DS Smith digs deeper on decarbonization and reveals reusable packaging plans

18 Jul 2023 --- DS Smith is accelerating its transition to a low-carbon circular economy with strengthened environmental sustainability targets. The multinational packaging business plans to test up to five reuse pilots by 2025 and continue to manufacture 100% recyclable and reusable packaging. 

The British company claims to have already replaced 762 million “problem plastics” with fiber-based alternatives since 2020 and created more than 30,000 “circular-ready projects” through its Circular Design Metrics.

In line with its decarbonization goals, this year it reduced CO2 emissions by 10% (15% compared to 2019) and achieved a 4% reduction in water abstraction within paper mills in areas at risk of water stress.

Reinforced targets
Driven by the DS Smith Purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World, key developments to the Now & Next sustainability strategy include:

• By 2030, reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 46% compared to 2019/20.
• By 2027, encourage 100% of strategic suppliers (representing 76% of purchased goods and services emissions) to set their own science-based targets.
• By 2050, reach Net Zero GHG emissions.
• By 2025, measure and improve biodiversity in our own forests and assess our dependencies on nature.
• Set targets to regenerate nature, taking a science-based approach.
• By 2030, 10% reduction in water-withdrawal intensity at mills at risk of water stress compared to 2019.

Progress to date
Since DS Smith launched its Now & Next ESG plan, it has met nine of its 26 targets, with an additional three targets tracking ahead of schedule.

Group CEO Miles Roberts comments: “We have made good progress with our Now & Next Sustainability Strategy, but the world around us demands that we all do more. That is why we are taking action today to ensure our commitments deliver at pace in a rapidly changing world and accelerate our transition to a low carbon, circular economy.”

“To address climate change, it is critical we adopt low carbon, renewable energy sources. But we must also address how we make and use things in our everyday lives by moving to the circular economy.”

“Through our Circular Design Principles, we already act as the gateway to the circular economy for our customers, helping some of the world’s most recognizable FMCG brands meet their sustainability goals alongside our own.”

In a recent report, DS Smith warned that proposals to increase mandatory packaging reuse in the EU could result in a massive rise in plastic use and backtrack years of progress.

Edited by Joshua Poole