Berry reports promising early progress towards Impact 2025 environmental goals

10 Apr 2020 --- Plastic packaging giant Berry Global is ahead of schedule for its Impact 2025 sustainability strategy according to its 2019 Impact Report, which was published this week. The Fortune 500 company recorded a peak annual usage of post-consumer recyclate (PCR) plastic of 70,000 metric tons in FY19. The supplier is also well on track to achieving its science-based target of a 25 percent reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions intensity by 2025, having already achieved a 14 percent reduction against its 2016 baseline.

“We are making tremendous progress towards our goals,” comments Tom Salmon, Chairman and CEO of Berry. “We plan to continue to build on the success we had in 2019 as we work to maximize our positive impacts and lead the transition to a more circular economy.”

Berry’s GRI Index was prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards Core option. GRI is the most widely used framework for sustainability reporting used by businesses, governments, and other organizations. Notable statistics in support of Impact 2025 from the Company’s GRI Index include:

• Recycled Content: Berry set “a new record” for annual usage of post-consumer plastic in FY19 of 70,000 metric tons (154 million pounds). Much of the increase was driven by Berry’s acquisition of RPC, which is included on a pro forma basis.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG): Berry continued its long-term reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions intensity, having reduced its intensity 3 percent year-over-year and 46 percent since the company began measuring its carbon footprint in 2008. The company is ahead of schedule for achieving its science-based target of a 25 percent reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions intensity by 2025, having already achieved a 14 percent reduction vs. its 2016 baseline.
• Landfill Waste: Berry realized a 13 percent reduction in its landfill waste intensity from 2018 to 2019. This exceeds the company’s goal of a 5 percent reduction year-over-year.
• Energy: For the year, Berry reduced its energy intensity by 3 percent year-over-year. This exceeds the company’s goal of a 1 percent reduction year-over-year.
• Water: In the year 2019, the Company decreased absolute water intensity 12 percent from 2018 to 2019, far exceeding the 1 percent year-over-year reduction target.

In February, Berry announced a formal agreement with US-based Georgia-Pacific Recycling to create a closed-loop system to recover, segregate and reprocess PCR.

“2019 was a transformative year for Berry – from announcing our sustainability strategy, Impact 2025, to launching the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as a founding member to joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy working group as a Global Commitment signatory,” notes Robert Flores, Vice President of Sustainability for Berry.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Berry revealed that it is running its packaging and nonwoven manufacturing lines “around the clock” to meet peaking demand for hand sanitizer packaging, disinfectant wipes and fabrics for face masks.

Edited by Joshua Poole