The Detmold Group has launched its new global sustainability goals, scaling up its targets to source more forest-certified fibre, increase recyclable content in products, maximise recycling and landfill diversion, source increased renewable electricity and achieve net zero emissions.
It said the new sustainability goals ensure the group continues to support customers in making responsible and informed packaging choices by providing both immediate and longer, further-reaching commitments to sustainability globally, with staggered targets from 2025 to 2050.
Detmold Group CEO Sascha Detmold Cox said the new sustainability goals focus on four key pillars:
- Climate: Reducing emissions aligned with global targets
- Nature: Protecting plants, animals, habitat and human health
- Circularity: Reducing waste and operating in a circular economy to eliminate landfill
- Governance: Ensuring transparency and accountability for performance
“Sustainability has been a cornerstone of the Detmold Group and our Detpak and PaperPak brands for more than 75 years, supporting our purpose of making a positive impact for our people, partners, and our planet,” Cox said.
“The Detmold Group’s commitment to sustainability, including reducing waste and designing packaging ranges to be reusable, recyclable and compostable, underpins our dedication to creating a better future and supporting our customers to make sustainable choices.”
As part of the new sustainability goals, the Detmold Group undertook its first Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) environmental performance disclosure in September 2024.
Annual CDP reporting, along with implementing environmental management systems across the group, will drive continuous improvement and support the integration of its environmental strategy.
Cox said the Detmold Group had worked with strategic customers to increase recycled content in products, continued to invest in research and development including its laboratory testing capabilities; and progressed towards its target of producing 95 per cent of its stock range as reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Aligned with its new sustainability goals, the Detmold Group has also flicked the switch to solar energy at its largest production facility in Heshan, China. As its first international solar project, the Detmold Group has installed around 1,000 solar panels over 2,200 square metres, which will generate more than 574 MW of electricity annually.
The Heshan installation has closely followed the installation of rooftop solar at the Regency Park manufacturing site, aligning with the group’s goal to source 30 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2033 and reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 55 per cent.
“We believe the foundations for tomorrow are built today, and therefore we’re striving to continuously improve,” Cox said.
“This includes scaling up our environmental commitments. The Heshan and Regency Park installations are key steps in our journey towards these sustainability goals. These goals will position the group to be an innovative global partner, creating packaging for a better tomorrow.”
The Detmold Group 2025-2050 sustainability goals, indetail, are:
Climate: Reducing emissions aligned with global targets
- Reduce carbon emissions (scope 1 & 2) by 55 per cent by 2033 (2023 baseline and targets to be SBTi approved by 2026)
- 30 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2033
- Net zero emissions by 2050
Nature: Protection of plants, animals, habitat and human health
- More than 95 per cent of fibre sourced from FSC or PEFC certified sources or certified recycled content by 2030
- No deforestation and forest degradation across the Detmold Group supply chain by 2030
- Reduce waste use across Detmold Group operations year-on-year
- 100 per cent of products with no intentionally-added PFAS
Circularity: Reducing waste and operating in a circular economy to eliminate landfill
- More than 95 per cent of stock range designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable
- More than 50 per cent recycled content in packaging by 2030 (by weight in non-food grade primary, secondary & tertiary packaging)
- 10 per cent reduction in waste generated by 2030 (2023 baseline)
- More than 95 per cent of waste (by weight) diverted from landfill
Governance: Transparency and accountability for performance
- Annual CDP performance disclosure and progress reporting against these goals
- Group environmental management system certified to ISO 14001 across all sites globally
- Full compliance with packaging and environmental legislation in markets in which Detmold operates
- Raw materials procured from non-controversial sources
