Sustainability Report 2024

At DS Smith, sustainability is integral to our circular business model and we can have the greatest positive impact by helping to create a low carbon, circular economy.

2023/24 Performance Highlights 

Circularity

• Over 1.2 billion pieces of plastic replaced with recyclable alternatives since 2020/21.
• Over 100,000 packaging design decisions influenced by our Circular Design Metrics since their launch.
• Around 4,000 solutions presented to our customers featuring our Circular Design Metrics each month.
• 19% reduction in waste to landfill compared to last year.
• 90% of our new packaging specifications uniquely optimised for individual customer supply chains.

Carbon

• 5% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to last year.
• 19% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019/20 base year.
• €90 million investment to transition Rouen mill to biomass waste saving c. 99,000 tonnes CO2e
• 42% of our purchased goods and services emissions generated by strategic suppliers either with, in the process of setting a science-based target.

People & Communities

• 100% of our in-scope sites have completed the Sedex SAQ strengthening our human rights due diligence.
• 100% of our in-scope sites participated in community activities.
• 262 sites with zero lost time accidents this year.
• 12% reduction in employee lost time accidents compared to last year.
• 96^th percentile social dimension score in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment included in the S&P 2024 Yearbook for the second year running.

Nature

• All our 14 paper mills completed biodiversity activities.
• 10% reduction in water abstracted for use in own process per tonnes of production compared to last year at paper mills in water stressed areas.
• Three biodiversity assessments across two forests helping us to begin to measure and improve biodiversity.
• Began EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) preparation, including assessing our obligations and a risk analysis exercise.
• Began to assess how our business interfaces with the environment to prepare to set targets to regenerate nature, taking a science-based approach.

DS Smith ESG Databook 2024

Our databook is prepared to supplement the sustainability report for stakeholders who require a greater level of quantitative detail about the non-financial performance of DS Smith.

Net Zero Transition Plan 

Our Net Zero Transition Plan communicates the targets, actions and resources that we are deploying to enable the transformation to ‘Net Zero’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

Sustainability Report 2024 is our progress update on delivering against our Now & Next Sustainability Strategy, focused on the sustainability challenges we face today, as well as those that will impact future generations.