Smurfit Kappa achieves four of its Better Planet sustainability goals

Smurfit Kappa announced that it has achieved four of its Better Planet 2050 medium-term sustainability goals.

The company also published its 17th Sustainable Development Report, which shows that it has achieved a number of goals in the following areas:

• Waste Management: achieved a 35.8% reduction in waste sent to landfills, exceeding the 30% reduction target for 2050 (in 2022 it was reduced by 24%)

• Forest Protection: 95.5% of packaging sold has Chain of Custody Certification, exceeding the target of 95% set for 2050 (in 2022 this percentage was 94.3%)

• Support for Communities: €25.6 million was donated to support social, environmental and community initiatives, an amount higher than the target of €24 million set for 2050 (in 2022, this amount rose to €18.4 million)

• Diversity: 25.1% of management positions were held by women at the end of 2023, exceeding the objective of 25% for 2024 (in 2022, this percentage was 23.5%).

The full report, which covers the period from January to December 2023, highlights the company's progress through continued capital investment, ongoing operational improvements and collaboration with customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders.

Apart from achieving its main sustainability goals, the report also registers a number of important achievements, including the following:

• It was one of the first companies to adopt (only 180 companies worldwide did so) the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD);

• The installation of 12,000 solar panels at the Sangüesa paper factory in Spain, joining similar renewable energy initiatives at other factories in Spain, Colombia, Mexico and, more recently, at the new factory    in Morocco;

• Completion of the 27 million euro investment process in a new waste management and recovery unit at the Nervión paper factory, in Iurreta (Spain), eliminating 70,000 tons of materials that were previously    sent directly to landfill;

• The inauguration of a pioneering wastewater treatment and purification plant in Belgrade (Serbia), the first of its kind in the country;

• Continued progress on the US$100 million biomass project in Colombia, which will be the largest decarbonization project in the Group's history and which is scheduled to come into operation in 2050;

• The publication of the second Impact Report of the Group's Green Obligations.

• Morningstar Sustainalytics proclaimed Smurfit Kappa's leadership in sustainability, recognizing it as a leader in the paper packaging sector, thanks to its excellent performance in MSCI and ISS ESG, as     well as its recent upgrade of the CPD rating to "A -” in the areas of climate, water and forests.

In what concerns the publication of the report, Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, said: "I am extremely proud of the significant progress made on our sustainability targets during 2023. I am particularly proud that we have already achieved four of our Better Planet 2050 targets. This not only reflects the dedication of our people and the efficiency of our investment programs, but it also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting our local communities, contributing to the creation of a better planet and a low-carbon circular future”.

Ruth Fraile, Director of Sustainability at Smurfit Kappa Spain I Portugal and Morocco, said: "In our latest Sustainable Development Report, we highlight a number of crucial achievements that impact all of our current sustainability commitments. In addition to the 2023 results, Smurfit Kappa continues to work today to contribute to a more sustainable future in areas such as cooperative decarbonization projects, the early adoption of TNFD or the focus of all our employees on making our manufacturing process as sustainable as our products”.