Working to reduce GHG emissions throughout Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s value chain
2023 marked the first year that Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA measured its Scope 3 GHG emissions, which account for 90% of our total carbon footprint. Most of these emissions are generated in the upstream portion of our value chain, in the manufacturing of metal inputs.
Metal: an endlessly sustainable material
Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s products are made of metal, an endlessly recyclable material that is easy to sort and does not deteriorate during the recycling process. An estimated 80% of the metal ever produced from raw materials is still in use today. Moreover, the energy required to recycle metal represents a fraction of the energy used in the production of materials from newly mined ore. These unique properties make metal an optimal packaging solution for a truly circular economy. The recycling properties of metal are leveraged significantly across Europe, where currently 78.5% of used metal is recycled (based on the new EU calculation methodology).
Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s downstream value chain: Contributing to the reduction of food waste
The advantages of metal as a packaging solution provide a powerful tool to the food manufacturing and distribution value chain. According to a report published by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) in 2021, up to 10% of global GHG emissions are attributable to food that is produced but not eaten.
Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s products provide a solution for attenuating waste throughout the food value chain, for our customers who manufacture and transport packaged food products; for retailers who stock and sell the finished product; and for end-consumers who ultimately store and eat the canned goods they purchase.
Canned food products contribute significantly to more efficient transportation and distribution logistics
Foods packaged in metal containers do not require refrigeration, and thus do not make use of the food industry’s cold chain.
The properties of canned food enable retailers to optimise inventory management on several fronts, including storage and the elimination of issues related to food spoilage.
Canned products have a shelf life of seven to ten years, during which the food they contain remains fresh and its nutrients are preserved. The properties of canned food also enable consumers to cut down on food waste at home.
Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s upstream value chain: Addressing the carbon-intensity of steel production
While metal offers huge sustainability advantages to the food packaging industry, the carbon-intensity of its production poses sustainability challenges. Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA’s Scope 3 GHG emissions account for 90% of our carbon footprint, originating almost entirely in the production of metal.
Consequently, we ensure that the upstream portion of our value chain is engaged in finding solutions for the production of low-carbon steel.
At Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA, responsible sourcing of metal is a primary focus of our purchasing activities. Our suppliers work on several fronts to reduce the carbon intensity of metal production, and in particular, tinplate. Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA requires third party certification of sustainable sourcing and production from all our metal suppliers.
ESG Report 2023
Explore our ESG Sustainability Report for 2023 to learn more about our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance actions aimed at fostering a sustainable future.
