Packaging giant Smurfit Kappa has cut CO2 emissions from fossil fuels by 32.9% between 2005 and 2019, according to its 13th annual Sustainable Development Report (SDR).
The company seeks to reduce relative CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 in comparison with the 2005 baseline.
It also plans to discuss its current CO2 reduction target with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) to ensure that it is in line with the Paris Agreement and complies with the latest findings in climate science.
Steven Stoffer, Group VP of development at Smurfit Kappa, said, “For Smurfit Kappa, sustainability is more than mitigating climate change and minimising environmental impact by our operations.
"The Sustainable Development Report also demonstrates how we are using our scale, experience and expertise to help deliver solutions to a broad range of global issues including inclusion and diversity, safety and human rights.”
Highlights Of The Report
The SDR focuses on three strategic areas - people, planet and impactful business and provides details on the contributing factors in the reduction of emissions.
These include a strategic focus on energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of fuel such as biomass, the company added.
Smurfit Kappa has pledged to support the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures, a global body which develops climate-related financial risk disclosures for investors, lenders and insurers.
Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, commented, “Sustainability remains a key focus for us. [The SDR] report gives an insight into how it continues to underpin our all business operations and outlines the progress we are making in the areas of environmental, social and governance criteria.”
Other Achievements
In 2019, Smurfit Kappa created a board-appointed sustainability committee and invested €3.5 million in social initiatives including children’s education and health.
The study also noted that 92.1% of the company’s packaging solutions are Chain of Custody certified, which ensures that cast-iron used by the company is sustainably sourced.
The paper-board packaging maker has reduced its total recordable injury rate by 17% and the water disposed of by the company has cut relative Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) by 35%.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
