Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is committed to provide opportunities for all members of the communities in which we operate.  We believe that the development of all of our communities’ resources benefits not only our company but the entire community as well.  Smurfit-Stone developed the Supplier Diversity program in order to foster the growth of minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses.  We believe that providing these enterprises equitable opportunities is the key to developing our economy, our community, and our future.

To be considered for Smurfit-Stone’s Supplier Diversity program, prospective suppliers must be certified as one of the following:  a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), or Service Disabled Veteran Business (SDVB).  Certification by an independent third party assures Smurfit-Stone that you qualify as a diverse supplier. Certificates must be issued by one of the following certifying organizations:

> National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) (212) 944-2430	> Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) (202) 872-5515
> US Small Business Administration (SBA) (800) 827-5722	> US SBA HUBZone (800) 827-5722
- Association for Service Disabled Veterans (ASDV) (202) 543-1942

Benefits for Suppliers

Suppliers may also benefit from certification.  Depending on the certifying organization your company may:

• Be listed in a local and national database of certified suppliers which can be accessed by corporations
• Receive referrals to corporations seeking suppliers in your area
• Use certification as a marketing tool
• Be granted membership in the certifying organization which entitles you to participate in networking events
• Gain access to business development resources
• Be eligible for training programs
• Receive publication subscriptions
• Be eligible for government concessions

Who is eligible?

To qualify as a minority or women owned business (M/WBE), a business must be at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by one or more U.S. citizens who belong to one of the following groups:

• African American
• Asian-Indian American
• Asian-Pacific American
• Hispanic American
• Native American
• Woman (any ethnicity)

To qualify as a small disadvantaged business (SDB), you must demonstrate that your business, including all of its domestic and foreign affiliates, is:

• Organized for profit
• Independently owned and operated
• Not dominant in its field
• Qualify under the criteria and size standards in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 13, part 121 “Small Business Size Regulations.”  Qualification is determined by the business’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number.
• Be a member of a socially disadvantaged racial or ethnic group as per Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 13, part 121 “Small Business Size Regulations.”

To qualify for a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) classification, a business must meet the following criteria:

• It must be a small business by SBA size standards
• Its principal office must be located within a HUBZone, which includes lands on federally recognized Indian reservations (To determine if you are located in a HUBZone, log onto the HUBZone website at https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/ and select the option “Are You in a HUBZone?”)
• It must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens (N.B.-this means any level of ownership in an applicant small business by another company would result in a decline). Approved ownership can also be by a Community Development Corporation or Indian tribe
• At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone

To qualify as a Service Disabled Veteran Business (SDVB), you must document that the business is:

• Owned by a veteran with a U.S. Department of Veteran Award adjudicated service connected disability 
• The disabled veteran owns at least 51% of that business who is active in the day-to-day management of that business.

What is involved?

Certification procedures vary among each organization, but typically you will need to:

• Complete an application (which may have a fee associated)
• Submit company financial and ownership information
• Submit other documentation supporting your application such as employee records if applying for HUBZone status which requires 35% of a business’s employees reside in a HUBZone
• The certifying organization may also want to perform a site visit to evaluate your application

Certification generally takes 2-3 months to complete.  Certifications do expire and expiration dates vary.  If your certification expires, you will need to seek re-certification from your certifying agency.

Does certification ensure I will do business with Smurfit-Stone?