CARTONBOARD producer RDM Group has launched its annual Sustainability Booklet, which details the company’s progress toward its 2030 environmental goals, especially those linked to its Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs).
The 2024 Sustainability Booklet demonstrates the success of the first five years of the group’s sustainability plan since the SLB was issued in 2020.
The percentage of waste sent for recovery reached 89.7% – a 17% increase from 2020 that positions RDM Group close to its 2030 target of 90%. Wastewater discharge intensity has also decreased by 17%, while carbon intensity fell 9%.
RDM Group recycled over 1,100 kilotonnes of paper in 2024, which the company revealed is a volume equivalent to the annual paper waste of 18 million people. 96% of the group’s fibre-based materials are made from recycled paper, while 42% of its purchased electricity originates from renewable sources.
The Sustainability Booklet also highlights the materials innovation and partnerships that are accelerating packaging circularity across sectors.
In 2024, RDM Group introduced an increased-stiffness Strong Board that allows customers to use less material for the same strength. The company also upgraded its Serviliner, a 100% recycled-fibre board, with a new coating for ‘superior’ print quality and visual appeal for products like cleaning supplies and electronics packaging.
In one cross-industry collaboration, RDM Group partnered with Arti Grafiche Reggiane and GranTerre to create a local closed-loop system. This project recycled production scraps from snack box manufacturing, reintegrating the waste to form new cartonboard containing 25% reclaimed fibres for the next run of school snack boxes.
Michele Bianchi, CEO of RDM Group, said, “Building a circular economy hinges on transparent contributions from every part of the value chain. Our latest reporting captures our firm’s dedication to minimising environmental impact, championing the circular economy, and always working collaboratively. This publication demonstrates how sustainability isn’t just a check box, but a driver embedded within RDM Group’s strategic vision and daily operations.”
