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Bettering the planet

WestRock bettering the planet WestRock bettering the planet through sustainability

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.
Download the 2022 Report
Sustainable Practices Make Sustainable Packaging

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.
 
GHG EMISSIONS

We recognize our responsibility to contribute to the fight against climate change by increasing the ambition of our emissions-reduction efforts. That’s why we have committed to a science-based target to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 27.5%[1] by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel and energy activities, upstream and downstream transportation and distribution, and end of life treatment of sold products by 27.5% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.

[1] Target boundary includes biogenic emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

5.6%

Reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 market-based emissions from a 2019 baseline

16%

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.
42.6%

Reduction in use of coal since 2015

62%

Energy produced from a renewable source

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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

7.0M

Tons of recyclables recovered most of which is then converted into new paper products in 2022

WestRock at a glance
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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.
$1B

Spent with diverse-owned and small suppliers in 2022

43,000

Global suppliers

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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.

100%

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

Total: 54,432 hectares (134,504 acres)
Learn More About Sustainable Forestry

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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