RENEW aims to engage employees at every site, every year through 2030.   

At Graphic Packaging, our purpose is clear: packaging life’s everyday moments for a renewable future. Through RENEW, we’re putting our purpose into action in our communities — supporting the environment, food access and the future workforce. 

What Is RENEW?

RENEW is our new social impact program, inspired by our Vision 2030 commitment to enhance the communities where we operate. It helps us deliver on our sustainability promise to be Better, Every Day — creating positive outcomes for people, communities and the planet. 

Under RENEW, we focus our philanthropy, charitable giving and volunteer resources in three areas: 

• Renewing the Environment by restoring nature and promoting recycling 

• Renewing Food Access by providing food and supplies where most needed 

• Renewing Futures by empowering youth and investing in the workforce of the future 

Building on our long tradition of volunteerism and philanthropy, RENEW was designed with: 

• Sharper focus on causes aligned to our business, our people and local community priorities 

• Stronger governance that connects local efforts to global goals — empowering employees to contribute meaningfully within a unified framework 

• Greater visibility and transparency through internal and external storytelling 

• Measurable impact, including a companywide goal for every Graphic Packaging site to support a RENEW project each year 

Renewing the Environment

Nature Restoration

Our packaging depends on sustainably harvested trees, and the communities where we live and work thrive with greenery. RENEW supports initiatives that protect and restore nature for future generations. 

In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation — our first enterprise-level nonprofit collaboration—we’re expanding urban green spaces and sustaining forests across diverse global regions. The Foundation’s Forest Priority Index (FPI) and Nature Priority Index (NPI) guide our efforts to plant and distribute trees where they are needed most. 

WHY IT MATTERS: Forests provide clean air and drinking water for more than 150 million people in the U.S., and urban trees can lower neighborhood temperatures by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit — improving health, safety and well-being.

Recycling Advocacy

Recycling is the foundation of our business and a key driver of a circular economy. As the producer of the world’s highest-quality recycled paperboard, we lead innovation in recovering and reusing fiber to create more circular, more functional and more convenient packaging. 

Through RENEW, we extend that leadership into our communities — promoting recycling education in schools and neighborhoods to reduce landfill waste and close the loop. Collaborating across the recycling value chain, we advocate for broader acceptance of paper-based packaging in recycling systems across the U.S. 

By equipping employees with the knowledge and tools to champion recycling, we aim to spark lasting habits — at work, at home and beyond. 

WHY IT MATTERS: About 80% of adults in the U.S. believe recycling makes a difference for the environment, and three-quarters of global business leaders agree that circularity is critical to future growth.

Renewing Food Access

Food Security

No one should have to wonder where their next meal will come from. We package food for many of the world’s most recognized brands, and we share a responsibility to fight hunger in the communities where we live and work. 

Through RENEW, we partner with local food banks and hunger-relief organizations to help close the gap — volunteering, donating and raising awareness to ensure families have access to nutritious meals. 

WHY IT MATTERS: About 2.3 billion people worldwide experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024 — 336 million more than before the pandemic. In the U.S., food insecurity affects 47 million people, including 13 million children.

Disaster Relief

When disaster strikes, quick action saves lives. Through RENEW, we make it simple for employees to help communities recover by supporting the American Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide immediate, hands-on ways to give and volunteer. 

We also donate foodservice packaging that helps deliver meals and supplies efficiently, prioritizing support near our facilities to make the greatest local impact. 

WHY IT MATTERS: Disasters triggered 26.4 million internal displacements in 2023 alone — underscoring the urgency of global relief efforts.

Renewing Futures

Youth Empowerment

Resilient communities start with young people who have access to education and support. Through RENEW, we invest in youth programs that build life skills, expand learning access and strengthen confidence for future success. 

In partnership with United Way, we help fulfill basic needs that unlock opportunities for youth. We also collaborate with schools and youth-development organizations — such as after-school and mentorship programs — to ensure young people have safe spaces to learn, positive role models, and pathways to reach their full potential. 

WHY IT MATTERS: Youth with mentors are more likely to attend college, earn higher incomes and achieve upward mobility.

Workforce Development

A strong, sustainable industry depends on skilled talent. Through RENEW, we invest in education and training that prepares the next generation of packaging and manufacturing professionals. 

From technical partnerships and scholarships to hands-on learning opportunities, we help bridge the gap between classroom and career. We support trade programs, community colleges, and universities that teach essential skills in engineering, operations, and design — empowering people to build rewarding, long-term careers in our field. 

WHY IT MATTERS: By 2030, more than 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs may go unfilled due to the growing skills gap.

Building a Renewable Future

RENEW is the bridge between our packaging and our purpose — uniting employees, customers, and communities to protect nature, fight hunger, and create opportunities for the next generation. 

It’s how we turn local action into global progress, empowering every site to make a measurable difference in their community. 

RENEW also strengthens our business — building pride in our packaging and culture, attracting people who care about impact, and deepening trust as a responsible partner and neighbor.