Verso Paper Publishes First Annual Sustainability Report


Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 05 June 2007 – One of the key elements of Verso Paper’s (Verso Paper Holdings, LLC) sustainability commitment is to continuously evaluate and report on sustainability performance. Demonstrating this commitment to transparent reporting, the company today released its 2006 Sustainability Report.

The report details Verso Paper’s commitment to respect a sustainable balance among environmental, social, and economic needs. Included are progress updates in key environmental areas such as wood fiber procurement, air and water quality, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance. The report also includes information on safety performance, product stewardship, and community involvement.

“While Verso Paper is a new company, we have deep roots in the communities where we operate and a long tradition of sustainable business practices,” said Craig Liska, vice president for sustainability. “This 2006 Sustainability Report provides a transparent view of how we are building on that tradition. We are deeply committed to a sustainable future that includes managing our business ethically, being good environmental stewards, and continually reducing our overall environmental footprint, providing safe and healthy workplaces for our employees, and being socially responsible neighbors.”

Report Highlights

· Verso Paper has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20% since 1998. More than half (52%) of the energy used to manufacture Verso Paper products comes from renewable, greenhouse gas-neutral biofuels.

· In 2006, 57% of the wood fiber used in Verso Paper products came from third-party certified forests, and the company is committed to increasing that amount.
· Verso Paper is implementing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody fiber certification at its four paper mills and expects to obtain certification by year-end 2007.

· Verso Paper is a sponsor of the FSC Family Forest Alliance to promote third-party certification of America’s small, family owned forests.

· While Verso Paper had one significant environmental incident (events that may lead to follow-up and potential enforcement action) and two Notices of Violation in 2006, these resulted in no penalties or fines.

· Verso Paper is the market leader in lightweight and ultra-lightweight coated papers, which require less fiber, water, and chemicals per unit of production and less fuel per unit of shipping. In addition, these products require less energy per ton of paper produced, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.

· Verso Paper employs nearly 3000 people across the country, primarily in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Tennessee. Whenever possible, the company purchases the goods and services needed to run its operations from in-state suppliers. In 2006, those purchases totaled more than USD 176 million from more than 1050 companies.

About Verso Paper

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper is one of the leading North American suppliers of coated papers, which are used primarily in media and marketing applications, including catalogs, magazines, and commercial printing applications, such as high-end advertising brochures, annual reports, and direct mail advertising. Verso has the leading North American market share in coated groundwood paper, which is used primarily for catalogs and magazines, and is also one of North America’s largest producers of coated freesheet paper, which is used primarily for upscale catalogs and magazines, annual reports, and magazine covers.