DS Smith eliminates 1.2B plastic items across international markets

GLOBAL – British packaging company DS Smith has announced it has replaced over 1.2 billion pieces of plastic across its international markets, achieving this milestone 16 months ahead of schedule.

Due to DS Smith’s plastic replacement solutions, the company’s target includes any primary or secondary plastic packaging removed from customers’ packaging.

This accomplishment is a key part of DS Smith’s plastic replacement and reduction program, established in 2020 as part of the Now & Next Sustainability strategy. This strategy supports the company’s “purpose to redefine packaging for a changing world.”

By 2030, DS Smith aims for all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable.

Chief Executive Miles Roberts commented on the achievement: “When we set our Now & Next Sustainability strategy, we aimed for goals that deliver environmental change both within and beyond DS Smith.

“By innovating to help our customers replace or reduce plastic, we respond to societal demands to reduce plastic pollution and strengthen our partnerships with customers.

“However, this is just the beginning. We are motivated to make more positive impacts by supporting our customers and communities in their sustainability goals.”

These sustainability targets span DS Smith’s operations in 27 countries across Europe and North America. They work towards a shared, circular objective to eliminate waste and keep materials in use longer.

The achievement highlights several markets, including the United Kingdom, which leads with more than 274 million pieces of plastic replaced, followed by France, having replaced over 260 million pieces, and Germany, which ranks third with more than 153 million pieces replaced.

The company notes that demand for plastic replacement continues to grow, particularly in Eastern Europe, where the number of plastic pieces replaced has nearly doubled since 2020.

DS Smith’s circular design principles and metrics, developed in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, are critical to meeting the target of replacing 1 billion pieces of plastic.

The company has trained nearly 800 designers in these principles, allowing them to assess performance in areas such as recycled content, recyclability, estimated CO2 emissions, levels of excess waste, and supply chain parameters in partnership with customers.

DS Smith has implemented its design metrics across various sectors, including retail goods, food and beverage, automotive parts, and industrial devices.

The company’s Now & Next Sustainability strategy focuses on current sustainability challenges and those that will impact future generations. It aims to lead the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.

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