How Amcor is collaborating with suppliers to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase recycling

Peter Poulos, vice president of global procurement at Amcor: As we at Amcor are committed to achieving our sustainability goals, it’s clear that we need to actively engage with our suppliers to reduce our collective impact on the environment. Collaborating with suppliers enables us to increase the use of recycled material, lower the carbon footprint of our production processes by purchasing electricity from renewable resources and decarbonize our supply chain. This offers strong opportunities to set clear targets and move toward them together.

Cedric Lienhart, senior procurement director at Amcor: Like Peter says, collaboration with suppliers is a critical lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By working closely with suppliers, for example, we can get more accurate data about the product carbon footprint of the materials we purchase. These primary data make it possible to track and reduce emissions more effectively while also identifying materials or processes with the biggest potential for improvement.

PP: Collecting product carbon footprint data was one of our key programs in 2024. We invited our key strategic suppliers to our second Supplier Sustainability Summit in January 2024 and engaged with them throughout the year within our supplier decarbonization program. Our goal is to cut emissions by at least 3 percent each year, and we expect suppliers to align with that target. Another critical focus area for our global procurement team is increasing recycled content purchases.

CL: Our procurement team prioritizes materials that meet quality standards and contribute to Amcor’s sustainability goals by reducing emissions or supporting circularity. Our commitment to using low-carbon aluminum and resins is a strong example. For example, we’re working with one supplier on projects like using clean hydrogen or carbon-capture technologies to produce resins with a lower carbon footprint. And we’re collaborating with another supplier to integrate high-quality recycled polymers into our production processes. Projects like this support our sustainability goals and help us meet market demand for sustainable packaging.

PP: The examples Cedric described are just a few of many ongoing collaborations, showing how our work directly fosters innovation as we partner with suppliers who are investing in new technologies. This proactive approach ensures that we meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations while leading our industry toward a more sustainable, circular society.

CL: We focus on long-term partnerships and offer guidance to help suppliers improve their sustainability practices. That often involves encouraging them to adopt third-party certifications and align with science-based targets, for example. By working closely together in this way, we can build a supply chain that is more resilient and environmentally responsible. That’s what we are truly passionate about.