common goal.

We take the broadest possible view of diversity and inclusion by going beyond racial and gender diversity.  Our workforce includes several dimensions of diversity including culture, background, experience, religion, thoughts, sexual orientation, personality and communication styles. In an increasingly competitive global marketplace, we augment IP's competitive advantage by attracting, developing and retaining the outstanding and diverse talent. 

Diversity and inclusion is at the intersection of three strategic pillars: Workforce, Workplace and Marketplace.

• Workforce is our employee population and includes the talent management value chain

• Workplace is the on-site and off-site environment which exists for our employees. Engagement and inclusivity (belonging) are the objectives.

• Marketplace is being viewed by all our constituencies (customers, employees, suppliers, etc.) as a responsible employer

Diversity and Inclusion is a sustainability effort for IP. To achieve our vision of successful, sustainable and responsible, we must achieve D&I.

An inclusive and collaborative workplace where all employees are included, valued, and treated with dignity and respect is not only fundamental to our future success but is aligned with the IP Way.

Diversity refers to traits that make each individual unique, such as gender, age, race, culture, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and experiences.

Inclusion is a sense of belonging for all, achieved through intentional and ongoing actions.

"Each person's background, education or personal characteristics may differ, but by bringing all of their individual experiences and skills to work, and by listening to and engaging with everyone, we can be successful. This not optional in our people-driven company."

- Mark Sutton, Chairman & CEO

Global Diversity & Inclusion Council

Our Global Diversity & Inclusion Council is a representative group of senior leaders, officers and regional leaders who provide governance and oversight on goals specific to diversity and inclusion to create and maintain a culturally rich and competent organization. Since the council was formed in 2001, many individuals have participated in creating the vision for diversity and inclusion at International Paper and fulfilling the mission. 

Fostering an Inclusive Culture

IP has created five focus areas with corresponding goals to aide in achieving our Vision 2030 goals.  The focus areas include:

• Women representing 30% of our total workforce – with 50% women in salaried positions and regional diversity plans that include 30% minority representation in U.S. salaried positions. 
• Improving employee engagement in those areas which specifically focus on diversity and inclusion.
• Improving our retention of salaried diverse employees
• Ensuring we have diversity talent who are ready to be considered for key positions
• Improving the inclusion and collaborative behaviors of all employees.

Employee Networking Circles

Employee Networking Circles (ENCs) are voluntary company-sponsored employee groups designed at the business level where employees contribute to an engaged, inclusive, collaborative, and diverse environment while supporting business goals and objectives.

These ENCs exist to build employee connections and engagement across the organization, raise awareness, understanding of common attributes, differences, share communication among groups within the IP workforce, and support the three diversity and inclusion strategic pillars; workforce, workplace and marketplace.  Additionally, they aide in accomplishing the company’s diversity and inclusion goal to continually create an engaged, inclusive, collaborative and diverse workplace.