Smurfit Kappa receives top sustainability award

Smurfit Kappa’s work in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been recognised with a top industry award.

The business has won a Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the 2017 Porafolio Awards for its work in building a sustainably society. The awards event is held each year in Columbia to recognise people and companies which have demonstrated extremely high achievements in the realms of environment, customer service, business, and social initiatives. Some of the world’s leading brands gathered at the event, along with Columbia’s president, Juan Manual Santos.

Alvaro Henao, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Colombia, said: “We are excited and proud to receive this award. It recognises Smurfit Kappa Group´s commitment to initiatives that help improve the environment and develop the communities in which we operate.

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“At Smurfit Kappa, we believe in sustainability in every fibre and this includes running our plants and mills in a sustainable way and being socially responsible.”

CSR is an integral part of Smurfit Kappa’s ongoing and ever-evolving global sustainability program, with the company heavily investing in the economic and social development of the communities in which it operates.

The five strategies pillars of the company’s commitment to sustainability are: people, forest, climate change, water, and waste. Smurfit Kappa engages with and actively supports people in local communicates to build a sustainable future. Examples of the successful initiatives delivered by the company include:

• Schools and education programmes in Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Poland and Venezuela
• Vocational training and work placements in Norway
• Recycling workshops in Spain and the Czech Republic
• Conservation projects to protect the flora and fauna in forests and plantations in Colombia
• Environmental clean-up of local area in Russia.

This latest award follows on from Smurfit Kappa ranking in the top 1% of Ecovadis’ worldwide sustainability ratings earlier this year.