Smurfit Kappa records 44% reduction in CO2 emissions, on tract to achieve net-zero by 2050

IRELAND – Irish corrugated packaging company, Smurfit Kappa is on target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and has reduced CO2 emissions by 43.9% since the baseline year 2005, according to its 16th annual Sustainable Development Report.

The report covers the company’s progress from January to December 2022 in efforts related to sustainability via capital investment, operational improvement and collaboration with customers and other stakeholders.

Last year, Smurfit Kappa completed a world first in successfully trialing hydrogen in its Saillat paper mill in France.

It also completed a multi-fuel boiler in the Zülpich paper mill in Germany which reduced emissions at the mill by 25%.

The company announced its largest decarbonization project in Cali in Colombia involving an investment of almost €100 million (US$109.16m), while it also started a district heating project in Austria to benefit 20,000 homes across three communities.

The report also shows the measurable progress that Smurfit Kappa has delivered during 2022 against all its Better Planet 2050 sustainability targets.

These measures include a 43.9% reduction in CO2 emissions since 2005 and 4% in 2022 alone, while it also saw a 2.1% reduction in water consumption last year.

Smurfit Kappa said its waste-to-landfill intensity decreased by 24% since 2013, while it has made social investments of €18.4 million (US$20.09m) since 2020.

The company also noted that management positions held by women stood at 23.5% at the end of 2022, up from 22% in 2021.

Garrett Quinn, Chief Sustainability Officer at Smurfit Kappa, said the value and importance of transparency in reporting on sustainability continue to grow.

“Earlier this month, Smurfit Kappa issued a report together with the Financial Times that found, whilst the corporate world has a lot of ambition and commitments, open, assured reporting and delivery is often lacking,” he noted.

“For 16 years, Smurfit Kappa has produced a comprehensive sustainability development report that has been third-party assured since 2009.

“In a world increasingly concerned with greenwashing we hope this history of public, assured reporting, coupled with our continued delivery each year, give all our stakeholders confidence in the Group’s sustainability strategy and delivery against its commitments.”

Last month, the packaging company announced plans to invest €27 million (US$29.47m)  in improving the sustainability of its Nervión paper mill in Iurreta, Spain.

Smurfit Kappa said it will develop an advanced waste management and recovery facility at the mill and install a lime kiln and gas treatment system, a fully circular production process with the capacity to produce 120t of lime a day.

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