Sun Chemical’s 14th Sustainability Report: the latest edition highlights the leading role of the global manufacturer of inks, pigments, and coatings for printing, graphics, and converting in priority areas such as sustainability and social responsibility.
Published in October, the "Sustainability Report 2024" emphasises Sun Chemical’s progress (a member of the DIC Group) towards its goals of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, using 2013 as the baseline year, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Sun Chemical’s approach to its three business pillars—operations, products and services, and partnerships—is grounded in the "five Rs": Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle, and Redesign. These principles guide both initiatives and the development of sustainable products, with the aim of implementing a model increasingly inspired by the circular economy.
Commitment: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The section of the Report dedicated to “Operations” highlights Sun Chemical’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity, steam, and fossil fuel consumption during production. This goal is pursued by implementing energy efficiency projects within its facilities, reducing water consumption, and significantly decreasing landfill waste. These successful initiatives have been recognised through numerous awards and certifications for sustainability improvements, evidenced by continually progressing data.
More Sustainable Products
The “Products and Services” section of the report showcases recent product improvements and launches designed to enable brand owners and converters to meet sustainability regulations and reduce waste, demonstrating Sun Chemical's concrete commitment to sustainable product development. Sun Chemical’s extensive portfolio of sustainable solutions has received several certifications for sustainable innovation over the past year.
Below are some of the latest and updated solutions:
- The SunLam laminating adhesive range, which covers a wide array of applications, including the first sterilizable, solvent-free lamination adhesive with ultra-low monomers;
- Bio-renewable SunPak® DirectFood Plus inks for direct food contact;
- UV and water-based inkjet inks compliant with the latest regulatory requirements;
- A marking technology aimed at increasing beverage container recycling;
- The SunUno Solimax AP ink series, recognised for sustainability excellence by the Flexographic Technical Association.
The Impact of Key Partnerships
A section of the Report is also dedicated to “Partnerships,” which explains the importance Sun Chemical places on cross-industry partnerships necessary for designing and delivering solutions that contribute to the circular economy.
To this end, Sun Chemical uses the EcoVadis platform to conduct risk assessments and ensure that its partners' performance aligns with its internal values and sustainability goals. In this regard, the report highlights that over 85% of Sun Chemical’s suppliers participating in the EcoVadis system have achieved a Corporate Social Responsibility score above Sun Chemical's acceptable threshold of 45/100.
Sun Chemical’s latest sustainability report is available online.
«Brand owners and converters need to rely on supplier partners who can help them comply with regulations and achieve their sustainability goals,” says Michael Simoni, Director of Global Sustainability at Sun Chemical. “In this regard, we are proud to say that Sun Chemical has already reached 86% of its goal to halve its carbon emissions by focusing strategic efforts on waste reduction, as well as improving efficiency, recyclability, and compostability, while maintaining the highest performance standards».
