Packaging

Sonoco Issues First Annual Sustainability Report

Tuesday 05. August 2008 - Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today issued its first annual sustainability report for 2007-2008 outlining the Company's mission to remain an industry leader in creating, maintaining and enhancing a sustainable future for all of its stakeholders.

“We have a long history of pursuing sustainability. In fact, we were engaged in sustainable activities such as recycling long before it was considered important,” said Harris E. DeLoach Jr., Sonoco’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to be the packaging industry leader in creating and enhancing a sustainable future that benefits all of our stakeholders–shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we live and work.”

Sonoco plans to achieve its sustainability goals by focusing on the “triple bottom line,” according to DeLoach. “By balancing and integrating environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic performance within our business strategy and culture, we are becoming more competitive and better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.”

Sonoco’s 16-page electronic Sustainability Report for 2007-2008 is divided into three sections focusing on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic performance. In addition to reporting on initiatives to reduce the Company’s environmental footprint, the electronic report also highlights more than 15 sustainable products and services offered by Company’s diverse consumer and industrial packaging businesses. The report is available on the Company’s Web site