RDM Group cuts water and waste by 17% while staying on track with sustainability goals
RDM Group, one of Europe’s leading producers of recycled cartonboard, has released its latest Sustainability Booklet, offering a transparent and comprehensive overview of the company’s substantial progress toward its 2030 environmental targets, particularly those tied to its Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs).
Steady progress towards circularity
The 2024 Sustainability Booklet outlines key achievements, highlighting the results of the first five years of RDM Group’s sustainability strategy, launched in 2020 with the issuance of its SLB. Notable progress toward the SLB objectives includes:
- 89.7% of total waste sent for recovery, representing a 17% increase compared to 2020 and bringing the Group very close to its 2030 target of 90.0%.
- A 17% reduction in wastewater discharge intensity, reaching 9.20 m³ per tonne of production.
- A 9% decrease in carbon intensity, down to 0.449 tCO₂e per tonne of production, reflecting continuous efficiency improvements in energy use and processes.
These milestones demonstrate RDM Group’s strong commitment to resource efficiency and the circular economy. In 2024 alone, the company recycled more than 1.1 million tonnes of paper, equivalent to the annual paper waste generated by approximately 18 million people.
In addition, 96% of fibre-based materials used by RDM Group originated from recycled paper, while 42% of purchased electricity was derived from renewable sources.
Better when working together
The new Sustainability Booklet also underlines RDM Group’s ongoing efforts in materials innovation and partnerships that enhance packaging circularity across industries.
During 2024, the Group launched Strong Board, a higher-stiffness grade that enables customers to achieve the same performance with less material, making it particularly suitable for frozen food packaging thanks to its water-resistant characteristics.
RDM Group also upgraded its Serviliner – a 100% recycled-fibre board – with a new coating to improve print quality and visual appearance, particularly for consumer goods such as cleaning products and electronics.
In a cross-sector collaboration, RDM Group partnered with Arti Grafiche Reggiane and Italian brand GranTerre to establish a local closed-loop system. The initiative recycles production scraps from snack box manufacturing, reintegrating them into the process to create new cartonboard containing 25% reclaimed fibres, subsequently used for a new series of school snack boxes.
Commenting on the publication, Michele Bianchi, CEO of RDM Group, stated: “Building a circular economy hinges on transparent contributions from every part of the value chain. Our latest reporting captures our dedication to minimising environmental impact, championing circularity, and working collaboratively. This publication shows how sustainability is not just a check box, but a driver embedded within RDM Group’s strategic vision and daily operations.”
