Greif’s 2024 Sustainability Report: A Testament to Innovation and Circularity

Introduction to Greif

Greif is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, headquartered in Delaware, Ohio. With a legacy dating back to 1877, the company has evolved from manufacturing wooden barrels to offering a diverse range of packaging solutions, including steel, plastic, and fiber drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), and containerboard. Greif’s mission is to create packaging solutions for life’s essentials, with a vision to become the best-performing customer service company in the world. Operating in over 35 countries with more than 250 facilities, Greif is committed to sustainability, innovation, and delivering value to its customers.

Unveiling the 2024 Sustainability Report

On April 25, 2025, Greif published its highly anticipated 2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing its steadfast commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Despite facing macroeconomic challenges, Greif achieved significant milestones in advancing circularity, climate action, and colleague engagement. Here are the report’s key highlights:

Key Achievements in 2024

1. Advancing Circularity

• Strategic Acquisitions: Greif expanded its reconditioning network by acquiring Delta Containers Manchester and Enterprize Container Corporation. Additionally, the acquisition of Ipackchem added 1,400 colleagues and 13 facilities across eight countries.

• Facilities Expansion: New state-of-the-art facilities in Dallas, Texas, and Malaysia enhance the company’s ability to produce recycled and recyclable packaging solutions.

• Circular Manufacturing:

  • Diverted 87% of waste from landfills, with 60 facilities achieving zero-waste-to-landfill status.

  • Recovered 246% of the fiber material shipped to the market.

  • Increased post-consumer resin (PCR) usage by 37%, improving the sustainability of plastic containers.

2. Climate Action

• Renewable Energy Initiatives: Signed a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Enel Green Power España, set to offset 65% of electricity consumption in Europe by 2025.

• Energy Efficiency: Implemented 58 energy efficiency projects, saving 35,000 MWh.

• GHG Emissions: Reduced Scope 2 (market-based) emissions by 1%, although Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions saw slight increases.

3. Colleague Engagement and Inclusion

• Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award: Ranked in the 85th percentile among manufacturing peers, with a 94% response rate in the Colleague Engagement Survey.

• Diversity Milestone: Achieved its 2025 goal of improving women’s representation in management positions a year early.

• Learning and Development: Employees spent an average of 8.2 hours on Greif University, a 300% increase from the baseline.

4. Customer Service Excellence

• Net Promoter Score (NPS): Achieved an industry-leading score of 70, reflecting its commitment to legendary customer service.

• Digital Transformation: Launched the Greif+ platform, providing real-time visibility into order status and enhancing customer experience.

5. Recognition and Awards

• Global Recognition: Named one of Newsweek’s 2024 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces and listed on USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders.

• Customer Accolades: Recognized as the Best Supplier in various categories by industry leaders like FUCHS and Mitsubishi.

• 
  

Looking Ahead

Greif’s 2024 Sustainability Report serves as a powerful example of how businesses can integrate sustainability into their core operations and achieve measurable impact. Their achievements highlight the importance of aligning business growth with environmental stewardship, circular economy principles, and social responsibility.

For the broader industry, Greif’s journey offers several key lessons:

• Adopting Circular Economy Principles: Greif’s success in waste diversion and material recovery demonstrates the potential of circular manufacturing to reduce environmental impact while driving business value.

• Investing in Renewable Energy: The company’s Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) underscores the role of renewable energy in reducing emissions and meeting ambitious climate goals.

• Prioritizing People: By fostering colleague engagement and advancing diversity, Greif has shown that investing in people is critical to building a resilient and innovative organization.

• Customer-Centric Innovation: Their focus on customer service excellence, supported by digital tools like Greif, highlights the value of integrating sustainability with customer-driven solutions.

Greif’s achievements inspire organizations across industries to reimagine their operations, embrace sustainability as a competitive advantage, and contribute to a more sustainable future. By adopting similar strategies, businesses can not only meet their ESG goals but also enhance long-term resilience and stakeholder trust.