Smurfit Kappa Receives SBTi Approval for Carbon Reduction Targets

Smurfit Kappa has had its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from Smurfit Kappa’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to keep global warming to well-below 2°C.

The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) which defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets.

The initiative mobilizes companies to set science-based targets in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Emission reduction targets are considered ‘science-based’ when their CO2 reduction targets are in line with what the latest climate science says is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

SBTi approval is the latest validation of Smurfit Kappa’s leadership in sustainability in the paper-based packaging sector.

In 2020 the company was the first in the industry to announce its target of at least Net Zero fossil emissions by 2050 and also introduced ambitious new 2mil ppm of VOC emission per annum, the reduction helps protect employees and prevent ozone depletion—all while achieving electricity and natural gas savings and maintaining product quality. After providing abundant support to residents of its local and greater Minnesota communities, Crown’s Owatonna food can plant received the Social Sustainability Award, which recognizes activities that significantly impact the well-being of the workforce and/or the local community. The Owatonna team engaged its neighbors through a wide range of efforts, including employing adults with disabilities, holding annual toy drives and preparing high school students for job interviews. In addition, the plant demonstrated its commitment to creating a safe workplace by participating in Safety Councils and received the Governor’s Safety Award. The Sustainability Award for Safety went to Crown’s beverage can facility in Izmit, Turkey, which created a “We Can Be Safe Together” Safety Culture in alignment with the award’s parameters of demonstrated excellence in prioritizing health and safety to protect employees in their work environment. Finally, Crown Brazil has received a special Divisional Environmental Award for eliminating unusable waste and achieving zero waste to landfill at all seven of its manufacturing facilities. To achieve this milestone, the plants optimized their methods of reduction, reuse and recycling to avoid sending nearly 700 tons of waste to landfill, aligning with Crown’s circular economy goals within its Twentyby30 program. “We are consistently inspired by the commitment and care shown by our global workforce to accelerate our sustainability progress,” said John Rost, Ph.D., VP, global sustainability and regulatory affairs at Crown. “This Chairman’s Sustainability Awards cycle is no different, with our teams going the extra mile to ensure the safety and well-being of their colleagues, communities and surrounding environments.””>sustainability targets under its Better Planet 2050 initiative.

Smurfit Kappa was also the first FTSE 100 company to receive 5 stars from “Support the Goals” in recognition of its support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, building on the company’s leading performance across third party rating companies such as MSCI, ISS ESG and Sustainalytics.

“The SBTi validation builds on our well-established sustainability credentials and is an extremely positive development for Smurfit Kappa and all our stakeholders,” said Tony Smurfit, group CEO. “The world must move to circular business activities with low carbon emissions. SBTi is further evidence of our ability to deliver on this goal, and for our customers, through our increasingly sustainable operating footprint and packaging solutions.

“Sustainability is at the heart of all our operations, and we have a long-term commitment to protect the planet, its people and all our stakeholders,” Smurfit added.