How DS Smith Uses Sedex to Build a Resilient Supply Chain
DS Smith Limited, an International Paper company, and a global leader in sustainable packaging, has revolutionised its approach to responsible business practices by leveraging Sedex’s platform to drive sustainability, improve transparency, and manage supply chain risks effectively. By striving for 100% completion of Sedex Self-Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs) across 239 operational sites, DS Smith has reinforced its commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and human rights due diligence. This comprehensive initiative positions DS Smith at the forefront of the packaging industry’s sustainability efforts.
Tackling Industry Challenges Head-On
In an era of increasing scrutiny on corporate sustainability, DS Smith faced the complex task of managing extensive sustainability data, assessing risks across a vast supply chain, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. To meet these challenges, DS Smith required a robust and scalable solution—one that would enable them to not only track performance but also drive meaningful change.
How Sedex Enabled Sustainable Growth
To strengthen its responsible business practices, DS Smith implemented a multi-faceted sustainability strategy, leveraging key Sedex tools and resources:
1. Now & Next Sustainability Strategy: Launched in 2020, this initiative focuses on four key pillars: Circularity, Carbon, Nature, and People & Communities, the latter of which included a “Now” target for all operational sites to complete the SAQ 100%, which was achieved one year early in 2024, and a “Next” target to continue to improve its human rights due diligence each year. DS Smith leverage Sedex as one means to provide the data infrastructure required to support and monitor progress against these targets.
2. Comprehensive SAQ Implementation: Using Sedex’s platform, DS Smith has achieved and maintains 100% SAQ completion across its 239 operational sites, ensuring consistent assessment and monitoring of its internal risks despite constant changes in site numbers due to openings, closings, and mergers.
3. Enhanced Human Rights Due Diligence: Sedex’s risk assessment tools enable DS Smith to proactively prepare for future regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
4. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: The creation of a Sedex country coordinator role streamlined communication, overcame language barriers, and improved collaboration across multiple Divisions, functions, and departments. These coordinators engage directly with site level, HR, quality managers, and safety managers to ensure a thorough understanding of the SAQ process and audits.
5. Advanced Risk Assessment with Sedex Data: Utilising Sedex’s insights, DS Smith developed a custom heatmap to analyse its SAQ responses, identify high-risk areas, and implement targeted interventions. Currently, they manually generate this analysis but see potential for future Sedex product enhancements to streamline the process.
6. SMETA: DS Smith makes full use of SMETA as both a supplier and a customer as an A/B Member. In addition to its customers requesting SMETA within DS Smith’s Packaging division, its Paper Sourcing and Procurement function, and its subsidiary Total Marketing Support (“TMS”) also utilize SMETA to assess risk of its Tier 1 suppliers as part of DS Smith’s wider programme to manage its supply chain due diligence. This is especially vital for TMS whom operate globally in countries where human rights risk is potentially higher.
Measurable Impact and Benefits
By integrating Sedex’s platform into its operations, DS Smith has achieved meaningful results:
1. Operational Excellence: Progressing towards 100% SAQ completion across 239 sites, ensuring consistent monitoring of its internal performance in relation to human rights due diligence.
2. Enhanced Risk Management: Sedex’s platform enabled efficient risk identification, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities, and ensuring compliance with upcoming regulations.
3. Optimised Audit Process: Leveraging SAQ data reduced the need for extensive audits, with only 34 SMETA audits (15% of its sites) conducted last year. The heatmap approach has helped minimise unnecessary audits by demonstrating low-risk supplier compliance.
4. Improved Supplier and Customer Relations: Meeting and exceeding customer expectations, with some clients integrating SAQ completion as a contractual requirement. Customers increasingly expect insights beyond carbon, focusing on supplier diversity, social compliance, and nature impact.
5. Future-Ready Compliance: DS Smith is well-positioned for evolving sustainability legislation, mitigating regulatory risks through Sedex’s structured approach. Recently acquired by International Paper, their sustainability strategy remains a key differentiator.
Driving Change Through Leadership
“Our Now & Next strategy, supported by Sedex’s platform, has been instrumental in transforming our approach to responsible business practices. By integrating sustainability data into our daily operations and engaging our sites in continuous improvement, we’ve not only enhanced our risk management but also strengthened our entire value chain.”
Samantha Upham, Senior Sustainability Manager at DS Smith
Empowering Sustainable Business Practices with Sedex
For companies aiming to elevate their responsible business practices and achieve measurable improvements in sustainability performance, Sedex offers a comprehensive platform enabling efficient data management, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement. Discover how Sedex can help your organisation drive sustainability improvements across global operations and prepare for future regulatory requirements.
