Smurfit Kappa, one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper-based packaging with operations in Europe and the Americas, continues to make significant progress in achieving its sustainability goals. According to its 15th Sustainable Development Report (SDR), an externally audited report that shows how the company works to meet its ambitious goal of achieving zero net emissions by 2050, the company continues to invest and drive change to achieve a greener planet through three important pillars: Planet, People, and Business Impact.
Smurfit Kappa has reduced its CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels in 2021 by 6% over the previous year, the report states. Since 2005, the reference date for the company, the company has decreased its CO₂ emissions by 41.3%. In addition, Smurfit Kappa has achieved several milestones during 2021 that demonstrate its continuous leadership in terms of sustainability:
It has been the first FTSE 100 company to receive 5 stars from Support the Goals in recognition of its support for the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Its products and circular business model have been rated as a ‘Significant Contributor’ to UN SDG 12: ‘Responsible Production and Consumption’.
It launched its Green Finance Framework and launched its first green bond, which has attracted a high share of investors, and it achieved the lowest coupon in the history of its credit rating for a corporate issuer.
The Science Based Target (SBTi) initiative has validated its emission reduction targets as consistent, taking the Paris Agreement as a reference.
The company invested 11.5 million euro in a multi-fuel boiler in its paper factory in Zülpich, which provides a more sustainable fuel source for generating steam and electricity. The investment will allow it to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 55,000 tons in 2022, which will mean the factory will decrease its CO₂ emissions by 25%.
The 15th Sustainable Development Report also highlighted that:
The company invested 4.9 million euro in social projects in 2021.
Its water consumption decreased by 6.2% year on year.
The company's landfill waste has decreased by 29.2% since 2013 and by 7% over the previous year.
For more information:
Smurfit Kappa
www.smurfitkappa.es