Packaging company DS Smith has doubled down on its sustainability goals with the aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
An update to the company’s ‘Now and Next’ sustainability strategy – which was first launched in 2020 – also includes a new target to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, compared with 2019 emissions.
Writing in the business’s latest sustainability report, group chief executive Miles Roberts said the brand has achieved a “15% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions” since 2019/20, but is now aiming to strengthen its sustainability efforts further.
It comes after Roberts criticised the UK’s lack of investment in helping businesses be more environmentally-friendly, when he commented ahead of chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s budget in March that the UK should level up its investment in green technologies to match the US and the EU.
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As well as the updated greenhouse gas emissions target DS Smith has also added targets to maintain fully recyclable packaging by 2025. To do so the brand will launch five reuse pilots to help improve its understanding of how it can reach EU Packaging and Waste Regulation targets by 2025.
It has also set new targets to enhance forest biodiversity and assess nature, by focusing on materials that can help reverse nature loss .
The business has met nine of its 26 sustainability and governance targets, including ensuring that 100% of its sites are engaged in community activities each year, and introducing 100 biodiversity projects across Europe.
DS Smith is also ahead on helping customers to take one billion pieces of plastic off supermarket shelves by 2025 but is behind on its target to reduce water withdrawal per tonne compared with 2019.
