Graphic Packaging Replaces 880 Million Plastic Packages in 2025; Innovation Sales Hit $210M
GPK•In 2025 Graphic Packaging replaced 880 million plastic packages with paperboard alternatives, bringing its two-year total to nearly 1.9 billion. The company generated $210 million in sales from packaging innovation projects and achieved recyclable design on 96% of products while advancing eight of nine Better by 2030 sustainability targets.
1. 2025 Sustainability Milestones
In 2025 Graphic Packaging replaced approximately 880 million plastic packages with paperboard solutions, bringing its two-year total to nearly 1.9 billion replacements across food, beverage, foodservice and household categories. This milestone underscores growing demand for renewable, recycled packaging capable of scaling to diverse consumer products.
2. Innovation Revenue and Circular Design
The company generated $210 million in revenue from customer packaging innovation projects in 2025, reflecting strong uptake of alternatives that reduce plastic use. Meanwhile, 96% of sold packaging products were designed to be recyclable under the Better by Design framework, which emphasizes improved circularity, functionality and convenience.
3. Progress on Better by 2030 Targets
Graphic Packaging advanced on eight of nine Better by 2030 sustainability targets, including a near-total shift to sustainably sourced forest products with 99% compliance and a 4% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions versus a 2021 baseline. The targets guide improvements in waste reduction, recycling and carbon footprint management.
4. Environmental and Social Programs
In 2025 the company launched RENEW, investing $4 million in community programs focused on nature conservation and hunger relief, and implemented virtual power purchase agreements to cover 49% of global electricity needs by late 2027. Safety performance also improved, with recordable incident rates more than 60% better than industry benchmarks and zero LIFE injuries at 98% of facilities.
