Graphic Packaging Issues 2024 Impact Report: Toward a Better Future

Rhea-AI Summary

Graphic Packaging (NYSE: GPK) has released its 2024 Impact Report, showcasing significant progress in its Better by 2030 sustainability initiative. The company achieved notable milestones including replacing 1 billion plastic packages with paperboard alternatives and ensuring 97% of products sold are recyclable.

Key achievements include 89% sustainably sourced forest products, recycling of 1 million metric tons of waste materials, and a new virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) set to cover 70% of EMEA electricity use. The company has also enhanced employee engagement with 87% survey participation and implemented HSE Excellence Systems across 98% of global sites.

The report outlines GPK's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with plans to upgrade biomass boilers and increase renewable electricity usage across operations.

Positive

• Replaced 1 billion plastic packages with sustainable paperboard alternatives
• 97% of packaging products are now recyclable
• 89% of forest products are sustainably sourced
• New VPPA agreement will cover 70% of EMEA electricity needs
• Strong employee engagement with 87% survey participation rate
• 98% implementation of HSE Excellence System globally

Negative

• None.

ATLANTA, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK) ("Graphic Packaging"), a global leader in sustainable consumer packaging, today announced the release of its 2024 Impact Report. The report highlights the company's progress toward its Better by 2030 commitments announced last year, as part of a multi-year Better, Every Day sustainability initiative.

Grounded in its Vision 2030 business strategy, Graphic Packaging's Better by 2030 sustainability goals outline actions the company is taking to:

• create better packaging designed to drive circularity.
• do better for people through safer work environments, engaging employees and local community involvement.
• shape a better future for the planet by reducing its environmental footprint and sustaining forests.

"Our Vision 2030 strategy places more focus than ever on innovation across our business," said Graphic Packaging President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Doss. "Combined with our foundational commitment to sustainability, we are positioned to meet growing global demand for packaging innovations that are more circular, more functional and more convenient than existing alternatives."

Highlights from Graphic Packaging's 2024 Impact Report include: 

Better Packaging 

• Approximately 1 billion plastic packages replaced with paperboard packaging
• 97% of packaging products sold characterized as recyclable¹
  
• More than 130 new patent applications filed 

Better for People 

• Over 20,000 employee engagement survey participants (87%)
• 47% increase in Employee Resource Group participation
• 98% of global sites implemented Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Excellence System

Better Future 

• 70% of EMEA electricity use to be covered by new virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA)
• 89% of purchased forest products sustainably sourced
• Approximately 1 million metric tons of our generated waste materials recycled

Toward 2050 Net-Zero Aspiration

Better by 2030 includes near-term climate action goals that Graphic Packaging is taking to advance its aspiration of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 (in accordance with the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goal 13). These goals include validated science-based targets to reduce GHG emissions across the company's operations and value chain, as well as commitments to increase the use of renewable fuel and electricity.

"We identified several ways to make sizeable GHG reductions, including upgrading to more efficient biomass boilers and steam turbines for cogeneration of steam and electricity at two of our wood-based paperboard manufacturing facilities," said Graphic Packaging Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Michelle Fitzpatrick. "We are also exploring options to switch to 50% or more renewable electricity across all of our operations."

Graphic Packaging's first VPPA, announced in 2024, supports planned solar projects in Spain and is expected to come online in late 2025. This will enable packaging operations in Europe to match 70% of the region's total electricity demand with renewable energy attribute certificates.

"Climate change remains one of society's most pressing challenges, and we are firmly committed to doing our part to limit global warming by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050," Fitzpatrick said.

Download the 2024 Impact Report

Graphic Packaging reports in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative and Sustainable Accounting Standards Board Containers and Packaging standards along with providing information aligned with the Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures framework and the U.N. Global Compact Communication on Progress. 

See the complete 2024 Impact Report: https://www.graphicpkg.com/sustainability/sustainability-reporting/

Learn more about what's driving our sustainability strategy: https://www.graphicpkg.com/news-events/circular-packaging-2024-impact-report

¹ Defined as widely recyclable, locally recyclable, or conditionally recyclable.

About Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Graphic Packaging designs and produces consumer packaging made primarily from renewable or recycled materials. An industry leader in innovation, the Company is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of consumer packaging. Graphic Packaging operates a global network of design and manufacturing facilities serving the world's most widely recognized brands in food, beverage, foodservice, household, and other consumer products. Learn more at www.graphicpkg.com.

Contacts:

Media: Comms@graphicpkg.com

Investors: Investor.Relations@graphicpkg.com

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SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company

FAQ

What are the key achievements in Graphic Packaging's 2024 Impact Report?

The report highlights replacing 1 billion plastic packages with paperboard, achieving 97% recyclable products, and securing a VPPA to cover 70% of EMEA electricity use with renewable energy.

How is GPK (NYSE: GPK) progressing towards its sustainability goals?

GPK has achieved 89% sustainably sourced forest products, recycled 1 million metric tons of waste materials, and is implementing renewable energy initiatives to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

What employee engagement metrics did Graphic Packaging report in 2024?

The company reported 87% participation in employee engagement surveys, a 47% increase in Employee Resource Group participation, and 98% implementation of HSE Excellence Systems globally.

What are Graphic Packaging's renewable energy initiatives for 2025?

GPK has secured a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for solar projects in Spain, expected to come online in late 2025, covering 70% of EMEA region's electricity demand with renewable energy certificates.

How is Graphic Packaging working towards net-zero emissions?

The company is upgrading to more efficient biomass boilers and steam turbines, planning to switch to 50% or more renewable electricity across operations, and has set science-based targets to reduce GHG emissions.