Greif Releases 2017 Sustainability Report, Announces 2025 Goals

In conjunction with Earth Day this past week (April 23 2018), Greif Inc., Delaware, Ohio, USA, launched its online 2017 Sustainability Report, which details its 2025 global sustainability goals.

A global leader and industrial packaging solutions provider, Greif’s ninth annual sustainability report demonstrates the company’s commitment to continuous improvement through an integrated approach to environmental and social responsibility.

"Sustainability is defined in the Greif Way as using financial, natural, and human resources wisely without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs," explains Pete Watson, Greif’s president and CEO. "We view sustainability holistically as being good for the environment while also being good for our business, good for our colleagues, and helping us deliver superior customer value."

The online 2017 Sustainability Report features comprehensive pages, interactive charts, and stories of Greif colleagues who demonstrate the epitome of sustainability and "The Greif Way." Highlights from the report include:

• Sustainability strategies, delivering superior customer service, reducing our footprint, addressing risk, valuing our people, advancing the circular economy, financial performance and profitable growth
• Greif’s value chain, and how that relates to stakeholder engagement and materiality. 

The report is prepared in full accordance with the GRI Standards Core guidelines and fulfills the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) annual Communication on Progress (COP).

Additionally, Greif announces that the Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services (RIPS) and Tri-Sure businesses in Brazil were recently awarded the 2017 Michael J. Gasser Sustainability Award, recognizing the successful efforts of the Brazilian team to reduce energy costs and overall environmental impact. By migrating to renewable energy, these operations have experienced a 30% reduction in energy costs on an annual average consumption basis and a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions, significantly reducing Greif's carbon footprint in Brazil in the first year.

"The efforts and accomplishments of the RIPS and Tri-Sure Brazilian teams demonstrate the dedication and ownership our colleagues have toward sustainability," describes Ole Rosgaard, SVP and group president, Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services - Americas, and Global Sustainability. "Our colleagues embody our global commitment of reducing our environmental impacts and risks across our value chain while keeping our products and people safe."

Greif is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services and is pursuing its vision—in industrial packaging, be the best performing customer service company in the world. The company produces steel, plastic and fiber drums, intermediate bulk containers, reconditioned containers, flexible products, containerboard and packaging accessories, and provides filling, packaging, and other services for a wide range of industries. Greif also manages timber properties in the southeastern U.S. The company is strategically positioned in more than 40 countries to serve global as well as regional customers. Additional information is on the company's website.