Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024, Barcelona, Spain
Sonoco’s European Sustainability Managers detail the circular journey of the award-winning Pringles Paper Bottom Can solution.
Sustainability
Better for the planet. Better for business.
Sustainability
At Sonoco, we believe people build business by doing the right thing—driving better innovations, better outcomes and, ultimately, better lives. This belief, rooted in our core and reflected in our approach, produces packaging leaders who design and operate with tomorrow in mind. This benchmark for sustainable success isn’t just a goal, but our duty, a promise we make to provide accurate, transparent reporting on what matters most.
How We Make Better Happen
Our overarching strategy and commitment to sustainable solutions helps make a real, lasting impact on our business and those we serve.
Key indicators, measuring and reporting systems hold us accountable with goals laid out and defined in all faucets of our business, especially for our emissions, energy and water usage and Better Packaging product solutions.
Emissions & Energy
We’ve set science-based targets to help limit global warming and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions 25% by 2030 (from a 2020 baseline) and reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions 13.5% by 2030 (from a 2019 baseline).
To reach these goals, we invest in energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy sources and intermodal transport and work closely with suppliers to understand emissions impacts and accelerate Scope 3 reductions.
Water
We’re working to reduce water usage at our paper mills by 3% by 2030 and 5% by 2040. We conduct water risk assessments at 100% of our mills—covering more than 90% of our global water usage—and implement process upgrades to reduce, reuse and better treat water across facilities.
Product Carbon Footprint
We use Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to measure and reduce the environmental impact of our products—from raw material sourcing to end-of-life. These insights help us design packaging with a lower carbon footprint and offer customers more sustainable, data-backed choices.
In This Section
- Social
- Governance
- Sustainable Products
- Sustainable Operations
- Reports
In This Section
Social
How we serve our people, support our communities and strengthen the foundation for long-term, shared success.
Governance
Explore the policies, oversight and ethical commitments that guide sustainable business practices around the world.
Sustainable Products
See how we design and deliver packaging solutions that are responsibly sourced, thoughtfully made and built for circularity.
Sustainable Operations
Discover how our facilities, supply chain and practices are evolving to reduce environmental impact at every step.
Reports
Find the latest reports, data and disclosures that keep us accountable, moving forward with transparency.
Double Materiality
Our strategy stems from our Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) aligned double materiality assessment (DMA), completed for the first time in 2024. This process identified nearly a dozen environmental, social and governance practices tied to our business, with nearly two dozen topics deemed material, either for us financially or to our environment and society. For specific information on these categories, download a copy of our Corporate Sustainability Report.
Sustainability Starts with Leadership
Scott Byrne, Our VP of Sustainability
Scott Byrne
Vice President, Global Sustainability at Sonoco
Scott Byrne serves as the Vice President of Global Sustainability at Sonoco, a global packaging solutions leader, committed to improving the lives of customers, teammates and communities. With his background in all aspects of environmental management and sustainability, Byrne helps ensure Sonoco is on the cutting edge of sustainability initiatives.As the immediate past President of…
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Sharing sustainable insights and knowledge around the world
Industry Outreach
Ameripen Annual Summit 2025, Washington, DC
Sonoco VP of Global Sustainability Scott Byrne leads a panel discussion about how U.S. states validate on-pack recyclability claims.
Circular Economy in Practice Panel, CCD Circula Event, Campinas, Brazil
Maria Santiago, Sonoco’s Sustainability Specialist in Brazil, joined a circular economy panel with industry leaders, hosted by the Center of Science for Development (CCD Circula), focusing on circular economy initiatives within the industry.
Global Pet Expo 2025, Orlando, Florida
Sustainability Manager Brittney Carithers details how Sonoco leads the forefront of sustainable pet packaging solutions.
Sustainability Unpacked
Sustainability can be a lot to unpack—but that’s exactly why we created this educational series. As a sustainable packaging and recycling leader, we believe knowledge should be shared beyond industry stages and conference halls.
Sustainability Unpacked breaks down big environmental topics into accessible, engaging content for everyone—because real progress depends on collective understanding, everyday action and a shared commitment to a Better Life.
Ready to start unpacking?
PACKAGING WITH TOMORROW IN MIND
As we continue our journey toward sustainability and sustainable packaging solutions, we’d love to hear from you about our environmental, social and/or governance practices.
To submit an idea or request, click the link below.