PCA 2024 Responsibility Report - Circular Bioeconomy and ESG Performance

Aug 30, 2026

PCA’s 2024 Responsibility Report presents progress, initiatives, goals and achievements across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities for operations from January 1 to December 31. The report outlines a circular bioeconomy approach spanning sustainable forest management, responsible consumption, sustainable manufacturing, and product stewardship. It describes commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050, biodiversity-supporting practices, emissions and resource impacts, and structured governance processes aligned with GRI, SASB, TCFD and TNFD frameworks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages88

Reading Time3 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

About This Report

Executive Statement

Vision and Strategy

Sustainable Business Principles

Materiality

Stakeholder Engagement

ESG Leadership and Governance

Our Business

Company Profile

Map of Operations

Policy and Planning

Ethics and Integrity

Corporate Governance

Corporate Integrity and Compliance

Planet

Environmental Performance

Climate Change

Emissions

Energy

Water and Effluents

Waste

Product Stewardship

Raw Materials

Product Safety and Chemicals Management

End-of-Life Treatment

Sustainable Forest Management

Sustainable Fiber Sourcing

Due Diligence System and Risk Assessment

Biodiversity and Water Quality

People

Health and Safety

Consumer Health and Safety

Opportunities, Culture and Engagement

Appendix

CONTENTS NEXT Our Circular Bioeconomy For decades, the pulp and paper industry has embodied the principles of circularity by strategically managing resources such as wood fiber, water, chemicals and energy. These practices create value for our customers and stakeholders by reducing environmental impacts and enhancing cost efficiency. It all starts with a tree. Trees first grow and remove CO 2 from the atmosphere before being transformed into paper and packaging solutions that are an essential part of daily human life. To provide enduring natural resources, trees that are harvested are replaced and sustainably managed. PCA foresters and our strategic partners collaborate to improve the health of working forests, which in turn supply the raw materials that our operations transform into sustainable products including biogenic/renewable energy from waste that is used to power our operations. PCA’s commitment to our circular bioeconomy is outlined in our Sustainable Business Principles on page 5 of this report. PCA designers and packaging engineers collaborate with our customers to develop right-sized, highperforming packaging solutions that are widely recycled and sometimes reused.1 As illustrated in the accompanying graphic, our circularity is depicted by our sustainable forest management, sustainable manufacturing and responsible consumption—all pivotal for sustaining biodiversity. Sustainable Production Sustainable Forest Management & Conservation Responsible Consumption Sustainable Manufacturing S U S T A I N A B L E H ARV ES T I N G We inhabit a single planet, an interconnected system upon which all life depends. PCA’s use of raw materials from carbon sinks (sustainably managed forests), creation and use Natural Systems, supported by Humans Human Systems, supported by Nature of biogenic fuels from wood waste to power our mills with renewable energy, high product recycling rates and our pursuit of carbon capture technologies aim to result in net-zero emissions from our operations and supply chain by 2050, offering reasons for optimism as we work to avoid the worst impacts of climate change while creating value for all of our stakeholders. PCA and our industry’s commitment to a circular bioeconomy not only safeguards natural resources but also illustrates a practical path toward achieving ambitious sustainability goals. Together, we can foster an environment where both natural and human systems thrive in harmony. 1 In 2023 the old corrugated containers (OCC) recycling rate was 71%-76%: the U.S. paper recycling rate was 65%-69%. | AF&PA ([afandpa.org](afandpa.org)) 2024 Responsibility Report About This Report 2 Executive Statement 3 VISION AND STRATEGY 4 Sustainable Business Principles 5 Materiality 6 Stakeholder Engagement 8 ESG Leadership and Governance 9 OUR BUSINESS 10 Company Profile 11 Map of Operations 12 POLICY AND PLANNING 13 ETHICS AND INTEGRITY 14 Corporate Governance 14 Corporate Integrity and Compliance 16 Compliance and Ethics Training 17 PLANET 18 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE 19 Climate Change 19 Emissions 27 Energy 30 Water and Effluents 33 Waste 38 PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP 40 Raw Materials 40 Product Safety and Chemicals Management 40 End-of-Life Treatment 41 Sustainable Forest Management 42 Sustainable Fiber Sourcing 44 Due Diligence System and Risk Assessment 46 Biodiversity and Water Quality 47 PEOPLE 48 HEALTH AND SAFETY 49 Occupational Health and Safety 49 Consumer Health and Safety 54 OPPORTUNITIES, CULTURE AND ENGAGEMENT 55 Employment 55 Learning and Development 59 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 64 Employee Engagement 66 Corporate Giving 67 Meeting Customer Expectations 69 APPENDIX 71 Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements 72 GRI Index 73 SASB Index 73 TCFD Index 73 TNFD Index 73 Membership of Associations 74 List of Colleges Where We

FAQs

What period does PCA’s 2024 Responsibility Report cover?

It covers PCA’s operations from January 1 through December 31 of 2024, focusing on progress and preparation for 2024 and beyond.

How does the report define PCA’s circular bioeconomy approach?

It connects sustainable forest management, sustainable manufacturing and responsible consumption, supported by responsible raw-material sourcing and product stewardship.

Which reporting frameworks guide the report’s preparation?

The report is produced with guidance from GRI Universal Standards, SASB, TCFD and TNFD, and it goes through validation, review and approval processes.

What long-term climate target does PCA emphasize?

The report describes a pursuit of carbon capture technologies and aims for net-zero emissions from operations and the supply chain by 2050.

Aug 30, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway