Smurfit Kappa is proud to announce that its support of and contribution to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been recognised by Support the Goals. The company is the first FTSE 100 company to receive a five star rating. The SDGs are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Agreed in 2015 by world leaders, these goals can only be achieved with the support of businesses. Support the Goals is a global initiative that was established to rate and recognise those businesses that support the SDGs to work towards a more sustainable future. A five star rating is only awarded to companies who are actively involving their suppliers in their efforts towards reaching these goals. For most businesses, a significant amount of their environmental and social impact comes from the supply chain, therefore it is vitally important to help suppliers understand and support the SDGs.

Huhtamaki, a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, is making a significant investment in its Paris, Texas facility in the U.S. The investment consists of an expansion of its manufacturing capacity as well as a consolidation of an external warehouse. The investment into production assets is approximately USD 30 million, and the warehouse and manufacturing facility will be leased. This will significantly increase the North America business segment’s capacity in folding cartons to support the growth of the Foodservice business. Production is expected to start ramping up in Q1 2025 and will be key to servicing the growth of existing customers and a growing list of up-and-coming customers throughout the Southern and Midwestern states. The Paris facility is uniquely positioned to meet the increased demand in the U.S. for more innovative and sustainable folding cartons which provide convenient, safe and hygienic food for busy consumers. The site is expected to employ up to 80 employees within the first three years.

Greif, Inc. announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Ipackchem Group SAS ("Ipackchem"). "We are thrilled to welcome an exceptional 1,400 Ipackchem colleagues to Greif," said Ole Rosgaard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif. "Adding Ipackchem to the Greif portfolio is another key step forward in executing our Build to Last strategy and helps unlock significant new capabilities and market opportunities to further grow as a world leader in high-performance small plastic containers and jerrycans. Our teams have been planning our integration strategy over the past several months, which we will begin implementing immediately post-closing to drive incremental benefits, support future growth, and capture our targeted $7 million of synergies. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to every member of the Greif and Ipackchem team for their unparalleled dedication and excellent collaboration in planning post acquisition integration.”