Reinforcing its commitment to improve biodiversity in the communities in which it operates, DS Smith, the FTSE 100 packaging company, has today launched new funding available to partnerships and local charities across France, where it has local associations throughout France, where it has 30 sites and employs 4,000 people.
The DS Smith Charitable Foundation, which was brought into the Group in 2011, is focused on improving the environment and inspiring the next generation. Now, as part of DS Smith’s Now and Next Sustainability Strategy, the Foundation will offer grants ranging from £1,000 up to £10,000 to organisations or individuals that are focused on improving biodiversity within local communities across DS Smith’s global footprint.
DS Smith will implement 100 biodiversity projects by 2025, and its paper mills will each launch biodiversity programmes. Projects eligible for the grant include wildflower meadows, community gardens or tree planting projects and applications can be made here.
“This initiative in favour of nature protection is an excellent opportunity for our sites located in the territories, mostly in rural areas. They will thus be able to contribute to local programmes or actions for the survival of species and ecosystems,” says Armand Chaigne, Marketing and Communication Director of DS Smith Packaging France.
Wouter van Tol, Chair of the Charitable Foundation and DS Smith’s Head of Sustainability, said: “As a large employer operating across multiple countries, we recognise the importance of reinvesting in our communities and supporting the natural environment. We’d love to hear from organisations across the world that are looking to improve the environment for plants and animals, protect natural habitats or enhance species diversity, and we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this work.”
Across its operations, DS Smith employs 30,000 people and the scale of its business and approach means it is able to tackle big challenges faced by the wider communities in which it operates and in which its employees live.
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