DS Smith environmental scores go up in 2016 CDP results

Encouraging results from the most recent Carbon Disclosure Project

DS Smith is delighted to announce a hat-trick of excellent results in this year’s Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), scoring ‘Management B’ in the Climate Change module, and ‘Leadership A’ in both the Water and Forests section of the annual sustainability benchmark.

The CDP is an internationally recognized independent sustainability benchmarking platform. On an annual basis companies are invited to submit a response, sharing their activities and evidence around the management of a number of high-profile sustainability challenges, including climate change, water and forests.

DS Smith again improved on the previous year’s score in the climate change module, achieving the ‘Management B’ rating. Whilst the CDP new scoring methodology makes direct comparison with previous years’ scores difficult, this is clear continued progress by DS Smith, both in terms of transparency and performance.

Mark Greenwood, Group Sustainability Director said:

This year's score of 'Management B' recognises the 8.1% reduction in CO2e per tonne of production we achieved this past year. It demonstrates that the company is not just talking the talk, but we are also walking the walk.

In the Water module, DS Smith were awarded the ‘Leadership A-‘ rating for their work on water management, aligning with the group’s continued work to lead the way in sustainability.

The scoring takes into account both ability and willingness to share information water consumption, management and discharge, and improvements made in these areas. In their Sustainability Review 2016 DS Smith reported a 13.4% reduction in effluent water discharged per tonne of production last year. Water is a particularly complex issue as it is not just about quantity of water used, but also the quality of the water when it is returned to the ecosystems.

As for water, this is first time that all respondents’ scores have been made public for the forests module so there is no basis for comparison. Nonetheless, DS Smith’s rating of ‘Leadership A-‘ is a strong demonstration of the work DS Smith is doing to ensure sustainable, responsible fibre supply chains.

A number of DS Smith customers are actively working towards net-zero deforestation through the Consumer Goods Forum. A goal we support with our integrated paper and recycling divisions DS Smith using over 90% recycled fibre and sustainably sourced new fibre when the use of virgin fibre is unavoidable.

Iain Simm, Group General Counsel & Company Secretary and chair of DS Smith’s sustainability committee said:

This fantastic set of results across three key sustainability issues is a clear demonstration of the progress we are making, and is evidence that the continued investments we make to operate ever more sustainably are bearing fruit.
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