What PCA Reports on Sustainability and Circularity in Its 2025 Responsibility Report

Updated

PCA's 2025 Responsibility Report states three verifiable results: a 12% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity against a 2021 baseline, independent limited assurance on its 2025 Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data, and a continued commitment to circularity and responsibly managed forests. These figures matter if you are evaluating PCA as a corrugated packaging supplier and need sustainability claims you can check rather than accept at face value. The report is the primary source; the points below reflect what it presents.

The Three Reported Results

1. Emissions intensity down 12% versus 2021

The report measures emissions intensity, not absolute emissions. Intensity ties emissions to a unit of output (for example, per ton of production), so the number can fall even if total output grows. When comparing this to your own targets, confirm which denominator PCA uses and whether your own reporting is intensity-based or absolute — mixing the two produces misleading comparisons.

2. Independent limited assurance on Scope 1 and 2 data

PCA obtained independent limited assurance on its 2025 Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data. Two distinctions are worth knowing:

  • Limited vs. reasonable assurance: limited assurance involves less extensive procedures than a full audit. It raises confidence in the data but is not the same as reasonable assurance.
  • Scope 1 and 2 only: these cover direct emissions and purchased energy. Scope 3 (supply chain, transport, end-of-life) is not included in the assurance statement described in the report.

If your procurement or ESG team requires assured Scope 3 data, this report does not yet provide it.

3. Circularity and responsibly managed forests

The report frames circularity around the renewable fiber in PCA's products and a commitment to responsibly managed forests, describing long-term environmental, economic, and community value. For a buyer, the practical question is traceability: ask which certification or chain-of-custody documentation accompanies the specific product you order, since the report describes the commitment at company level.

How These Results Connect to Customer Sustainability Goals

The report states these advancements help support customers' sustainability goals and reinforce transparency across the value chain. In practice, that support takes a few concrete forms:

Customer need What the report offers What to verify with PCA directly
Lower packaging-related emissions in your footprint Emissions intensity reduction data Whether PCA can provide product- or plant-level figures for your account
Credible data for your own ESG disclosure Limited assurance on Scope 1 and 2 The assurance provider's statement and its scope
Recycled/renewable content claims Circularity and forest stewardship commitment Chain-of-custody documentation for your SKUs
Supplier scorecard evidence Published, dated report Report edition and methodology notes

What to Do With This Information

  1. Download the 2025 Responsibility Report from PCA's site and read the methodology section before citing the 12% figure — note the baseline year and the intensity denominator.
  2. Match the metric to your framework. If your disclosure uses absolute emissions, ask PCA whether absolute figures are available alongside intensity.
  3. Request assurance documentation if your supplier scorecard requires third-party verification, and confirm the scope covers only Scope 1 and 2.
  4. Ask for product-level evidence — fiber sourcing and chain-of-custody records — for the specific corrugated packaging you buy, since the report's commitments are company-wide.

The report is a starting point for a supplier conversation, not a substitute for one. The claims above are checkable; the product-specific details you need for your own reporting require a direct request to PCA.