Where some see a pile of old newspapers, Sonoco sees a valuable raw material for creating new packaging. Where empty wooden reels are almost always discarded, Sonoco reclaims, refurbishes and reuses them, saving thousands of trees every year as a result.

At Sonoco, we have a history of doing what is right, not what is easy. Environmental concerns are an integral part of our business. Products are specifically designed to incorporate recycled materials. Inefficient processes are constantly evaluated to eliminate needless waste and reduce energy consumption. We partner with others outside the company so that far-reaching solutions can be achieved.

One of the simplest, yet most powerful examples of Sonoco's environmental stewardship is its use of recycled paper. As one of world's largest consumers of recovered paper, Sonoco collects and recycles approximately three million tons annually at sites throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Nearly all of the paper products we manufacture rely on recovered paper as the primary raw material. Most of the paperboard we make is used internally by our converting operations to make composite canisters for snack foods, powdered beverages, frozen juices and cleansers; tubes and cores for textiles, tapes and films; and protective packaging for everything from appliances to home electronics.

Sonoco aggressively pursues partnerships with municipalities, retail outlets such as supermarkets, manufacturers and others who generate large volumes of recoverable paper. We often provide everything necessary to collect recyclables, including equipment; a baling service for corrugated, tubes and other grades of paper; and scheduling pickups at single sites or multiple locations.

Our experience in recycling has helped others become more effective and efficient in their own recycling efforts. Through a partnership with Richland County in South Carolina, Sonoco collects and processes multiple recyclables at a state-of-the-art facility we designed and constructed. The net result is a system that meets both the county's environmental and budgetary goals.