DeLoach Urges Packaging Industry to Lead Efforts to Improve Sustainability
Sonoco CEO Delivers Keynote Address at Sustainable Packaging Forum
Pittsburgh, Pa. - The global packaging industry must provide leadership to further evolve packaging to become even more sustainable, said Sonoco (NYSE: SON) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., today during a keynote address to the Third Annual Sustainable Packaging Forum.
"Clearly, sustainability is not a fad, and it is unlike any business issue that the packaging industry has faced in the past," said DeLoach. "Consumers are asking, and in some cases demanding, less packaging. Retailers and consumer product companies are increasingly integrating sustainability into their organizations and business strategies while looking to packaging companies to help make their efforts successful. I believe there are very real business opportunities to those companies that can provide leadership."
DeLoach said Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, is working proactively with many of its customers to find new, innovative ways to balance consumers' demand for more sustainable products with requirements for convenience, performance and price.
"Today, each of our business offerings is focused on developing sustainability-related commercial opportunities as a required part of their business plans," said DeLoach. "As an example, we have implemented a new product design process that equally weighs performance, cost and sustainability options to best suit our customers' needs. In addition, we are working with our customers to identify, research and incorporate sustainable materials that can enhance our customers' products. And, we are working with many of our customers to recover and recycle their packaging wastes."
DeLoach pointed out that Sonoco's growing number of sustainability-related business offerings are focused on providing its customers with "cradle-to-cradle" packaging and supply chain services. For example, Sonoco is the world's largest producer of recycled paperboard tubes and cores, composite containers and protective packaging. The Company also offers a variety of flexible packaging, rigid plastic containers and point-of-purchase displays which are produced with less materials and weight to improve their sustainability while reducing costs. Sonoco is also one of the largest recyclers in the packaging industry annually collecting about 3.5 million tons of recyclable materials, including old corrugated containers and other paper, plastics, metals, glass and other materials. The Company's Sonoco Recycling division collects and processes recyclable materials at 46 locations in North America and Europe and has a team of recycling professionals, many of whom are experts in waste reduction and manufacturing process improvement.
For a transcript of Mr. DeLoach's presentation or to find out more information on Sonoco's sustainability products and services, go to Sonoco's Web site at sonoco.com or to sustainabilitysolutions.com.
About Sonoco
Sonoco, founded in 1899, is a global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 325 operations in 35 countries serving customers in 85 nations. Additional information about Sonoco is available at sonoco.com.
Contact: Ginny Jones
843-339-6048
ginny.jones@sonoco.com
