Sonoco is working to shrink the environmental footprint at each of its more than 340 manufacturing plants in 34 countries by:
- Reducing wastes going to landfills
- Reducing energy consumption
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Reducing hazardous air emissions
- Reducing water usage
- Implementing and encouraging internal recycling programs
Highlights
- Included in the 2011-2012 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for a third consecutive year
- Awarded Gold Class status for 2011 by SAM (Sustainability Asset Management) in its Sustainability Yearbook 2011
- Listed in the United States’ 500 largest publicly traded companies in Newsweek magazine’s “Green Rankings” for a third consecutive year in 2011
- Named one of 2011’s Top 100 Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility magazine
Environmental Stewardship Success
- Reduced normalized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 5.8% since 2008, including a 1.3% reduction in 2010, moving toward our goal of a 15% reduction by 2014
- Reduced normalized landfill disposal by 8.3% in 2010, and will reach landfill-free status in five United States plants by year-end 2011
- Established a goal to have 10% of the Company’s global manufacturing operations reach landfill-free status by 2015
- Reduced normalized water usage by our global manufacturing operations by 2.3% in 2010
- Added a sustainability section to its supplier scorecard that collects Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG data on more than 75% of its managed supplier spend, as well as suppliers’ GHG reduction goals, carbon intensity and ability to provide innovative, environmentally based solutions
Environmental Policy
Sonoco takes seriously its responsibility to protect the environment in which we work and live, and will conduct its business in accordance with all legal requirements and ethical responsibilities, using scientific knowledge, technical innovation and sound environmental management practices.
- We will be sensitive to environmental issues throughout our business systems, including our selection of materials, processes and products. We will utilize appropriate monitoring techniques to ensure adherence to accepted standards.
- We will conduct operations in full compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. In those areas of the world where such requirements are at a minimum, we will operate in a completely responsible manner.
- We will utilize natural resources efficiently, continuously seeking ways to reduce our requirements. We will strive to maximize the utilization of recovered materials in the products we manufacture and use.
- We will minimize the generation of discharges to the environment, including air emissions, wastewater and solid waste.
- We will support the development of scientific knowledge relating to environmental matters and implement appropriate new technologies to improve our environmental performance.
- We will proactively assist our customers in addressing environmental issues related to their use of our products.
- We will communicate openly with our stakeholders concerning our environmental record.
- We will cooperate with public and governmental organizations to seek responsible solutions to environmental needs and to develop effective and balanced environmental standards.