DS Smith launches new sustainability strategy

DS Smith has launched its new sustainability vision and strategy, Now and Next, which maps out ambitious commitments and goals for the next decade.

DS Smith has launched its new sustainability vision and strategy, Now and Next, which maps out ambitious commitments and goals for the next decade

Through its Now and Next approach, the company will continue to focus on the transition to a circular economy by partnering with customers, communities, governments and influencers to keep materials in use, design out waste and regenerate natural systems. It will continue to focus on CO₂ reduction, protecting biodiversity and reducing water consumption.

‘As we respond to the changing world in which we live and operate, it is critical that our drive to redefine packaging continues to place circularity at the heart of our business,’ said Miles Roberts, group CEO of DS Smith. ‘Our new strategy allows us to move beyond just having a strong circular business model ourselves to delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions.’

The strategy sets out four key pillars, alongside a continued commitment to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30 percent against a 2015 baseline and care for its forests and biodiversity wherever it operates.

The key areas of the strategy will drive sustainable growth through the below targets:

  • Closing the loop through better design – by 2023, the company will manufacture 100 percent reusable or recyclable packaging and its aim is that by 2030 all of its packaging will be recycled or reused
  • Protecting natural resources by making the most of every fiber – by 2025, it will optimize fiber use for individual supply chains in 100 percent of its new packaging solutions and by 2030 it aims to optimize every fiber for every supply chain
  • Reducing waste and pollution through circular solutions – by 2025, it will take 1 billion pieces of problem plastics off supermarket shelves, take 250,000 lorries off the road and work with partners to find solutions for hard to recycle packaging. Meanwhile, by 2030 it aims to use packaging and recycling to enable the circular economy by replacing problem plastics, reducing customer carbon and eliminating consumer packaging waste.
  • Equipping people to lead the transition to a circular economy – by 2025 it will engage 100 percent of its people in the circular economy and by 2030 it will engage 5 million people in the circular economy and circular lifestyles.

Wouter van Tol, head of sustainability, community and government affairs at DS Smith commented: ‘Now and Next positions DS Smith at the forefront of the packaging industry and sets a clear roadmap to address immediate challenges, while also working to meet the needs of the next generation by creating solutions that are aligned with the principles of the circular economy. By taking a whole systems approach, we have a huge opportunity to make significant progress against our environmental, social and governance responsibilities.’

In the past year, DS Smith hit a number of sustainability milestones, including an 11 percent reduction in emissions in 2019 compared to 2015 on a like-for-like basis and 100 percent engagement in community programs across its site employing more than 50 people.