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Awards, Certifications & Memberships

Sonoco's achievements confirm that our actions and performance are at the highest level with our peers and with the best companies in the world.

Awards and Recognition

2023

  • Silver Medal rating by EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains
  • Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023 by Newsweek
  • Named a "Best for Vets" company by Military Times
  • Honored by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) with the Innovation in Sustainability Award for its renewable natural gas project in partnership with GreenGas USA
  • 2023 Ameristar Sustainability Excellence Award Winner for the Sonoco Alloyd Pentel® R.S.V.P.® PaperBlister™

Certifications and Memberships

  • Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS)
  • American Forest and Paper Association
  • AMERIPEN
  • Association of Plastics Recyclers
  • Carbon Disclosure Project
  • Carolina Recycling Association
  • CELAB North America
  • Center for Advance Purchasing Studies
  • Confederation of European Paper Industries
  • EcoVadis
  • Environmental Education Association of South Carolina
  • EPS Industry Alliance
  • Flexible Packaging Europe
  • Flexible Packaging Association
  • Foodservice Packaging Institute
  • Forest Stewardship Council®
  • Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council
  • INCPEN
  • Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
  • National Council for Air and Stream Improvement
  • National Minority Supplier Development Council
  • National Veterans Business Supplier Development Council
  • Northeast Recycling Council
  • Operation Clean Sweep
  • Paper and Packaging Board
  • PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies)
  • Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
  • The Recycling Association
  • South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
  • South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance
  • Southeast Recycling Development Council
  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative®
  • Sustainable Packaging Coalition
  • US Compost Council
  • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
  • 4Evergreen

Our membership in various industry trade organizations keeps us informed of relevant industry trends and developments. We exercise no control or influence over any political activities of such organizations. Our Company policies restrict engagement in political activities, and we have a long-standing policy against political contributions. For more information about our policies, please see our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Anti-Bribery and Corrupt Practices Act Policy, which are available through the Investor Relations section of our website at investor.sonoco.com.

Our Fiber Certifications

Sonoco is committed to responsible use of natural resources through responsible sourcing, recycling and use of recycled fiber in our paper-based packaging.  Sonoco’s U.S., Canadian, U.K., Brazilian and one of our Mexican mills are certified to one or more fiber certification programs.  These are:  the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification® (PEFC®) Chain of Custody and Due Diligence System Standards.  Additionally, we have plants in our paper container packaging, industrial tubes & cores, and primary packaging carton operations that are certified to these programs and can produce certified packaging.  Overall sales (certified and not) by these mills and fiber certified plants is equal to 15% of Sonoco’s revenue.

All but three of our 19 global paperboard mills use 100% recycled fiber in their production.  Some amount of responsibly-sourced virgin fiber is needed for select grades of paperboard.  The amount of recycled fiber in our paper containers range from 60 to 80+ percent, depending on the product specifications for the package.  On average, the amount of recycled fiber used in our industrial tubes and cores exceeds 95 percent.

FSC Chain of Custody Certificate (89.93 KB) Sustainable Forestry Initiative Chain of Custody Certificate (295.07 KB) PEFC Chain of Custody Certificate (111.29 KB) Sustainable Forestry Initiative Chain of Custody Management Standard Certificate (297.58 KB)

Sonoco is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact.

As a participant of the UN Global Compact, Sonoco Products Company voluntarily commits to operate in alignment with universal sustainability principles in four areas:

  • Human rights
  • Labor
  • Environment
  • Anti-corruption

Our Commitment

Read a letter from Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco Products Company, expressing the company's commitment to the UN Global Compact.

Sonoco's Letter of Commitment (78.55 KB)

Let's strive for excellence together.