OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2012. For the sixth straight year, International Paper was named as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by The Ethisphere Institute. Despite a record number of global nominees, International Paper secured a spot on the list by maintaining its focus on the ethical business practices and standards that have defined the Company since its inception more than 100 years ago.

"In all of our endeavors around the globe, from safety performance to environmental stewardship to running our businesses, our actions come down to one simple principle - doing the right things for the right reason. International Paper is proud to be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth straight

year," said John Faraci, Chairman and CEO of International Paper.

"Since our Company's founding in 1898, International Paper has been defined by a commitment to ethical behavior and personal integrity," said Sharon Ryan, senior vice president, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary. "At International Paper, we are accountable for all that we do and it's a culture embraced by our 70,000 employees worldwide."

Franz J. Marx, President of International Paper Russia, added: "We believe that the way we conduct our business is as important as the business results we achieve. Our customers, like all our customers globally, prefer to do business with an ethical company. In Russia we live this everyday by supplying quality products and services, providing the best value, anticipating our customers' needs and meeting their expectations."

This is the sixth year Ethisphere has published the WME rankings. Ethisphere reviewed hundreds of companies and evaluated a record number of applications through in-depth research and multi-step analysis, naming the companies that surpassed their industry peers to this year's World's Most Ethical Companies list. The 2012 list features companies in more than three dozen industries, including 40 companies headquartered outside the United States. The methodology used to develop WME rankings includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.