Month: March 2024

QUERETARO, QUERETARO – International Paper is committed to the communities where our employees live and work. Earlier this year, with the coordination of American Chamber of Commerce AMCHAM Mexico, International Paper’s Ixtac and Toluca box plants delivered 22,000 boxes to the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR) for transportation and distribution of relief supplies to the hurricane-affected population of Otis in Acapulco; and 14,400 boxes were donated to the Network of Food Banks in Mexico (BAMX).

BAMX has more than 50 food banks across the country and is part of the Global Food Banking Network (GFN). This delivery was part of International Paper Mexico’s ongoing commitment to its partnership with the Network of Food Banks and internationally with GFN.

Gabriella Rosato, National Manager of Strategic Alliances of BAMX, commented that this donation will benefit approximately 58,000 people in Mexico with safe and ready-to-eat food. The boxes will serve as packaging that supports local food bank deliveries.

“Donating to a food bank is a powerful way to make a difference in the fight against hunger and malnutrition as well as reducing waste and poverty. The Mexican Food Bank Network (BAMX Network) is grateful for International Paper’s valuable donation of more than 14,000 boxes which will allows us to send food to the affected population after Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero and families who benefit from local food bank programs.”

Since last October 2023, the BAMX Network and its partners (Caritas, CENACED, Rotary Club, Red Cross, Gilberto Foundation) have distributed nearly 500 tons of food to more than 440,000 people.

Supporting food banks helps reduce poverty and provides food stability which has a significant impact on the community and the world at large. 

Access to adequate food is critical to the economic well-being of families. International Paper will continue to support efforts to fight hunger and continue our partnership with BAMX.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper – EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.

Climate action:reduction of CO2 emissions in production by 61 percentshare of purchased electricity from renewable sources increased to 89 percentCircular economy: share of recycled plastic increased to 19 percent worldwideNatural Resources: 10th anniversary of collaboration with Solidaridad for sustainable palm (kernel) oilGender parity ambition: gender-neutral parental leave guideline introducedSustainable solutions: product portfolio further developedEmployee engagement: “Sustainability at Heart” program extended

DÜSSELDORF, Germany, March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Henkel published its sustainability report for the fiscal year 2023 today, reporting on progress in the implementation of its global sustainability strategy, particularly in the use of renewable energies and the promotion of the circular economy. Additionally, the company has continued to work systematically on a more sustainable product portfolio and further expanded its employee engagement program.

“Sustainability is a central pillar of our Purposeful Growth Agenda,” said Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel. “Especially in challenging times like these, sustainable action is more important than ever. We are therefore working continuously on the implementation of our sustainability goals, and I am proud that we made very good progress again in the course of 2023. Our excellent results in leading external ESG ratings, for example the repeated EcoVadis Platinum achievement, show that we are on the right track and that our progress is recognized.”

“Last year, we focused on advancing our environment and social impact commitments,” added Sylvie Nicol, member of the Henkel Management Board, responsible for Human Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainability. “I want to highlight the significant progress on the sustainable sourcing of key commodities, for example palm and palm kernel oil certification. We have also made great efforts in contributing to a circular economy in both our business units. Moreover, we have continued to promote social equity, and I would like to emphasize the introduction of gender-neutral parental leave for all employees worldwide.”

Significantly improved sustainability performance

The “2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework” defines clear ambitions and targets for Henkel’s global sustainability pathway on environment, social and governance issues. The company made significant improvements in the area of climate last year and reduced its overall CO2 emissions in production by 61 percent per metric ton of product (compared to the base year 2010), while it increased the proportion of electricity purchased from renewable sources to 89 percent. In total, 14 further sites have been converted to carbon-neutral production in 2023. Building on its progress in reducing CO2 emissions from raw materials and packaging by 17 percent (per ton of product, compared to the base year 2017), Henkel has also developed its net-zero pathway across all emission categories.

An important goal of Henkel is to promote a circular economy. Overall, Henkel has increased the share of recycled plastic in its consumer goods packaging to 19 percent worldwide. A prominent example is doubling the recycled content level to 50 percent for the entire universal liquid detergents portfolio in Europe, such as Persil.

Henkel has also continued its efforts to protect natural resources. This includes the responsible use of raw materials such as palm oil and palm kernel oil. At the end of 2023, the company was able to cover 96 percent of its global demand with sustainably certified palm (kernel) oil and reached a traceability rate up to the mill of 89 percent. With a particular focus on supporting smallholder farmers in the palm oil production, Henkel has celebrated 10 years of cooperation with the development organization Solidaridad. Over 39,000 smallholder farmers have already benefited from the joint initiatives. The partnership will be further expanded through specific projects in the coming years, including in Colombia and Indonesia.

In the area of diversity, equity and inclusion, Henkel has the ambition to achieve gender parity across all management levels by 2025, among others. Last year, the proportion of women in management positions increased to 39.5 percent. As part of its commitment to greater equity and family friendliness, Henkel has introduced a gender-neutral parental leave program. The new policy guarantees 100 percent paid parental leave of eight weeks for all employees worldwide, based solely on the role of the caregiver.

More sustainable product portfolio further developed

In the past year, Henkel has continued to work on transforming its product portfolio sustainably. One example of this is a project from the Adhesive Technologies business unit. The unit has further developed its internal assessment methodology to create greater transparency regarding the sustainability performance of its product portfolio. The results of the assessment are part of portfolio management and support the shift towards new solutions that enable emissions reduction and a circular economy.

In the Consumer Brands business unit, Henkel launched the “It starts with us” initiative in 2023. The aim is to support consumers in using products in a more resource-efficient way through simple behavioral tips in everyday life, for example by using the ECO program of their washing machine.

External recognition for performance and progress in sustainability

As in previous years, Henkel’s sustainability performance in 2023 has been recognized by several rating agencies, among others by EcoVadis, placing Henkel in the top 1 percent of the companies assessed, and Sustainalytics.

Global engagement program expanded

As part of its “Sustainability at Heart” program, which was rolled out globally in 2022, Henkel aims to further promote its employees’ commitment to sustainability and has expanded its training offerings in 2023. More than 10,000 employees have already taken part in a basic training, which is available as e-learning in many languages and as a newly developed format for production workers. There are also in-depth training courses as well as a new Sustainability Incubator Lab – a format that gives employees the opportunity to work on their own sustainability ideas.

SAIC, in our 10th consecutive year of combating hunger in the U.S. through our partnership with Feeding America, raised more than $311,908 during Hunger Action Month in September 2023. The total amount raised, with the help of donations and fundraising efforts by SAIC employees, is the equivalent of more than 3.1 million meals for people across the country who face food insecurity.

SAIC employees embraced the company’s Give A Meal Team Challenge, participating in a variety of activities that included events to raise funds, along with volunteering at their local food banks. Their generosity, time and dedication resulted in more than $131,000 in direct contributions, which were matched by a company donation.

Over the past 10 years, SAIC has helped provide approximately 25 million meals to people in need through our partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. For every dollar given, Feeding America provides at least 10 meals to those facing hunger.

According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the U.S. are food insecure. SAIC and our employees are proud to support Feeding America year after year in the fight against hunger and making a difference in our local communities.

SAIC Feeding America Campaign Executive Sponsors

Maria Bishop 
SVP, Internal Audit and Internal Controls

“It’s truly inspiring to witness the incredible spirit and dedication of SAIC’s employees during Hunger Action Month. Their willingness to engage and contribute to such an important cause reflects a strong sense of community across the Company and exemplifies the values here at SAIC.”

— Maria Bishop

Jeff Raver 
VP, Environmental, Social and Governance Integration

“Hunger exists in every community in America. I am incredibly #SAICproud of my coworkers for their dedication and commitment to fighting food insecurity across the country with both their time and donations.”

— Jeff Raver

Learn more about our citizenship partnerships and initiatives at our Citizenship and Community Engagement page.

This project is a testament to the evolution of finding the balance between performance and sustainability, offering a compelling example of circularity in packaging within the global plastic industry.

One of the critical components to accelerating a circular economy is to transform plastic waste to become a raw material for new products. Waste collection systems and regulations are very different around the world, which means a collaborative and local approach is essential. The incorporation of post-consumer recycled materials is evolving, driven by regulations, consumer demand, and enabled by innovation in materials science.

The plastic industry in India, for example, stands among the world’s largest and most sophisticated, with over 30,000 processing units and around 2,000 exporters. Remarkably, 85 to 90% of these units are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Some of these companies produce high quality materials which are then exported. To provide some perspective on the dimensions of these operations: India’s plastic industry is set to reach exports of up to USD 25 billion by 2025, with top destinations including the U.S., China and the European Union.

Ecoplast, a leading supplier of lamination and surface protection films in India, plays an important role in shaping the sector’s landscape. Serving a range of applications in the construction and packaging industries, Ecoplast’s solutions are used by companies like Lanka Plastic, a prominent provider of cleaning and industrial glove packaging situated in Sri Lanka and serving as a major exporter to the UK.

THE CHALLENGE

Glove packaging in the era of growing eco-conscious consumerism

As the demand for sustainable practices intensifies, traditional single-use packaging to protect cleaning and industrial gloves has become an area of environmental concern. Consumer preferences are shifting towards more sustainable products, where incorporating recycled content into packaging is one of the solutions. This is not a straightforward exercise; balancing the incorporation of recycled plastic resins into glove packaging poses a challenge of maintaining low odor and aesthetic appeal as well as meeting stringent export market requirements for post-consumer recycled content in the final packaging product

In response to the UK Plastic Tax on manufacturers or importers, Lanka Plastic sought a solution with sustainable benefits. However, Ecoplast, their film supplier, faced technical hurdles with various PCR resin suppliers, necessitating a strategic partnership and innovative approach to overcome these challenges.

SOLUTION

Collaboration sets new standards in performance of glove packaging designed for circularity

Together, Dow and Ecoplast Ltd accepted the challenge to create glove packaging designed for circularity. Our innovative solution came in the form of REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins. The specific recycled resin not only addressed challenges related to reduced odor, consistent color – among additional benefits in the production stage – but it also became a catalyst for successful commercialization in glove packaging for export markets.

Derived from locally-sourced flexible packaging waste films in India, the selected product grade incorporated 60% post-consumer recycled material. Our experts helped optimize film structure design and processing conditions, ensuring that the final product would meet all technical requirements. Ecoplast, leveraging its extensive knowledge and experience in polymer processing, played a pivotal role in achieving the desired mechanical and optical properties.

As a result of bringing together diverse skillsets and know-how, Lanka Plastic successfully delivered glove packaging that surpassed export market requirements, incorporating 30% post-consumer recycled plastics content in the end product without compromising functionality or aesthetics.

This project is a testament to the evolution of finding the balance between performance and sustainability, offering a compelling example of circularity in packaging within the global plastic industry.

Learn more about REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastics Resins