Smurfit Westrock Sets New ‘Better Planet’ Targets in Push Toward Circular, Lower-Carbon Packaging

Smurfit Westrock has unveiled a new set of quantified ‘Better Planet’ sustainability targets as part of its 2025 Sustainability Report, outlining expanded commitments across emissions reduction, water management, waste reduction, and community investment.

Smurfit Westrock Introduces New 2030 Sustainability Targets

The packaging company said the new targets reinforce its long-term focus on supporting a lower-carbon, circular economy through paper-based packaging solutions and operational sustainability initiatives.

The new 2030 targets include:

• Reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 28% from a 2019 baseline,
• Cutting water intake at mills by 22%,
• Reducing waste sent to landfill by 24%,
• Investing more than $40 million in social, environmental, and community initiatives by 2030.

Circular Packaging Strategy Supports Customer Sustainability Goals

A central focus of the report is Smurfit Westrock’s Better Planet Packaging initiative, which is designed to help customers improve packaging sustainability, increase circularity, and reduce environmental impact across supply chains.

The initiative is helping customers meet sustainability targets through packaging innovation and collaboration across the value chain.

“At Smurfit Westrock, sustainability is firmly embedded in how we operate,” said Garrett Quinn, Group Head of Sustainability, Branding and Communications at Smurfit Westrock.

“By setting clear, measurable targets and continuing to invest in circular, paper based solutions, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers, manage risk and support the transition to a lower carbon, circular economy.”

Sustainability Investments Focus on Emissions, Water and Waste Reduction

The report also highlights operational projects aimed at improving environmental performance across manufacturing facilities.

Among the examples cited was the achievement of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions at four Smurfit Westrock box plants in France.

The company also detailed major water sustainability investments, including a $30 million upgrade to the wastewater pre-treatment and recycling system at its Solvay mill in New York.

The investment reflects growing industry focus on water stewardship and resource efficiency within paper and packaging manufacturing operations, where water use remains a critical sustainability issue.

Biodiversity and Community Programmes Expand Across Global Operations

Beyond operational targets, Smurfit Westrock is celebrating efforts to expand biodiversity and community-focused programmes through partnerships and educational initiatives.

This includes ongoing work with the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC) to strengthen chain-of-custody standards, alongside a collaboration with the World Wildlife Federation on the Wild Wisdom Biodiversity contest involving schoolchildren in Colombia.

The report positions sustainability as both an environmental priority and a business strategy linked to customer demand, investor expectations, and operational resilience.

“We look for the business case in everything we do, and sustainability is no different,” said Tony Smurfit, President and CEO of Smurfit Westrock.

“Across the markets in which we operate, stakeholders such as customers and investors continue to expect it, and we remain focused on reducing our environmental footprint. I believe that sustainable business is good business.”