Sonoco’s Sustainability Report 2025 highlights significant progress in climate action, renewable energy adoption, operational efficiency, circular economy initiatives, and water stewardship as the company advances toward its long-term net-zero ambitions. Guided by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-aligned commitments, Sonoco is pursuing a comprehensive decarbonization strategy across its operations and value chain. Scott Byrne is the Vice President of Sustainability and Industry Affairs at Sonoco.
Sonoco, a leader in metal and fiber consumer and industrial packaging with annual revenue of $7.5 billion, has committed to reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030 from a 2020 baseline, alongside a 13.5 percent reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.
Within its Metal Packaging EMEA business, Sonoco has adopted a more aggressive roadmap targeting a 50 percent emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. By 2025, this division had already achieved more than a 26 percent reduction in emissions. Sonoco is also targeting a 50 percent reduction in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 2030 through advanced abatement technologies and manufacturing process improvements.
Renewable Energy Investments Drive Emissions Reductions
A major contributor to Sonoco’s decarbonization strategy is its 15-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with ENGIE North America for the Big Sampson Wind Project in Texas. The agreement secures 140 megawatts of wind energy capacity and is expected to generate approximately 500,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, Sonoco Sustainability Report 2025 indicated.
The project is projected to offset around 83 percent of Sonoco’s U.S. electricity consumption and deliver an estimated 19 percent reduction in total corporate greenhouse gas emissions each year. Complementing its wind energy investments, Sonoco now operates six fully solar-powered manufacturing facilities globally.
Sonoco implemented sustainability projects worldwide that collectively reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 15,000 metric tons of CO₂e. A major contributor was the expansion of solar energy through new installations at its corporate campus in Hartsville, South Carolina, and a facility in Ciriè, Italy. The Hartsville solar project is expected to reduce emissions by 2,276 metric tons of CO₂e annually, while the Italian installation is projected to cut emissions by 230 metric tons of CO₂e.
The company’s rooftop solar installation in South Carolina generates approximately 7.5 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, supporting localized clean energy production and reducing reliance on conventional power sources. Overall renewable energy consumption reached 6,632,579 MMBtu in 2025, demonstrating continued expansion of clean energy use across operations.
Sonoco is advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives at its Hartsville, South Carolina paper complex. A new solar panel project is expected to generate approximately 7.5 million kWh of renewable electricity annually, helping reduce reliance on conventional energy sources. In addition, the company upgraded its compressed air system, which is projected to save around 1.27 million kWh of electricity each year. The efficiency improvement will also cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 333 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent annually.
Energy Efficiency Projects Deliver Measurable Results
Sonoco implemented 17 energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects during 2025, eliminating approximately 15,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Compressed air system upgrades across multiple facilities reduced electricity consumption by 2,846,518 kilowatt-hours annually and prevented approximately 1,334 metric tons of carbon emissions. The installation of regenerative braking systems on industrial equipment generated 675,976 kilowatt-hours of reusable electricity each year by capturing kinetic energy during operations.
To scale efficiency gains globally, Sonoco established a Global Energy Council that oversees deployment of energy-saving technologies, including LED lighting retrofits, biogas capture systems, and advanced industrial optimization solutions designed to lower energy intensity and improve manufacturing performance.
Scope 3 Strategy Targets Supply Chain and Logistics Emissions
Beyond direct operations, Sonoco is addressing value-chain emissions through targeted Scope 3 reduction initiatives. A key focus is transportation decarbonization, with the company increasingly shifting freight movements from road transportation to intermodal rail networks. Rail transport is typically three to four times more fuel-efficient than trucking, helping reduce logistics-related emissions.
The company is also integrating renewable energy procurement into its supply chain strategy to lower the embodied carbon footprint of packaging materials. Standardized life-cycle assessments have been introduced across product portfolios to evaluate environmental impacts from raw material sourcing through manufacturing, distribution, and end-of-life management, enabling more precise emissions tracking and reduction planning.
Circular Economy and Water Stewardship Strengthen Sustainability Framework
Circular economy principles remain central to Sonoco’s sustainability strategy. The company continues to expand fiber-based packaging recovery infrastructure while supporting paper and metal recycling initiatives that promote closed-loop material systems. Product design improvements aimed at enhancing recyclability and reducing material waste are further supporting resource efficiency goals.
In water stewardship, Sonoco has committed to reducing absolute water consumption at its global paper mills by 3 percent by 2030 and 5 percent by 2040. These targets are supported by facility-level water risk assessments that identify priority sites and guide conservation efforts, helping improve resilience in water-intensive manufacturing operations.
Through large-scale renewable energy procurement, emissions reduction programs, circular economy initiatives, and resource conservation strategies, Sonoco is building a scalable pathway toward net-zero emissions while strengthening long-term environmental sustainability across its global operations.
SHAFANA FAZAL