Sonoco Announces New Supplier Sustainability Award Program and First-year Recipients

HARTSVILLE, S.C., May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging and services companies, today unveiled its Sonoco Supplier Sustainability Award program. Recipients, including Arcelor Mittal, Buckman International, Staples and W.R. Grace, were recognized during a dinner at the 9th Annual Sonoco/JBE/MYCA Supplier Diversity Business Conference on Tuesday, May 7.

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The new supplier sustainability program recognizes the Company's suppliers who demonstrate clear differentiation from their competitors with measurable, strategic and transparent social and environmental responsibility efforts. The idea for the program was first presented to Sonoco's Corporate Sustainability Team in late 2012. Sixty of Sonoco's top suppliers were contacted with a call for entries in January 2013 and candidates' entries were reviewed in April.

"Approximately 15 entrants participated this first year," said Marc Ensign, director, Strategic Sourcing, Sonoco. "We expect to have many more next year, and were very impressed with our suppliers' initiatives in the areas of sustainability, environmental responsibility and diversity.

Award recipients showed definitive leadership in various categories such as water, energy, emission and waste disposal reduction goals; environmental policies; social responsibility reports; and codes of conduct. Learn more about Sonoco's sustainability efforts at http://www.sonoco.com/sustainability.aspx.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $4.8 billion, the Company has 19,900 employees working in over 340 operations in 34 countries, serving many of the world's best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2012/2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

SOURCE: Sonoco

Sarah Anderson, [phone], [email protected]

http://www.sonoco.com

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