News Releases

    • AbitibiBowater highlights sustainability commitments at first Annual Meeting
      
          ABH (NYSE, TSX)
      
          MONTREAL, June 5 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater President and Chief
      Executive Officer David J. Paterson highlighted today the Company's commitment
      to sustainability at its first Annual General Meeting of Stockholders. Since
      its creation in October 2007, AbitibiBowater has been building on the positive
      momentum of its predecessor companies, focusing on reducing costs and
      improving efficiency, while continuing to enhance its environmental
      performance.
          In its manufacturing processes, AbitibiBowater is committed to adopting
      the best practices to reduce its environmental footprint by diminishing waste
      and ensuring responsible use of resources, particularly fiber, energy and
      water. To further this approach, the Company announced today that it has
      identified additional sustainability objectives in four specific areas:- Climate Change - strive to operate as a carbon-neutral enterprise;
          - Responsible Fiber Sourcing - source from 100% third-party certified
            sustainable fibers;
          - Product Stewardship - offer innovative and best-in-class products to
            support customers' environmental expectations;
          - Stakeholder Relations - engage stakeholders to better leverage
            opportunities and resolve challenges."We are committed to continue the growth and diversification of our
      product mix while positioning the Company as an industry model and the wise
      choice for the environmentally sensitive customer," said David Paterson. "We
      want to offer the best sustainable solutions to them and their consumers."
      
          Climate Change
      
          AbitibiBowater will continue to focus on reducing overall greenhouse gas
      (GHG) emissions with the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral enterprise.
      Reducing GHGs was a target of the Company's predecessor organizations and
      significant progress has been achieved to date. Since 2000, GHG emissions by
      AbitibiBowater have been reduced by 34% globally, with a 16% reduction per
      metric ton of paper produced. The Company intends to continue to implement new
      initiatives to further reduce emissions through improved processes, energy
      efficiency and green energy projects.
      
          Responsible Fiber Sourcing
      
          With 95% of woodlands operations certified, AbitibiBowater has more
      third-party certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the
      world. Currently, 50 million acres - an area approximately half the size of
      California - are certified using an independent, internationally-recognized
      standard. However, AbitibiBowater is committed to improving this record by
      certifying 100% of its woodlands by the end of 2008. Moreover, the Company
      intends to partner with its external suppliers to ensure that all the fiber it
      uses comes from certified sources.
          As one of the world's largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines,
      the Company aims to further enhance the sustainability of its fiber sourcing.
      AbitibiBowater is intent on continued expansion of the collection and use of
      recycled fibers, through its AbitibiBowater Paper Retriever and other Company
      recycling programs.
      
          Product Stewardship
      
          AbitibiBowater is committed to responsible product stewardship and
      intends to manufacture more innovative products with a lighter environmental
      impact. The Company recently launched two new papers, EcoLaser™ and
      Ecopaque™, using less water and energy as well as 50% less fiber compared
      with papers traditionally used for the same applications.
      
          Stakeholder Relations
      
          AbitibiBowater wants to better reach out to its stakeholders, in
      particular the communities where the Company does business and its employees
      live. The Company believes in being a responsible employer and a good neighbor
      by engaging meaningfully with local communities, including Aboriginal peoples.
      As an example, AbitibiBowater sustains partnerships with over 50 First Nations
      and Native American groups for the cooperative management of sustainable
      forest licenses, engineering, financing, reforestation, forest road access,
      harvesting, silviculture and tree planting, transportation and wood
      remanufacturing.
          "While we are proud of the environmental performance of AbitibiBowater's
      legacy companies, we recognize that we can do more, that we can do better,"
      said David Paterson. "We are open to fresh thinking, new approaches and
      innovative solutions that will ingrain sustainability as a core value as
      understood by our customers, our employees, our communities and all Company
      stakeholders."
          AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing
      papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly
      traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or
      operates 27 pulp and paper facilities and 34 wood products facilities located
      in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Marketing
      its products in more than 90 countries, the Company is also among the world's
      largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines, and has more third-party
      certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the world.
      AbitibiBowater's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the New York
      Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
      
      
      
      
      For further information:
      For further information: Investors: Duane Owens, Vice President and
      Treasurer, (864) 282-9488; Media and Others: Seth Kursman, Vice President,
      Communications and Government Affairs, (514) 394-2398,
      seth.kursman@abitibibowater.com; Denis Leclerc, Vice President, Sustainability
      and Environment, (514) 394-3601, denis.leclerc@abitibibowater.com