DS Smith has confirmed a second consecutive five-year contract agreement to be the sole supplier of corrugated packaging in Europe for Mondelēz International.
The agreement represents an exclusive partnership and is an extension of existing services with a commitment to new projects. It will involve building on an already established relationship that the international snacking leader and DS Smith has held in place for the last ten years.
The value of collaboration and co-creation as a working practice is highly regarded by both Mondelēz and DS Smith and embodied in the spirit of their partnership. The cooperation will enable the companies to further build on their R&D programmes and to deliver bespoke sustainable packaging solutions with a radical joint innovation programme and roadmap.
Both companies are dedicated to an approach that allows for a focus on quality, supply chain efficiency, and productivity initiatives. A key shared objective is to ensure that supply chains continue to be resilient, and to help to keep products on shelf irrespective of unprecedented market conditions. New fibre-based sustainable packaging solutions will be implemented across European markets, and both companies will work closely together to reduce the use of single use plastics and utilise joint efforts to hit a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050.
The companies will deliver against promises to shape the most sustainable and economically viable packaging solutions over the next five years. This will involve reducing materials and increasing recyclability across key product lines.
Stefano Rossi, CEO Packaging Division, DS Smith, said, “We are delighted to continue this amazing journey with our hugely valued customer, Mondelēz International. This long-standing partnership is a testament to the strength of our shared vision together. We are uniquely focussed on redefining packaging for a changing world and in creating lasting packaging innovations across all areas of our customer’s business. We are inherently proud of what we have achieved so far within the last ten years, and we look forward to working together successfully into the next decade and creating yet more lasting change.”
Cyril Goyet, VP Procurement Europe, Mondelēz International, added, “We are tremendously excited about our next venture with DS Smith and grateful for the collaborative journey that we have shared over the last ten years. The mutual trust we have built over time and the transparency and dedication exhibited by both teams has been the secret recipe of our success, enabling consistent value delivery and making our partnership unique and remarkable. In the end, it is about the great people in both companies sharing a same set up of values, passion, and commitment. Here is to another five years of success, growth, and achievement, as we explore new opportunities.”
