Sonoco Releases 2021-22 Corporate Sustainability Report, Renews 2030 Commitments

HARTSVLLE, S.C., Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today released its 2021-22 Corporate Responsibility Report, renewing ambitious 2030 commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage. The Science Based Targets align with the Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming temperatures well below -2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Beyond performance metrics, Sonoco further increased packaging sustainability and recycling with the $1.35 million acquisition of Ball Metalpack in January 2022. This expanded Sonoco’s can-making franchise and sustainable product portfolio with the addition of tinplate steel packaging – the world’s most recycled substrate. Funds for the acquisition came from $1.2 billion in certified Green Bonds, one of the largest sustainable offerings to date in the U.S. packaging sector.

“We believe that we can grow our global sustainable packaging business while we work to lessen our impact on the environment,” said Howard Coker, President and CEO. “Our journey to achieve these mutually beneficial goals continued over the past year despite unprecedented head winds from supply chain disruptions, inflation and the continuing effects of the pandemic.”

Nearing completion is a $125 million investment to upgrade Sonoco’s Hartsville Mill complex, including the conversion of a corrugated medium machine into a state-of-the-art, 180,000 ton-per-year uncoated recycled paper (URB) mill. The initiative, known as Project Horizon, enables URB production at the lowest cost worldwide and creates an estimated 16 percent reduction in electricity consumption and emissions and 1-million-gallon reduction in water.

Last year, Sonoco also made significant progress toward its Diversity and Inclusion goals despite a challenging labor market. In the US, female new hires made up 44% of talent while 34% belonged to a minority group. Efforts to reduce environmental social and governance risks have led to Sonoco’s top ranking in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for the packaging sector, a mention in Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for the fourth consecutive year and a spot in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies.

Download our 2021-22 Corporate Responsibility Report: Better Packaging. Better Life. Building a Better World for detailed guidelines used to measure the economic, environmental and social standards of the Company.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a global provider of consumer, industrial, healthcare and protective packaging. With annualized net sales of approximately $5.2 billion, the Company has approximately 22,000 employees working in more than 300 operations in 32 countries, serving some of the world’s best-known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is committed to creating sustainable products, services and programs for our customers, employees and communities that support our corporate purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life. The Company was ranked first in the Packaging Sector on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 2022 as well as being included in Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for the third-consecutive year. For more information, visit www.sonoco.com.