Sappi – In Touch 21_4

InTouch
Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
30 April 2021
Thanks for connecting with us –
Let’s stay engaged to thrive
With a global participation rate of 84%, the 2021 Employee Engagement Survey has been one of the most successful yet.
We caught up with Senior Manager Leadership and Change, Catherine Hinrichsen, to find out more about the way forward.
Q: How did the regions do in the 2021 Employee Engagement Survey?
Very well, and well done to all our employees for participating and making their voices heard. The global participation rates are:
• Sappi North America = 65.52%
• Sappi Europe = 81.32%
• Sappi Southern Africa = 95.53%
Q: What is the next step?
The survey has closed, and our employees have voiced their opinions. Now the important work starts.
April 2021 – During April, the HR Business Partners will be trained
on how to pull the reports and give feedback to the business.
May 2021 – Starting from 02 May, results will be shared in management meetings and team focus groups.
The HR team will then work with each team where there are six
or more employees who have participated in the Engagement Survey, to come up with specific actions to make Sappi an even greater place to work. These action items will be captured, and progress will be monitored. Regional and business unit feedback will be shared internally
SSA participation by business unit:
Sappi Limited Regional Head Office Sappi Lomati
Sappi Forestry
Sappi Saiccor Mill Sappi Stanger Mill Sappi Ngodwana Mill Sappi Tugela Mill
using the various internal communication channels available.
Q: At this stage, what can employees do to assist the process?
First of all, thank you for everyone’s feedback. The high participation rate will give us an accurate view of what matters most to our employees.
Next, they can help us identify the relevant actions to address their concerns. Here, I encourage everyone to use the action planning opportunity to improve Sappi even further. Please participate in the focus group discussions and continue to influence how we work.
95.08% 93.91% 95.08% 93.29% 95.50% 99.49% 95.56% 99.41%
01.


InTouch
Order wisely and commit to healthy eating
Congratulations to the following 10 employees on reaching their 15th Sappi-subsidised meal by choosing the ‘healthy meal’ option at the Tsebo Canteen. As an incentive, each employee received an apron.
Left: Leesha Parsons, Beverly Lawson, Danie Rossouw, Natalie Stevens, Dieter Ahrens and Rajeev Baldavoo.
A recap on how you can join this initiative
With the purchase of your first healthy meal, you’ll be required to scan your finger at the till to receive your card and the first sticker. Once you have collected 15 stickers, the 16th healthy meal will be free.
How does the subsidy work?
Apart from a healthy diet, Sappi subsidises your meal by ZAR10.00 (only Sappi employees are eligible). For the healthy meal subsidy to be activated, you will need to scan your finger at the till.
How much does the healthy meal cost?
The ZAR10.00 subsidy is only applicable when you purchase the healthy meal; turning the ZAR39.00 meal into a ZAR29.00 healthy feast.
Lunch is served from 12:00 to 14:00. (All non-Sappi employees are welcome to pick the healthy meal option, but it will not be subsidised.)
Note: If the canteen serves chicken, rice, vegetables or salad, you cannot exchange the protein (chicken). However, you can swap out the starch (rice or potatoes) for vegetables or salad.
By the way, look out for Friday – Braai Days! So, what are you waiting for?
The canteen also offers additional lunch meals:
Meal of the day – option 01 Chef Signature – ZAR43.00 Not subsidised
Meal of the day – option 02 Local Flava – ZAR28.00
Not subsidised
02.


What makes safety a Sappi value
Safety is important and part of Sappi’s value statement, but did you know there are crucial differences between priorities and values?
Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
Do you know your credit score?
A priority is something that
you regard as important, but
it can change due to outside influences and demands – work, relationships, health resolutions, hobbies.
A value is a principle or standard of behaviour that is inherently part of the choices we make and actions we take. Values do not change.
At Sappi, for a culture of safety to catch on, each one of us should make it part of our behaviour, our value system. Safety is not a priority or a programme, but a value that speaks to how we do things.
How do you value life?
We asked a few employees to share what our safety slogan, ‘I value life’, mean to them:
What does ‘I value life’ mean to you? Click here and let us know, and your comment will be featured in the next edition of InTouch.
Carl Lategan
(Senior IT
Operations
Manager): “The
‘value’ of what we have is often realised only once it’s gone – life or a limb, with no turning back
or second chances. My body is of great value to me as I need it to live the kind of life I enjoy, eg camping and watching sunsets with the family. And my life is treasured
by my loved ones. However, a moment of carelessness can shatter this ability to live happily and freely. So, to me valuing
life means not taking my life or body for granted, because the consequences impact not only myself but also those
around me.”
Carol Legoabe
(Assistant
Company
Secretary): “To me, this phrase means cherishing each morning I’m awake, each breath I take and every special moment I get to spend with my loved ones. I protect it by keeping safe.”
The state of our credit report can play an important role in our personal finances. Knowing the ins and outs of your credit score can help you find ways to improve your score and increase your chances of getting the best interest rates on credit cards, loans, a mortgage etc.
Test your knowledge to find out how much you know about your score.
Click here
to complete
the quiz by
Friday, 14 May 2021
and stand a chance to win a ZAR150 voucher by completing the Summit quiz below.
All submissions will be added to a lucky draw.
03.


InTouch
Hosted at RHO Rosebank
SSA Safety Awards 2021
is going local
In an exciting change, the Sappi Safety Awards for 2021 will also be celebrated on business unit level.
Chatting to Regional Risk Manager Merten Jansen van Rensburg, the competition will now take place in two stages. The first stage will be a competition at business unit level, with the business unit winners awarded at their specific Global Safety Awareness Week (GSAW) events.
The second stage will be a regional competition. Here, all the business unit winners will automatically be entered into the regional competition. The winners for the regional Safety Awards will be announced at a function hosted by one of the business units in October 2021.
“The Sappi Safety Awards reinforce the value we place on life, and our zero tolerance towards injuries at work and at home.” - Merten Jansen van Rensburg
Celebrating safety champions who value life.
“The reason behind the two-stage competition is not only to highlight safety at a business
unit level, but also to acknowledge and
give credit to our employees and
contractors who are involved with safety awareness,”
says Merten.
Furthermore, these awards support our value statement: ‘As OneSappi, we do business safely, with integrity and courage, making smart decisions that we execute
with speed’.
04.


Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
In the media spotlight
Take note of Sappi stock
(Finweek)
In Finweek’s Market Place Segment, Sappi was noted as a stock that catches the eye, “being well-positioned to benefit from
a sustainable product offering, recovering dissolving wood
pulp prices, and volume or
mix improvement in speciality packaging,” as stated by SIM Resources Fund’s
André Snowdowne.
It was also mentioned that
the price of dissolving wood
pulp jumped US$500 per ton since the start of October 2020. Snowdowne added that “this DWP price recovery, while sooner than we might have anticipated, materially improves the outlook for Sappi’s earnings and balance sheet and has resulted in a sharp rise in the Sappi share price from the 2020 lows”.
Investors see opportunities for growth
(Briefly)
Briefly reported that despite the global economic woes brought about by COVID-19, South African investors still see opportunities for growth by backing new ventures in both private equities and publicly listed offerings. “Public listings have included new shares from forestry and pulp processing giant Sappi, with technology, renewable energy, and real estate as other newly listed opportunities.”
Click here to read more.
Paper donation to assist schools in KZN (BizCommunity)
BizCommunity reported on the Department of Education (DoE) receiving 3,000 boxes of Sappi Typek for distribution to schools in KZN. “As the DoE had to cope with having to arrange for online schooling, implementing new procedures at schools, ensuring the safety of learners and personnel, one of the areas where we could assist was to make our product available”, said Vice President Sappi Forests Duane Roothman, who did the handover on behalf of Sappi.
We also contributed 3,000 litres of hand sanitiser and 5,000 masks for rural schools
in the province.
Click here to read more.
Happy birthday
Congratulations to all our employees who celebrate their birthday in May.
04 Wayne 06 Martin
08 Louis
09 Tracy
10 Paul
11 Madelaine
11 Janice 17 Andre
17 Joyce
18 Angela
Davis Mthembu Kruyshaar Wessels van Niekerk Fourie Gaitskill Schoeman van Wyk Teen
19 Robert
21 Stafford 25 Siyanda 28 Natasha 28 Roberto 29 Sipho
29 Michiel 30 Khethiwe 31 Graeme
Watkins Augustine Gama Jackson Strydom Ngubane van der Walt Hlubi
Wild
05.


InTouch
Team Sappi’s #ValueLifeRide a journey of reflection
A team of Sappi employees from our various business units, all keen cyclists, participated in an unofficial cycle ride of more than 500km recently. The ride was in remembrance of employees and loved ones who have succumbed to COVID-19, and to show solidarity with those employees who have been affected by the pandemic.
It turned out to be a memorable tour.
“The ride stretched over some awesome parts of our country, says Saiccor Mill’s Allen van Zyl, one of the organisers of the ride. “A lot of time in the saddle and the slow uphills on the passes allowed for some good conversation, while the never-ending gravel roads in the Karoo gave ample time for one to be with your own thoughts and reflections.”
Allen shares a day-to-day account and some of the ponderings along the route.
Day One: “The fastest way
is not always the most rewarding.”
The tour kicked off with a lot
of energy, and soon the pack stretched out through the Seven Passes from George to Knysna. Cool misty weather was great for cycling and the winding backroads and crossing water streams were just spectacular. Ending in Knysna after 95km, there was a sense of excitement for the week to come. The first day already highlighted that the fastest route is not always the most rewarding one.
Day Two: “Loved ones make life worthwhile.”
A 90km ride from George to Oudtshoorn, starting with an immediate climb. The Outeniqua pass is just one of those iconic roads everyone must go on. Early morning mist and cloud with sunrise over the mountain made us forget the steep elevation
to the summit. Once over the mountain, the landscape changed dramatically as we entered the Klein Karoo.
The harshness of the land and people living there, made us realise that our surroundings and belongings are less important when we have people we love around us.
Day Three: “Quiet times bring perspective.”
The toughest day of the tour by far was the 120km from Calitzdorp to Riverdale. Setting off in the dark, the group hit the rocky slopes of Rooiberg pass as the sun came
up. Great time for photos, but hard time in the saddle. Over the steepest climb of the tour, the day did not get easier – with no clouds or trees to shield from the sun. Dealing with the pain and tiredness in our legs, the long straights gave ample time for reflection.
During life’s daily challenges, some quietness gives a better understanding of where we are and where we are headed.
06.


Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
Day Four: “Same journey, different experiences.”
The 115km section between Swellendam and Greyton was a gentler ride, with gradual ups and downs on mostly farm roads. In the beautiful town of Greyton, the group relaxed next to the pool, and later the fire, to share
up Hellshoogte made one think how this tour was so fitting for the challenges of the past year. How tough times don’t last, how important family is, how you will find strength in reflection and quiet time... and when you break through the clouds, how the skies open up and there is a lot to be grateful for.
The last 5km of the 520km – with 7,500m of climbing – the ideas for next year’s trip already started to bounce around in the group.
our experiences and views. It was clear that although we came along the same route, our experiences differed. That is what makes it great to listen to and learn from each other.
Day Five: “Tough times are temporary.”
The last day had similar excitement in the group as day one, apart from the tired bodies. Going up Franschhoek Pass in the misty weather, the other side of the mountain was just blue skies
– an awesome sight! During the last stretch to Stellenbosch the average speed picked up as the team could smell the end.
The last couple of kilometres
07.


InTouch
Protection of personal information starts by doing things right
– By Koosh Panday, Global SAP Project Manager
The team who are working hard to ensure Sappi is POPIA compliant. From left: Markie Janse van Rensburg, Erick Jacobs, Izel van den Heever, Barbara Verster-Nowak, Amanda Tregoning, Sanele Nkomo, Koosh Panday.
To assist the business in becoming compliant with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act), the team have been hard at work to set the operational framework for Sappi to demonstrate compliance to POPIA by means of the following:
• Getting approval for the POPIA compliance project charter.
• Appointing an Information Officer (IO) and deputies.
• Identifying the extent of current and planned compliance with
POPIA, by doing a departmental impact analysis.
• Identifying with the functional departments, what personal
information is in our processes, what records may contain personal
information, as well as user rights.
• Developing and implementing a POPIA compliance policy and
procedures.
• Reviewing the Sappi website for POPIA compliance and publishing
our privacy notice.
• Updating our Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) manual.
• Implementing personal information management processes,
including acquisition, processing, retention, security and destruction
practices – for both digital media and paper-based documents.
• Training Sappi colleagues on their role in POPIA compliance.
• Making POPIA compliance part of business-as-usual, thus making
Sappi more efficient towards achieving our Thrive25 strategy goals.
Click here to read a high-level overview of the instances in which the Act will apply to processing activities, and the obligations which come with POPIA.
Building a thriving, sustainable world as a responsible corporate citizen
The Sappi 2020 Corporate Citizenship Report highlights our actions aligned with the nine priority United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in creating a thriving organisation, country and world.
Read through this beautifully crafted 2020 Corporate Citizenship Report and access the PowerPoint presentation here with a summary of the
main key points
in the report.
08.


Get documents signed quickly and securely
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have caused many challenges on working processes, one of which is getting legal documents signed quickly and securely when staff are sitting in different locations.
In answer to this, Sappi has implemented a new software system called DocuSign to automate the process of legal signatures on documentation. Currently up and running globally across Sappi, the aim is that DocuSign will reduce admin, save time and increase efficiency.
The benefits of DocuSign are many. It’s user- friendly, secure and provides immediate
access to signed contracts. Using the software also means that obtaining different
signatures can be reduced to hours and minutes rather than days and weeks.
Global Process Lead CRM, Pawel Jelonek, says: “DocuSign can significantly speed up the process of signing legal documents with only a few clicks. You can access the tool from anywhere. All you need is internet access and a browser”.
His Sappi North American colleague Claudia Sides, Procurement Specialist, is pleased with how the team, including Pranisha Maharaj from Sappi Southern Africa, got the system up and running.
“We were certainly facing a challenge and the Global team did an outstanding job implementing this to all regions swiftly.”
For more information click here.
Welcome to the Sappi family
Vanessa Buthelezi, Biorefinery intern
What do you hope
to gain from this
internship?
I’m looking forward to
growing in knowledge
and experience and
enhancing my skills. By engaging
more with professionals in the field, I’m hoping to get the exposure needed to become outstanding in this field.
Why are you interested in the specific field you were assigned to at Sappi?
I was assigned to a very interesting department (Biorefinery). It has a solid framework that comprises analytical capabilities, safety and compliance. Multi- sub departments under biorefinery provide an even better chance of becoming more skilled, the support from leaders and colleagues also contributes. We are given a chance to do repetitive analysis, which helps you to become even more confident in your work and to be declared competent to carry out analysis on your own. To me, this is a golden skill that sharpens your confidence and independence in a work environment.
What makes Sappi a company that you would like to work for?
To me, Sappi is a healthy and balanced workplace. The solid health programmes, level of trust and integrity from leaders, and the diversity and career growth opportunities, make this a resourceful company and employer of choice.
Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
09.


InTouch
Up close with...
1. 2.
Describe yourself in three 5. Wihcat personality trait has words. Objective, fluid, gotten you in the most
David Kgongwane, Senior Engineer – Paper Sciences
S
i HeadOff
How do you define success? situation calls for it. I often
e
bl
a
nig
p
mat
ic.
p
e? Being courageous, assertive and direct when the
David and his wife on vacation.
8. What is your favourite book? This is a moving target! There is always an outstanding book at different stages of
Arbor Week and
Success starts from within. get labelled as a difficult
Once you organise your and cold person under such
mind, body, emotions, and circumstances.
fundamental life energies in
one direction (harmony), and 6. keep them unwavering for long enough, success follows.
you? I find inspiration in my
Heritage Month 2020
Submit your department's Jerusalema 3. What do you do to de- expression in the mind, then
stresDs? aDen-sctressCinghis allenge vgoitdmeanoifestthedrinothue gouhtside closely linked to internal body world. As such, imagination is
MS Forms no later than Wednesday, chemistry, what we casually simply the process of thinking
30 September 2020.
refer to as ‘happy hormones’, about possibilities – an
Are you in it
ie serotonin, dopamine and extension of reality. So quite endorphins. I regularly engage often I spend time imagining
in strength training and once how my future would look like.
the kids swimming and cycling courageous thing you to win it?
a week I go for a fast 6km run.
On weekends I spend time with 7. What is the most
with my wife. Since visiting a have ever done? First in my Buddhist temple in Thailand, career with BASF. Accepting
I have learnt the power of meditation, and endeavour to incorporate this in my morning daily routine. It has proven
to be beneficial and greatly enhanced my wellbeing.
4. What is the best advice you have ever received? Fall in love with the process instead of the results, then it becomes easy to embrace the risk, uncertainty and the pain along the journey.
an assignment completely unrelated to chemical engineering, where I had to lead the development and integration of SAP business processes. I had to pick up programming language and skills to efficiently deliver on the project. Then, later completely changing industries and moving into pulp and paper.
Secondly, in my personal
life, when I decided to learn
financial markets and started
and of course, wealth.
9. What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy reading and researching subjects outside my primary field of study (engineering).
I spend more time on books related to the field of finance, strategy, investments, global economy, and the evolution of political ideologies such as communism, fascism, and liberal democracy.
10.
For more information on the challenge please contact Khethiwe.Hlubi@sappi.com.
tr
ou
Who or what inspires
my life. The book by Nassim
imagination. What you see around you today, first found
Nicholas Taleb, the Black Swan had a great influence on my life during the early days of learning investments (equity, bonds, commodities and derivatives). Not long ago, before I joined the Sappi Technology Centre, the book by Ashlee Vance, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, made me see more possibilities that can come out of innovation
– creating a whole new economy, much-needed jobs
Jerusalema Dance Challenge Competition
Share your department's Jerusalema Dance Challenge video clip with us to be eligible for
the competition.
trading on equity and futures markets.
Great corporate prizes to be won - the more creative your video, the better your chances of
winning!


10. Which famous person would you like to be
best friends with? Adrian Gore, the CEO of Discovery Limited. He founded the company just before the dawn of democracy. He took what existed for centuries, health insurance, and through innovation influenced and incentivised the consumer
to change lifestyle behaviour. From that platform, he branched into adjacent markets, ie life insurance, vitality, investments, short term insurance and now digital banking in partnership, while bringing onboard strategic partners (ie gyms, travelling, retail etc) to offer the customer ‘premium’ value. As a self- proclaimed student of strategy, I find this very intriguing.
11. How would you want to be remembered one day? As someone open to life’s possibilities. As a person
who explored the world and what it had to offer, recreating myself for sustained and optimal experiences on earth. And a person who shared his experiences, knowledge and skills and impacted people positively.
12. What do your colleagues not know about you? I used to trade equity derivatives and index futures, and that’s when I learned to make split seconds decisions, take calculated risks and make decisions based on incomplete and ambiguous information. This is when I learnt a lot about geopolitics, macroeconomics, economic indicators etc, as my strategy was more event-driven. Early on, I came to understand that nothing can replace strategy and planning, and most importantly, execution with speed. I guess this is also one of the many reasons why Sappi’s strategy resonates with me.
Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
13. Why do you enjoy working at Sappi? The company has a global footprint that spans across diverse economies (emerging markets, developed markets), business jurisdiction, political systems (young democracies, western liberal democracies), and cultures. As a seeker, it provides a fertile ground
for learning. The scope for growth and recreating oneself is limitless.
David and his family cycling, running and spending time in the gym.
April long service awards
Thank you for loyal commitment
Congratulations to Liza Koen (15 years), Lofentse Seate (five years), Karen van Heerden (five years), Sanelisiwe Nzaca (10 years) and Donald Nonyane (10 years) for your commitment, devotion and time served at Sappi.
Your knowledge, hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.
We wish you continued success in your Sappi career.
Clockwise: Liza Koen, Lofentse Seate, Karen van Heerden, Sanelisiwe Nzaca and Donald Nonyane.
11.


InTouch
Let your retirement money work for you
The different types of annuities
When we retire, we stop working and our money starts working for us. Although you can take your retirement benefits in cash, it’s a good idea to consider purchasing a pension from an insurer, such as an annuity, to make sure your money last as long as you do.
Overview of the basic annuities
•
Conventional (guaranteed) annuities:
With any of these annuities, you will exchange your retirement capital for a guaranteed income for your full lifetime.
01 02 03 04
Level Annuity
Your monthly pension will remain exactly the same from year to year. This annuity does not
offer any protection against inflation.
Fixed Escalation Annuity
Your monthly pension will increase at a pre-determined rate each year, offering some protection against inflation.
With-profit Annuity Pensioners share in actual investment returns – even though the size of each increase is not guaranteed. This pension should keep up with inflation.
Inflation-linked Annuity Your monthly pension will increase at an inflation-related rate. This pension will keep up with inflation.
Under the guaranteed annuities, your benefit stops when you die, unless you choose that
it should continue to your spouse. You must make this decision when you buy the annuity. You can also make provision for
your dependants by selecting additional options.
• Living annuity:
With a living annuity, your benefit is invested in the stock market and will therefore be affected by investment profits and losses.
You can choose to draw between 2.5% and 17.5% from your capital
as a pension income. The risk
lies with you to ensure that your investment keeps up with inflation and that your money lasts until your death.
Under this annuity, your dependants or beneficiaries will receive the remaining capital when you die.
12.
Get advice from the experts
Contact one of the Summit, Simeka Wealth or Graviton consultants assigned to your Sappi unit for advice on the products that will best suit your needs. (Check with an EWB or Communications team member if you’re unsure who the consultants are).


Sappi Head Office Internal Newsletter
EWB talks help you get your groove back
Discover the key to living a fluid life
Balance... what is that? How do we get into the habit of making sure we live productively, even though our lives can change course at any time?
In this third wellness workshop, Traci Kretzschmar from Colour me Happy highlighted that, despite hardship and change, our lives will flow continuously, even if we are stagnant.
During the talk she shared tips on how to balance mind, body, and emotions as a means to navigate your way ahead, regardless of where the flow of life takes you.
If you missed the talk on living a fluid life, click here to access.
Up next: Dealing with changing times – 11 May and 21 May 2021
The fourth wellness talk will discuss change and dealing with a new way of life – focusing on the future, creating a new normal, and understanding how everyone is affected.
Don’t miss out!
Try me!
Delicious and healthy recipes from our Tsebo Canteen
Tomato and onion relish
Ingredients:
180g chopped tomatoes 100g chopped onions
1⁄2 red pepper
1⁄2 yellow pepper
Basil and thyme to taste Chives (dried or fresh) to taste 30ml oil
500ml water
Method: Uses:
01. Sauté onions, garlic, peppers and thyme. Leave it to cook for five to 10 minutes on medium heat.
02. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until tender.
03. Add 500ml water and 50g Imperial Simply Tomato and Onion Relish.
04. Add the water and relish mix to the cooked onion and pepper mix.
05. Simmer for eight to 10 minutes.
06. Add fresh basil and chopped chives.
• Pasta sauce
• Cook-in sauce
for roasts
• Base for soups,
stews and curries.
13.


Global Safety Awareness Week 31 May - 04 June 2021
Global Safety Awareness Week 31 May - 04 June 2021
Save the date
Being
responsible Being
responsible
Taking
care of our
well-being Taking
care of our well-being
I value life
Caring for
each other Caring for
each other
Protecting Protecting
life
Making safe
means means
Making safe informed
life
informed
decisions decisions
I value life
Always Always
Always putting Always putting
behaving behaving
safety first safety first
safely safely
“As OneSappi, we do business safely with integrity and courage, making smart decisions that we execute with speed.”
“As OneSappi, we do business safely with integrity and courage, making smart decisions that we execute with speed.”
I value life I value life


InTouch
Human progress isn’t
measured by industry,
it’s measured by the
value you put on a life.”
– Abhijit Naskar
Send your article contributions to
Khethiwe.Hlubi@sappi.com. Next issue is on 28 May 2021
Scan the code for instant access to the email address via your mobile phone.