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Blog, Sustainability

Waste Diversion Target Reached a Year Early in Three Regions

In 2017, we set a goal to divert 90 percent of waste from Greif production facilities from landfill by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. We were extremely proud to have achieved this goal a year early in APAC, EMEA, and LATAM!   

We also made progress on our 2030 waste target, with 49 facilities achieving zero waste-to-landfill status! 

Reaching this target early is a fantastic achievement for all involved and demonstrates how when we come together to act with environmental responsibility, we can lead from the front within the global industry.  

Here are a few quotes from regional leadership and facility teams, bringing us insight into their success stories: 

Jason Ashworth, EMEA Regional CI Manager, said: 

“The journey of our EMEA plants to reach our 2025 waste target was achieved through marginal gains. We prioritized our largest opportunities and continuously followed up each quarter to track improvements and opportunities. Back in 2017, our waste was ~1500T to landfill (~3%) on an annual basis, with several sites not achieving the waste goal. However, by FY23, our landfill waste had been reduced to 391T, with EMEA achieving the 2025 goal and sending <1% waste to landfill as a region.” 

Facundo Mercado, LATAM Engineer, said: 

“I am very proud of the progress made by the LATAM facilities where 100 percent have achieved the 2025 waste goal, with our facilities improving 50% of their waste reduction in FY23 versus in FY22.” 

Jason Low, Operations Manager, Petaling Jaya, stated: 

“We’re aligned with the Protecting Our Future mission of the Build to  

Last Strategy, and we will continue our journey in achieving Greif’s 2030 sustainability targets. We are eager for more support from Greif in terms of training and resources for this sustainability knowledge and skills.” 

Next, Greif’s focus must turn to our 2030 target: reaching zero waste-to-landfill at 97 percent of our production facilities. 

We will continue making progress across all facilities, collaborating globally to navigate difficult-to-divert waste streams. 

Greif 2030 Sustainability Targets

2030 SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS

These targets set specific and measurable goals that build on the company’s announcement in 2021 to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 28% by the end of the decade.

The broader sustainability focus for the company continues to be advancing a circular economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and championing diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives.

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Target One: Waste

97%

Reach Zero Waste to Landfill at 97% of its Production Facilities

By reducing, recycling, composting, reusing, and incinerating with energy recovery, Greif targets 97% of its production facilities achieving zero-waste to landfills by 2030.

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Target Two: Circularity

100%

Make 100% of its Products Recyclable 

Working across a vast portfolio of raw materials and products, Greif recyclability targets will be benchmarked by weight, and consolidated at a company level.

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Target Three: CIRCULARITY

60%

Achieve an Average of 60% Recycled Raw Material Content Across Products

Recycled content targets for Greif products are minimum averages benchmarked across a portfolio of materials and products by weight, consolidated at a company level.

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Target Four: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

=

Attain Global Gender Pay Parity

Greif is on track to ensure colleagues receive equal pay for equal work by 2024 and is committed to maintaining gender pay parity.

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Target Five: Suppliers

80%

Evaluate the Sustainability Performance for 80% of Total Spend with Suppliers

By aiming to increase the evaluation of the sustainability performance of its suppliers, Greif can have a greater impact across its value chain.

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Taking Action: Waste Reduction at Greif

Greif is on a mission to reduce operational waste, supporting the transition to a circular economy in the process. As part of our Build to Last Strategy, we are working to advance closed-loop and zero-waste processes across our global operations.  

We’ve created additional business opportunities by strategically managing the return of customer waste in Industry Products Group and Recovered Fiber Group’s facilities,  

in addition to managing our customers’ used products through our Life Cycle Services business, allowing for the processing and sale of recycled materials and reconditioned products. 

In 2023, more than 88% of Greif’s global waste was recycled back into the market and away from landfills. 

We closely monitor this percentage of waste-to-landfill by business unit as a KPI in monthly facility reports.  

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