Sustainability:
We will grow our business profitably, responsibly and safely while protecting the environment, making wise use of our natural resources, and giving back to our communities.
Operations
At Smurfit-Stone, we are also proud to be recognized as the industry’s leader in the creation and maintenance of a safe, accident-free workplace.
Employee health and safety is one of our top operating priorities. Smurfit-Stone has set the industry standard in safety every year since 2001, outperforming all the major integrated companies in the pulp and paper industry based on annual statistics compiled by the Pulp & Paper Safety Association (PPSA) and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).
Beyond packaging design, the presence of our converting plants in communities across the country brings dollars and jobs to struggling local economies. And in the event of a plant closure, Smurfit-Stone makes aggressive outplacement efforts. Such closures are undertaken only with extensive analysis of the overall health of our company and only after extensive research with regard to economic and business trends that might otherwise support keeping facilities open.
Further, the same benefits that offer economic advantage to our company by keeping workers healthy and happy…really do keep our workers healthy and happy! In addition to the traditional EAP program, which is very easy to use and offers 24/7 access to mental health, legal and other forms of confidential assistance, Smurfit-Stone’s contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield includes a robust wellness education effort, the Be Healthy Awards program. Employees can enter a few basic details of their health and lifestyle and receive targeted assessments and tips to improve their health.
Finally, Smurfit-Stone is committed to promoting diversity in our workplace. We offer a diversity training program to all new employees. At the end of 2007 we had reached over 70% of the workforce. And we have an Associate Recruiter for Diversity on our internal recruiting team dedicated to identifying and sourcing viable diverse talent pools for us.