Sonoco will be the packaging industry leader in creating, maintaining and enhancing a sustainable future that benefits all of its stakeholders through:
- Continuous improvement in operating performance
- Social responsibility
- Environmental stewardship
Climate Change

Sonoco recognizes its responsibility to address the challenges of climate change. As a result, the Company maintains an environmental management system that measures the environmental performance of our operating facilities around the world. We measure energy usage, greenhouse gas and other air emissions, water consumption and waste generation. In addition to required regulatory disclosures, we annually report our environmental performance to the Carbon Disclosure Project and other external sustainability rating organizations. We are committed to providing open, ongoing communications about our sustainability goals and progress. We also will continue working in partnership with our suppliers and customers to address issues involving climate change.
Areas of focus
Sonoco's climate change policy has three primary areas of focus:
- Reducing Sonoco's overall environmental footprint
- Reducing the carbon emissions related to the products we manufacture and services we provide
- Developing industry partnerships and other cooperative arrangements that encourage awareness and actions related to global warming issues
These focus areas are closely aligned with our sustainability goals and are integrated into the way we operate and grow our businesses.
Goals and targets
Establishing 2008 as the baseline year, Sonoco has committed to reducing normalized GHG emissions by 15% from our global manufacturing facilities by 2014. To meet this goal, Sonoco expects to reduce energy and carbon emissions through targeted investments and initiatives.
Sonoco has a strong record in the area of corporate sustainability, reflecting the Company’s recognition that sustainability is an important issue to our customers, shareholders, employees and other key stakeholders. More
Sonoco is working to shrink the environmental footprint at each of its more than 300 manufacturing plants in 34 countries. More
Sonoco’s goal is to create sustainable value for the Company and its customers by enhancing use of sustainable packaging solutions and using more sustainable materials. More
Sonoco believes it has a responsibility to address critical social issues in the communities where we operate and to seek partnerships with other community stakeholders to effect necessary change. More