Smurfit Kappa partners with WWF Colombia for forestry conservation
20 Aug 2020 --- Smurfit Kappa Colombia has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Colombia to enforce action on illegal logging and support forestry conservation programs across the country. The new alliance aims to jointly restore, expand and protect forests and ecosystems with increased surveillance systems. Smurfit Kappa’s overarching ambition is to promote responsible paper production and reduce deforestation.
“By choosing a Smurfit Kappa Colombia paper bag, customers are making a responsible and conscious decision and promoting the conservation of natural resources in Colombia. [By doing so, they can] identify themselves as responsible buyers who care about the origin of their packaging,” Alvaro Jose Henao, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean, tells PackagingInsights.
“Additionally, it positions the company as a responsible and reliable supplier, which encourages the sector to implement best practices,” he adds.
Colombia has the third greatest amount of forests in South America, says Henao. “However, in 2018, 197,159 hectares of natural forests were deforested – approximately twice the size of Bogota, the country’s capital – and 70 percent of this activity occurs in the Amazon,” he flags.
Forests cover more than half of Colombia (53 percent). Notably, Smurfit Kappa Colombia is the custodian of more than 22,000 hectares of Colombian natural forests, which are home to 41 endangered species, including the Andean bear.
By choosing a Smurfit Kappa Colombia paper bag, customers can help promote the conservation of natural resources in Colombia (Credits: Smurfit Kappa).
When asked if Smurfit Kappa will make similar moves in other countries with similar issues, Henao states: “In the mid or long term, we may consider extending it to other products in Colombia.”
Committing to Chains of Custody
Smurfit Kappa further advocates for diligent forest management through its Chain of Custody practices. “We require certified Chains of Custody from our raw material suppliers to ensure a sustainable supply chain for our customers. In combination with our access to sustainable raw material, we have achieved our 2020 goal to label over 90 percent of our packaging as Chain of Custody certified. Given our size, this is unique in our industry,” the company states.
Looking ahead, Smurfit Kappa’s objective is to maintain that over 90 percent of products for customers are Chain of Custody-certified and continue its 100 percent Chain of Custody operating system certification. “Additionally, we will certify newly acquired operations within two years of acquisition and promote biodiversity in our forest holdings,” notes the company.
In the beverage sector where Smurfit Kappa is active, alternatives to plastic packaging are highly sought after. Last November, the company launched a portfolio consisting of three paper-based solutions, called the Smurfit Kappa GreenClip, the TopClip and the Nor-Grip. Replacing single-use plastic, the new portfolio is fully recyclable, renewable and biodegradable. The innovations present an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic packaging while still facilitating the sale of single units.
By Anni Schleicher, with additional reporting by Kristiana Lalou
