Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Food Waste

Environmental Achievements

• Not disclosed

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Global food waste of 1.3 billion tonnes per year, projected to increase to 2.1 billion tonnes by 2030.
• Food waste contributes approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• High food waste in developed countries due to expiry dates, promotions, and pack sizes.
• Aesthetic standards leading to produce rejection.
• Inadequate storage and infrastructure in developing countries.

Mitigation Strategies

• Collaborative approach across the food value chain.
• Calls to action for governments, consumers, and industry.
• Emerging innovations like shelf life extension technology, AI, innovative packaging, and surplus food platforms.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• More flexible supplier contracts
• Improved demand forecasting
• Collaboration on waste reduction initiatives

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Consumer backlash

Opportunities

• Reducing food waste to mitigate climate change

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 12.3

Reducing food waste contributes to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Upcycled products
• Innovative packaging

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Governance
• Community Engagement
• Sustainable Packaging

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced normalized greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25% since 2009
• Committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2020 base year
• Committed to reducing absolute scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5% from a 2019 base year
• Project Horizon: Reduced electricity consumption by 16% and total water usage by 25% in the US and Canada paper mill system.
• Expanded recovery and recycling of scrap materials from EnviroCan™ production, recycling an estimated 165 truckloads of scrap annually into paperboard.

Social Achievements

• Launched Sonoco University, providing educational courses and training programs to associates; close to 10,000 students benefited from over 5,000 courses.
• Implemented new safety protocols and procedures across all facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 6% decline in total recordable injuries and over 40% reduction in lost days.
• Increased diversity spend to approximately 10% of total supplier spend in the U.S. and Canada.
• Hosted first Week of Understanding, with over 1,400 employees participating in diversity and inclusion events.

Governance Achievements

• Sonoco’s Board is comprised of 12 independent members (86%), with 100% of members of key committees being independent.
• Added three new independent Directors over the past two years.
• 96.1% of shareholders voted in favor of the Company’s “Say on Pay” proposal.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Under-recycling of EnviroCan™ due to limited consumer access to recycling programs.
• Balancing responsible materials sourcing with product and food safety.
• Addressing complex regulatory and policy environment related to sustainability.

Mitigation Strategies

• Investing in internal improvements and external partnerships to increase EnviroCan™ recycling rates.
• Developing innovative packaging solutions that reduce packaging waste and improve recyclability (e.g., EnviroSense® line, EOS line, FiberMax™ packaging).
• Promoting collaborations with industry partners and stakeholders to improve end-of-life solutions for packaging.
• Investing in Project Horizon to become the lowest cost producer of recycled paperboard globally.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier Diversity Program

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• EnviroSense® line of packaging
• EnviroCan™ paper container
• EOS line of curbside recyclable temperature-controlled packaging
• FiberMax™ Bulk Box and Master Roll packaging
• Natrellis™ dual-ovenable meal bowls

Awards & Recognition

• Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies (2021)
• Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies (2021)
• Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies (2020)
• Military Times’ 100 Best for Vets

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Circular Economy
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Supply Chain Sustainability
• Employee Safety and Well-being
• Community Engagement
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced normalized greenhouse gas emissions by 25% since 2009
• Recycled or caused to be recycled more than 101% (by weight) of products put in the marketplace in 2021
• Set new Science Based Targets (SBTi) approved goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% and Scope 3 emissions by 13.5% by 2030
• Project Horizon investment to convert Hartsville corrugated medium machine into a state-of-the-art URB mill, increasing use of 100% recycled fiber, reducing water usage by approximately 1 million gallons annually and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
• 74% of rigid plastics portfolio eligible for recyclability claim/label

Social Achievements

• Global workforce is 26% female, and 34% of US employees identify as a racial minority.
• In the US, 44% of 2021 hires were female and 34% were a member of a minority group.
• Spent approximately $1.9 billion with certified, diverse suppliers since 2010.
• Launched internal education series, “In the Loop”, and external series, “Sustainability Unpacked”

Governance Achievements

• Board is 82% independent members
• 100% of members of Audit, Executive Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees are independent
• 99.7% of shareholders voted in favor of the Company’s “Say on Pay” proposal

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Supply chain disruptions
• Inflation
• Continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Commodity price volatility
• Energy price volatility

Mitigation Strategies

• Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
• Purchasing power from certified green energy sources
• Implementing operational excellence processes
• Targeted investments to reduce water usage
• Water risk studies at manufacturing facilities
• Project Horizon investment

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier Sustainability Awards
• Supplier Standards and Code of Conduct
• Supplier Diversity program

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products
• Expansion of circular economy products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
• Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Sonoco's initiatives contribute to these goals through renewable energy investments, sustainable packaging solutions, waste reduction, and emission reduction targets.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• EnviroSense® product line
• Rigid paper containers
• Fiber-based protective packaging
• NIR detectable colorants in thermoform packaging
• FlexSHIELD® compostable coatings

Awards & Recognition

• Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies (first in Packaging sector)
• Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies (four consecutive years)
• Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Circular Economy
• Worker Safety and Health
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Community Engagement

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 8% in 2023
• Reduced emissions intensity (tCO2e / thousand $ revenue) by 2%
• Increased purchases of renewable energy, including investments in solar power projects
• Reduced water withdrawal by 6%
• Reduced waste sent to landfills by 10%

Social Achievements

• Launched a major new safety initiative, 'Do Safety Differently'
• Rolled out Operations Safety Playbook
• Held targeted leadership safety training and updated employee safety training
• Continued investment in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs
• Launched a new Employee Resource Group (ERG), bringing the total to eight
• Spent more than $2.3 billion since 2010 with certified diverse suppliers in the U.S. and Canada

Governance Achievements

• Maintained a majority of independent directors on the Board
• Implemented robust programs to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding ethical business practices
• Implemented a robust whistleblower reporting system, the Business Conduct Hotline

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Potential increases in frequency and severity of weather-related events
• Regulatory responses to climate change

Mitigation Strategies

• Developing business continuity plans
• Implementing programs to enhance the sustainability of operations

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier Standards requiring adherence to relevant laws and regulations, including those governing human rights, fair compensation, working hours, child labor, and forced labor.
• Supplier Diversity Program

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Potential increases in frequency and severity of weather-related events

Transition Risks

• Regulatory responses to climate change

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards, SASB Containers and Packaging metrics, TCFD framework

Certifications: FSC, SFI, PEFC, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 22000:2018, ISO/TS 22002-4:2013, FSSC 22000

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• EnviroFlex® Paper products
• Sonopost® corner posts
• Sonoco Natrellis® line of bowls and trays

Awards & Recognition

• AmeriStar Packaging award for Pentel® RSVP Pen PaperBlister™ package
• PackExpo People’s Choice Award for Pentel® RSVP Pen PaperBlister™ package