We embrace our responsibility to promote the health of the environment for future generations.
Imagining and Delivering on the Promise of a Sustainable Future
Protecting the environment is not only the right thing to do – it is important to our customers, their customers and our business. We work continuously to better the planet: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and waste while building on our legacy of recycling, responsible sourcing, sustainable forestry and water stewardship. Our approach to sustainability also helps us ensure the long-term availability of the raw materials critical to our operations, including high-quality wood fiber and clean water.
Promise of a Sustainable Future
Our commitments to bettering the planet:
- Implement a multi-faceted, strategic approach to managing and reducing emissions in alignment with our science-based target, validated by the Science Based Target initiative.
- Promote sustainable forestry through both direct management of our forestlands and conservation initiatives with private landowners.
- Lead in water stewardship through strategic partnerships, a global employee education campaign and enhanced water management systems at all mills.
Reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 market-based emissions from a 2019 baseline
Emissions intensity reduction since 2015
Use of energy
Energy is essential to powering WestRock’s operations. We are working to improve the energy efficiency of our operations, optimize costs, and build on our use of renewables to become more sustainable, both environmentally and as a business.Reduction in use of coal since 2015
Energy produced from a renewable source
Waste reduction and recycling
Many of WestRock’s customers have goals around plastic reduction. We provide alternatives: packaging solutions made from materials that are renewable, often recyclable and in some cases, compostable. We’re one of the largest recyclers in North America, and we look constantly for ways we, and our customers, can minimize waste and increase reuse or recyclability of materials.
Recycling Partnerships at WestRock
WestRock is driving the transition to a more circular economy through cutting-edge innovation in our communities
FY22 Energy Mix
Tons of recyclables recovered most of which is then converted into new paper products in 2022
Responsible sourcing
Maintaining a stable, sustainable supply chain is vital to WestRock’s success. We require our suppliers to adhere to high standards of business conduct, labor rights, environmental compliance, quality and service, and to comply with applicable laws, legal requirements and regulations of the countries where they do business. Our corporate Procurement and Sustainability teams ensure our procurement practices align with WestRock’s sustainability goals. In 2022, we exceeded our goal to spend $975 million annually with small and diverse-owned suppliers by 2025.Spent with diverse-owned and small suppliers in 2022
Global suppliers
Sustainable forestry and biodiversity
Our future depends on healthy forests. They provide the key raw material for our business, and they are an indispensable natural resource: providing refuge for biodiversity and wildlife, protecting water, soil and air quality, and providing recreation and beauty.
We work with landowners in North America and elsewhere to help them practice sound forest management, and we manage WestRock’s direct landholdings in Brazil using sustainable practices that are certified to global third-party certification standards.
of wholly owned fiber-based manufacturing facilities are chain-of-custody certified to internationally recognized standards such as SFI®, PEFC™ and FSC®
Landholdings in Brazil
Water stewardship
Water is a vital resource. We are implementing a global employee education campaign to create a common understanding of the importance of responsible water use. We continue to investigate options for increasing water recycling and efficiency and reduce the amount of water we use.
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