Graphic Packaging issues 2024 Impact Report

Packaging Solutions Green Solutions

Graphic Packaging has released its 2024 Impact Report. The report highlights the company’s progress toward its ‘Better by 2030’ commitments announced last year, as part of a multi-year ‘Better, Every Day’ sustainability initiative.

Grounded in its Vision 2030 business strategy, Graphic Packaging’s Better by 2030 sustainability goals outline actions the company is taking to:

• create better packaging designed to drive circularity.

• do better for people through safer work environments, engaging employees and local community involvement.

• shape a better future for the planet by reducing its environmental footprint and sustaining forests.

‘Our Vision 2030 strategy places more focus than ever on innovation across our business,’ said president and chief executive officer Michael Doss. ‘Combined with our foundational commitment to sustainability, we are positioned to meet growing global demand for packaging innovations that are more circular, more functional and more convenient than existing alternatives.’

Better by 2030 includes near term climate action goals that the company is taking to advance its aspiration of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 (in accordance with the Paris Agreement and U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 13). These goals include validated science based targets to reduce GHG emissions across the company’s operations and value chain, as well as commitments to increase the use of renewable fuel and electricity.

‘We identified several ways to make sizeable GHG reductions, including upgrading to more efficient biomass boilers and steam turbines for cogeneration of steam and electricity at two of our wood based paperboard manufacturing facilities,’ said vice president and chief sustainability officer Michelle Fitzpatrick. ‘We are also exploring options to switch to 50% or more renewable electricity across all of our operations.’

Graphic Packaging’s first VPPA, announced in 2024, supports planned solar projects in Spain and is expected to come online in late 2025. This will enable packaging operations in Europe to match 70% of the region’s total electricity demand with renewable energy attribute certificates.