At RYAM, we’ve been sustainable from the start.
We transform renewable resources into remarkable solutions that promote a more sustainable world. Our business model is centered around transforming sustainably harvested trees into remarkable solutions for our customers.
At the core of our approach lies the recognition that a sustainably harvested tree is a powerful, renewable resource with untapped capabilities. For nearly a century, RYAM has realized the full value of a tree. Responsibly using renewable materials from working forests helps us meet the needs of today and ensure future generations inherit thriving ecosystems.
Our dedication to sustainability is found in our tree-based polymers, the foundational building blocks for countless sustainable consumer products. By leveraging these natural polymers, we don’t just create items that enrich everyday lives, but we also contribute to a vital shift away from fossil-fuel based products. This ensures that the demand for responsibly sourced forest products continues to flourish, further reinforcing the cycle of sustainability.
Our products offer industries key alternatives for developing films, packaging, pharmaceuticals, personal care, food additives, coatings, filtration, textiles, and other applications that meaningfully reduce environmental impact both today and well into the future. Our operations simultaneously underpin millions of acres of sustainably managed forests. These forests not only serve as vital wildlife habitats but also act as natural agents, cleansing the air, replenishing aquifers, and nurturing a rural way of life that has been cherished for generations.
Tree-Based Bioproducts & Modern Industry
Our sustainability goals are simple: provide sustainable solutions that empower customers to create environmentally efficient products that help them achieve their own sustainability goals. We’re proud to work with environmentally minded customers toward a more sustainable future, where responsible choices meet business success. Their uses include:
- Automotive & National Defense. Our bio-based materials enhance sustainability in coatings, filtration, energetics, and composite manufacturing, reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based inputs.
- Construction. Our products that help develop performance-based coatings and adhesives help build greener, more energy-efficient cities.
- Cosmetics & Healthcare. We enable sustainable beauty, personal care, and absorbent hygiene with renewable, high purity bioproducts.
Cellulose and Its Role in Sustainable Action
RYAM creates environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil-fuel based products. From cell phones and computer screens to eyeglasses and medicine, our customers use our sustainably sourced products to create remarkable solutions.
We are committed to providing sustainable solutions that empower manufacturers worldwide to create environmentally efficient products that help them achieve their own sustainability goals. Our raw materials come from working forests, which are good for the planet and the backbone of our sustainability strategy. RYAM promotes a more circular economy through sustainable sourcing and environmental stewardship.
How Are RYAM Materials Sustainable?
Sustainability at RYAM goes beyond reducing waste—it drives a circular economy by transforming renewable resources into innovative solutions. Our materials are:
Biodegradable.
Our high-purity cellulose products can naturally break down, reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable end-of-life solutions.
Eco-Efficient.
Proprietary processes minimize energy consumption, and resource usage, with renewable energy powering much of our operations.
Renewable.
Sourced from responsibly managed working forests, where at least trees are planted for every one harvested, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Versatile.
High-performance, bio-based materials serve as sustainable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based products across diverse industries.
Applications for RYAM High-Purity Cellulose
High-purity cellulose is the heart of our sustainability action. It’s the core with which all our products are built and the key to healthier, safer production practices. Using natural wood pulp, we provide essential ingredients and building blocks for countless everyday products like:
- A plant-based alternative to synthetics for helping make pharmaceutical capsules, coatings, and tablets.
- Strong, high-quality fibers to create sustainable apparel and home furnishings.
- A safer thickener and stabilizer for making a wide array of food products.
- Conscientious production of industrial materials such as coatings, adhesives, and filtration solutions.
- Absorbent hygiene…
- Eye glass frames, tool handles, & electronic display films
- Automotive tire cord for high performance tires
- Sausage casings
Sustainable Alternatives to Petroleum-Based Materials
Everyday products should support a more sustainable future. As industries seek greener alternatives, RYAM delivers high-performance, bio-based solutions that reduce environmental impact. Our renewable materials are designed for diverse applications—offering safe, practical, and effective alternatives to fossil-fuel-based products. Whether you need biodegradable cellulose for packaging or sustainable, wood-based materials for manufacturing, our innovative solutions help meet carbon reduction goals without compromising performance.
RYAM’s Commitment to Sustainable Practices
Sustainability at RYAM goes beyond product innovation—we are dedicated to responsible operations that exceed global environmental standards. Our key initiatives include:
- Sustainable Manufacturing. We continuously refine our processes to reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and push beyond industry standards.
- Water Stewardship. Advanced filtration and recycling systems minimize water consumption and protect vital resources.
- Responsible Forestry. Our working forests follow a regenerative cycle—planting three trees for every one harvested—to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Carbon Reduction. By prioritizing renewable energy and emissions-reducing technology, we are driving significant greenhouse gas reductions.
The Role of High-Purity Cellulose in Green Manufacturing
Industries worldwide are shifting toward sustainable production, seeking alternatives that reduce environmental impact without compromising quality. RYAM’s high-purity cellulose supports this transition by offering:
- Lower Environmental Impact. Reducing synthetic inputs with biodegradable, renewable materials.
- Enhanced Product Performance. Creating lighter, more durable, and safer products across industries.
- Reduced Carbon Emissions. Replacing fossil-fuel-based materials with sustainable, wood-based solutions.
- Compliance with Global Standards. Supplying certified, high-quality materials that meet the strictest environmental and safety regulations.
Our Commitment to Sustainability and Ethical Forestry
Our materials are responsibly sourced, biodegradable, and processed with minimal environmental impact, contributing to a circular economy.
We adhere to rigorous forestry management standards, planting three trees for every one harvested and collaborating with conservationists to sustain working forests.
Absolutely. Our high-performance bio-based alternatives meet and often exceed performance expectations, providing a practical, sustainable solution for industries looking to reduce their ecological footprint and environmental impact.