The UK packaging solutions provider, DS Smith has raised the ambitions of its Now & Next Sustainability Strategy to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, Circular Economy.
Partnering with its customers, the team has already replaced 762 million ‘problem plastics’ with fibre-based alternatives since 2020 and has created more than 30,000 circular-ready projects through its Circular Design Metrics.
In tandem, and in line with its goals to decarbonise, this year DS Smith reduced CO2 emissions by 10% as well as achieving a 4% reduction in water abstraction within paper mills in areas at risk of water stress. Since Now & Next launched, the business has met nine of its 26 targets, with an additional three targets tracking ahead of schedule.
These ambitions have since been raised with a set of focused targets to accelerate progress. Created with independent experts, the new Now & Next commitments will prioritise circularity, accelerate the journey to Net Zero, and strengthen the business’ focus on people and communities, and nature.
Miles Roberts, group chief executive at DS Smith, said: “We have made good progress with our Now & Next Sustainability Strategy, but the world around us demands that we all do more. That is why we are taking action today to ensure our commitments deliver at pace in a rapidly changing world and accelerate our transition to a low carbon, circular economy.”
Key developments in the Now & Next strategy and targets include:
- Testing up to five reuse pilots and continue to manufacture 100% recyclable and reusable packaging by 2025.
- Reducing Scope 1,2, and 3 GHG emissions by 46% compared to 2019/20 by 2030.
- Encouraging 100% of our strategic suppliers to set their own science-based targets by 2027.
- Reach Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050.
In terms of setting goals for nature, by 2025, DS Smith aims to measure and improve biodiversity in its own forests and assess its dependencies on nature, set targets to regenerate nature taking a science-based approach, and by 2030 hitting a 10% reduction in water-withdrawal intensity at mills at risk of water stress compared to 2019.
Miles continued: “To address climate change, it is critical we adopt low carbon, renewable, energy sources. But we must also address how we make and use things in our everyday lives, by moving to the Circular Economy.
“Through our Circular Design Principles, we already act as the gateway to the circular economy for our customers, helping some of the world’s most recognisable FMCG brands meet their sustainability goals, alongside our own.”
