Smurfit Westrock adopts ISNetworld as contractor management system

IRELAND – Smurfit Westrock, a leading sustainable paper and packaging company, has selected ISN’s global online contractor and supplier management platform, ISNetworld, to enhance its contractor management and compliance processes.

Rogelio Serrano, Smurfit Westrock’s EHS Corporate Supervisor, emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, stating, “At Smurfit Westrock, we believe nothing is so important that it cannot be done safely.

“Partnering with ISN is a natural extension of our commitment to the health and well-being of our employees and contractors.

“With ISNetworld, we can effectively track safety program statistics across our operations and easily visualize these insights at both the company and individual levels.”

Operating in 40 countries with over 100,000 employees, Smurfit Westrock manages more than 500 packaging operations and 63 paper mills.

The company is renowned for its wide range of innovative packaging solutions, including corrugated and consumer packaging, bag-in-box packaging, and point-of-sale displays.

Joe Schloesser, ISN Vice-President, expressed excitement about the expanded partnership, saying, “We’re thrilled to work with Smurfit Westrock globally, including new implementations in its Mexican operations.

“Smurfit Westrock is at the forefront of paper and packaging innovation, and we’re proud to help ensure that safety and sustainability remain integral to its company culture.”

ISNetworld is currently utilized by over 800 companies to manage and evaluate information for more than 80,000 contractors and suppliers worldwide.

In related news, Smurfit Kappa Group, recently announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

The group’s net sales for Q2 were approximately US$3 billion, reflecting a decrease of US$107 million (3%) from US$3.08 billion in the same period last year.

This decline was mainly attributed to lower average box pricing in the company’s European operations.

However, the decrease was partially offset by a 3.1% increase in group corrugated volumes (1.1% on a daily shipment basis), a US$28 million net positive foreign currency impact, and a US$4 million positive impact from acquisitions.

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO, commented on the results, stating, “I am pleased to report a strong set of results and continued delivery of quality and service for our customers.

“Our performance-led culture and the ongoing benefits of our capital allocation decisions from previous years drive this success. These results were achieved despite significantly higher recovered fiber costs and lower corrugated box prices.

“We anticipate that these increased costs will be recovered through higher box pricing, albeit with the customary time lag.”

During the second quarter, Smurfit Kappa saw a 3.1% growth in corrugated volumes, with Europe experiencing a 3.5% increase and the Americas a 1.5% rise year-on-year.

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