Contents
- Letter from our CEO
- Introduction: About Shorr Sustainability
- Environmental Policy and Mission
- Awards, Certifications, and Memberships
- Case Studies
- Packaging Consumer Behavior Report
- Environment
- Biodiversity & Decarbonization
- Waste
- Energy
- Transportation
- Water
- Supply Chain
- Shorr Sustainability Product Standard
- Procurement
- Sustainable Procurement Policy
- Governance
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Compliance
- Social
- Education & Engagement
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Nurturing Community
- Conclusion
- Appendix
Letter from our CEO
At Shorr, our commitment to our customers, communities, employee-owners, and the environment is unwavering. Guided by our Company Values, we continue to shape responsible business practices and advance our sustainability journey. In 2025, these values are driving meaningful progress and innovation across our organization.
Our Company Values influence every part of the business, including Shorr Sustainability:
- Ownership: We embrace our responsibility to manage operations in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable way, creating value throughout the entire packaging lifecycle. In 2025, we expanded our stewardship by launching new initiatives to minimize waste, increase recycled content, and support the circular economy.
- We are Customer Focused: This year, we’ve deepened our role as a trusted resource, helping customers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape of sustainability regulations, shifting consumer expectations, and emerging innovation opportunities. Our dedicated team provides tailored guidance and solutions to help our customers achieve their own sustainability goals.
- Never Stop Improving: Continuous improvement is at the heart of Shorr. In 2025, we are driving innovations in eco-friendly materials, advanced digital platforms, and scalable circular strategies. These efforts support our business objectives while safeguarding the planet for future generations.
- Integrity: Transparency and accountability are central to our approach. We have enhanced the measurement, benchmarking, and reporting of our greenhouse gas emissions, with improved accuracy across Scope 1, 2, and 3. Our commitment to rigorous data collection and disclosure ensures that we, and our stakeholders, understand our true impact.
- Teamwork: Sustainability at Shorr is inherently collaborative. Our cross-functional teams continue to drive alignment across departments, partners, and vendors. Collaboration is pivotal in scaling our award-winning sustainability program, strengthening partnerships, and deepening engagement with suppliers and customers.
We are proud of our work to increasingly enhance our initiatives company-wide, and integrate ESG performance into daily decisions, long-term strategies, and organizational values. We have continued our investments in tools and platforms to allow for accurate tracking and reductions of our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, positioning Shorr as a strategic partner at the intersection of packaging and sustainability.
Shorr takes pride in fostering deeper collaboration with industry-leading partners to develop holistic and comprehensive solutions, driving impact from the entire product life cycle through manufacturing to disposal
As legislation and regulations evolve, we proactively align with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure compliance. I am proud of our approach to drive initiatives in support of the circular economy for our organization, prioritizing recycled content, promoting reuse, and supporting closed-loop systems. We are innovative in our approach to developing new programs in line with market trends.
In 2025 and beyond, we remain focused on:
- Defining and strengthening our role as a leader in sustainable packaging distribution.
- Accelerating environmental initiatives and progress toward carbon neutrality.
- Building resilient, responsible systems through collective action with customers, suppliers, and industry partners.
Sustainability goals cannot be achieved in isolation, and we are proud to collaborate with our stakeholders to develop impactful solutions that benefit the entire value chain. Together, we are building momentum toward smarter systems, more responsible choices, and lower collective impact.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re shaping a more sustainable future – one package at a time.
— Rob Onorato
Shorr Packaging at a Glance
As a leading packaging distributor, Shorr occupies an influential position within the supply chain and the broader sustainability conversation. Since 1922, Shorr Packaging has set the standard for excellence, delivering innovative packaging solutions, products, equipment, and services to customers nationwide.
Today, we are proud to be one of the largest independent, employee-owned packaging distributors in the United States, representing the industry’s most trusted manufacturers and brands.
Dedicated people have always been the driving force at Shorr. As employee-owners, we work hard to meet our customers’ needs and have a stake in our company’s future. Our values guide our interactions, shape our business, and define who we are as employee-owners. It is ownership, collaboration, and the collective spirit that define Shorr.
- Ownership
- We are Customer Focused
- Never Stop Improving
- Integrity
- Teamwork
Who We Serve:
Food
eCommerce/Retail
Healthcare
Industrial
3PL/Transportation
- 600+ employee-owners
- 100+ years in business
- 11 Shorr locations
Introduction: About Shorr Sustainability
At Shorr, sustainability is more than a commitment: it’s a core value that shapes our culture, decisions, and future. In 2025, we continue to make significant strides in proactively reducing our environmental impact and supporting our customers on their own sustainability journeys. Our mission extends beyond delivering innovative packaging solutions; we champion responsible business practices and foster a culture of environmental stewardship at every level of our organization and help our customers do the same through education and industry expertise.
Since establishing our Sustainability Council in 2022 and appointing our first full-time Sustainability Program Manager in 2023, Shorr has built a robust and evolving sustainability platform. In 2025, our sustainability program is still driven by cross-functional alignment, accelerating progress, and integrating sustainability into our daily operations and long-term strategy.
Through strategic partnerships, ongoing research, and a relentless commitment to improvement, we demonstrate industry leadership and inspire positive change. We are proud to empower our customers with educational resources, expert guidance, and tailored product recommendations that help them achieve their own environmental and social goals, no matter where they are on their sustainability journey.
Shorr Sustainability:
Environmental Policy and Mission
At Shorr, we recognize our responsibility to manage our business operations in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable manner. Our commitment to sustainability is integral to our mission and values, guiding our actions and decisions as we strive to make a positive impact on the planet and our communities. This policy is championed by the Sustainability Program Manager and Chief Operating Officer, with extensive support from the Chief Executive Officer and the Sustainability Council.
The objectives of our Sustainability Policy are to:
- Minimize our environmental footprint.
- Promote social equity and community well-being.
- Ensure economic viability and ethical governance.
- Lead by example, transparency, and education.
- Promote environmental stewardship.
Policy Target:
Shorr commits to annually measuring and reporting our Greenhouse Gas footprint and to reach Net Zero emissions by 2040. We have committed to reaching zero emissions by reducing our emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 4.2% annually.
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact through the following practices:
Waste Reduction: Reduce, reuse, and recycle materials whenever possible, aiming for zero waste to landfill.
Sustainable Products: Source materials and services responsibly, prioritizing suppliers who adhere to sustainable practices.
Water Conservation: Implement water-saving practices and technologies to minimize water usage and protect local water resources.
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Regularly measure and take actions to reduce our emissions by 4.2% annually, striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Education and Engagement: Enhance our internal culture of sustainability and serve as advisors to our customers throughout their sustainability journeys.
Greenhouse Gas Management:
Shorr is committed to regularly measuring and taking actions to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, striving to achieve carbon neutrality. In 2024, we signed onto the UN Climate Pledge Signatory. To reach our net zero goal by 2040, we aim to reduce our emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 4.2% annually. Shorr commits to:
- Measure and report greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis and publish in a sustainability plan.
- Implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business change and innovations, including efficiency improvements,
renewable energy, material reductions, and other carbon emission elimination strategies. - Take actions to neutralize any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.
Energy Efficiency:
Shorr is committed to consuming electricity in the most efficient manner possible, aiming to reduce consumption and elect renewable energy sources where possible. As part of this commitment, Shorr will implement energy-saving measures across all operations, including light timers, motion sensors, heat/AC temperature controls, window shades, and LED lightbulbs.
- Maintain our participation in a Community Solar program to source renewable energy.
- Regularly track energy consumption for the annual GHG assessment, CDP, EcoVadis assessment, and other environmental reporting requirements.
At Shorr Packaging, sustainability strategy is grounded in the principles of the circular economy, as championed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Since 2010, the Foundation has inspired organizations worldwide to design for sustainability, eliminating waste, keeping materials in use, and conserving natural systems. By aligning with these principles, Shorr is accelerating the transition to a more circular, resilient, and sustainable packaging industry.
Our mission is to ensure that we focus on actionable steps that eliminate waste and natural resource consumption, innovate customer solutions and products that deliver tangible and measurable impacts, and to circulate products and materials, minimizing Shorr’s and our customers’ environmental footprints. We prioritize the successful delivery of products by reducing damages and minimizing returns to eliminate the emission of greenhouse gases. We aim to reduce our environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
We are here for our customers every step of the way as they embark on their sustainability journey.
Accolades
Shorr submits annually to EcoVadis, a leading third-party assessment platform that rates the sustainability of global supply chains across more than 150,000 international companies. The assessment evaluates organizations’ ESG (environmental, social, and governance) contributions through 21 sustainability criteria, focusing on four key performance areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Shorr is proud to have increased our score to 63, recognizing our commitment to growth and responsible business practices.
As a UN Climate Pledge Signatory, Shorr Packaging is committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and pledges to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. 
We have developed robust sustainability policies and a Code of Conduct for our suppliers, aligning with our sustainability mission and four pillars (Eliminate, Innovate, Circulate, Successful Delivery). We believe that climate change demands urgent and universal action. Our commitments include:
- Regularly measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and publishing results in our sustainability report.
- Implementing decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption, material reductions, and other carbon elimination strategies.
- Neutralizing remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.
In 2025, Shorr signed on to the UN Global Compact; we align our operations and strategies with 
ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. This commitment reflects our dedication to responsible business practices and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have joined the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative on a global stage, demonstrating our transparency, accountability, and continuous progress toward building a more sustainable future.
For the past five years, Shorr has earned Pregis Purpose Awards. In 2025, Shorr was awarded all three Awards:
Pregis Renew Award:* Recognizes our
commitment to reducing carbon emissions. In partnership with our customers, we reduced 300 metric tons of carbon emissions in 2024 by leveraging Pregis Renew Solutions made with recycled content. This reduction is equivalent to recycling 106 tons of waste, avoiding the burning of 333,244 pounds of coal, or saving 33,757 gallons of gasoline.
Pregis Preserve Award:† Honors Shorr’s shared commitment to the health of our planet and its natural resources. By providing our customers with Pregis Easypack® 100% curbside recyclable paper, Shorr helped save over 400,000 trees from harvest last year.
Pregis Inspyre Award:‡ Acknowledges 
our support of the Uzima Clean Water Mission, which provides water filters to communities in Africa, Central America, and Asia. In 2024, our efforts positively impacted over 1,000 lives by providing access to clean drinking water, combating waterborne diseases, and improving the quality of life.
Shorr earned the Pratt Environmental Award, for our 2024 initiatives, acknowledging the significant impact of our sustainability partnership. Shorr’s use of packaging made from Pratt Industries’ 100% recycled content paper resulted in 370,753 trees saved, 152,663,000 gallons of water saved, 21,809 tons of CO2 prevented, 71,970 cubic yards diverted from landfill, and 87,236,000 kilowatt hours of power saved.
Shorr achieved Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain-of-Custody Certification through third-party audits and verification. This certification allows us to track forest fiber content from production to the end product,assuring customers that our fiber-based packaging products are made with certified forest content, certified sourcing, or recycled content.
We are proud and active members of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA), and PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies—continuously striving to serve as a resource for our customers and lead by example
These accolades reflect our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity and resilience, social responsibility, and sustainable business practices, reinforcing our role as a leader in the packaging industry.
Shorr Sustainable Packaging Consumer Report
Shorr released the 2025 Sustainable Packaging Consumer Report, an update to the previous version from 2022. Highlights include:
- A majority of consumers (90%) are more likely to buy from brands with sustainable packaging.
- 54% of consumers reported consciously purchasing products with sustainable packaging in the last six months.
- More than half of Millennials (59%) and Gen Z (56%) consciously purchased products with sustainable packaging in the last six months.
- 43% of consumers are willing to pay extra for a product with sustainable packaging.
- More than one-third (39%) of consumers have switched to competing brands because they offer sustainable packaging.
Sustainability Case Studies
Environment
Our commitment to sustainability extends throughout the entire supply chain, from our suppliers and partners to our customers and the diverse industries we serve.
We take a holistic approach to sustainability, embedding responsible practices not only in our products and solutions but also within our internal operations. Across our warehouses and offices, we implement resource-efficient processes and empower our employee-owners to lead by example. Regular training and ongoing support ensure our teams are equipped with the latest best practices in resource conservation and environmental responsibility. Through our training platform, Shorr University, 100% of our employee-owners are required to complete the annual Sustainability Training.
As a trusted advisor, Shorr supports customers on their sustainability journeys, helping them reduce their environmental impact and meet growing consumer expectations for sustainable packaging.
Our key initiatives include:
- Resource Conservation: We prioritize the conservation of energy, water, and materials, continually seeking ways to reduce consumption and minimize waste across our organization and local communities.
- Data-Driven Improvements: In 2024, we implemented a third-party platform to benchmark and track energy, transportation, waste, and water data.
- Renewable Energy: We are actively exploring opportunities to incorporate renewable energy sources into our operations. In 2025, we are working toward approval of Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals, preparing to submit to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), subscribing to community solar, and investing in carbon offset opportunities.
Biodiversity
We strive to support biodiversity efforts through a combination of sustainable sourcing, supply chain engagement, operational innovation, and collaborative initiatives. As a whole, the packaging industry plays a critical role in protecting and restoring biodiversity, as unsustainable practices, especially in forestry and raw material sourcing, are major contributors to biodiversity loss. We work to preserve the species and ecosystems they support. Animals are not tested or harmed in any way in Shorr operations.
Decarbonization
As we work to reduce our emissions, decarbonize, and eventually reach net zero emissions, we are focusing our efforts on:
- Optimizing distribution routes, maximizing truck capacity, and transitioning to low-emission vehicles to cut transportation-related emissions.
- Adopting closed-loop systems: design for reuse and recycling; encourage and promote take-back.
- Fostering supplier participation to ensure transparency, goal alignment, and sustainable sourcing practices.
- Upgrading to energy-efficient equipment and power facilities with renewable energy sources.
- Identifying carbon offset opportunities.
Waste
At Shorr, our commitment to responsible waste management is central to our broader sustainability vision. In 2025, we continue to make progress toward our ultimate goal of zero waste to landfill, demonstrating that consistent, collective action can drive meaningful environmental impact.
We actively foster a culture of sustainability among our employee-owners, empowering everyone to contribute to waste reduction and resource conservation in their daily work tasks, when hosting events, making decisions, and in their home lives. Our approach is holistic, targeting every aspect of our operations to minimize waste generation, maximize recycling, and promote environmental stewardship both within our facilities and in the communities we serve.
All bathrooms, break rooms, and designated areas with hand washing stations are fixed with motion-censored towel dispensers. We can modify settings controlling the amount of paper towel dispensed to reduce consumption.
We exclusively use environmentally responsible cleaning products that do not require special disposal. Our investment in Tennant M17 floor sweeper scrubbers, featuring EC H2O technology, allows us to clean efficiently using electrically converted water, eliminating the need for traditional cleaning
chemicals. This innovation also supports indoor air quality through advanced dust control and fume-free battery operation.
As a distributor, Shorr does not manufacture products or equipment, and therefore does not generate hazardous waste as a byproduct of our operations. This enables us to focus our waste management efforts on reducing, reusing, and recycling materials throughout our facilities.
To reduce consumption of materials, minimize waste, and increase recycling rates, employee-owners:
- Avoid using paper by distributing and storing documents electronically.
- Print and photocopy only when necessary, using double side printing and black-and-white or scalable settings to conserve resources.
- Encouraging the use of durable, reusable beverage containers, plates, and utensils.
- We continue to work toward diverting as much waste as possible by recycling paper, plastic, corrugated and fiber-products, aluminum, electronics, toner, and ink cartridges across locations based on local collection opportunities.
- Reusing materials and goods as much as possible, with landfill and recycling streams as the last resort.
Our priorities go beyond our operations, and we have hosted regular clean-up events to ensure we are leaving a positive legacy on our local communities. By prioritizing resource efficiency and responsible disposal, Shorr is building a more sustainable future for our company, communities, and planet.
Total Weight of Hazardous Waste: O T
Waste in Operations: 46 T
Weight of Waste Recovered: 23 T
Energy
Our comprehensive approach to energy conservation continues to drive measurable progress across our operations.
Facility Innovations:
- 100% LED lighting throughout our facilities.
- Smart lighting systems in offices and warehouses, including motion sensors and zone controls.
- Energy-efficient climate control using positive-pressure heating and large diameter fans.
- Optimized forklift battery management with auto-shutoff chargers and preventative maintenance.
We empower our employee-owners to contribute to our sustainability goals through simple yet effective daily practices.
Employee-Owner Engagement:
- Maximizing natural light use.
- Powering down equipment when not in use.
- Utilizing energy-saving features on office equipment.
- Unplugging energy-draining devices.
- Encouraging stair use for health and energy conservation.
Looking ahead, Shorr is actively exploring investments in renewable energy sources to further decarbonize our operations and is researching offset opportunities for the emissions that cannot be avoided. We are working toward approval of Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals and preparing for submission to. the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). These actions will enhance our ability to track, publicly report, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with global best practices.
Scope 2 Emissions Over Time (mWh)
Water
Each Shorr warehouse operates a comprehensive preventive maintenance program to ensure that all equipment, building infrastructure, and restroom facilities are functioning optimally. This proactive approach helps prevent leaks, reduce water waste, and extend the lifespan of our assets.
Transportation
As a distributor, Shorr recognizes that transportation and Scope 3 emissions represent the largest share of our environmental footprint. In 2025, we remain focused on optimizing our distribution network to minimize emissions, reduce resource consumption, and deliver greater value and efficiency to our customers.
Key benefits of our new transportation routing system include:
- Reduced fuel consumption and costs through optimized delivery routes
- Decreased travel distances and mileage, lowering overall emissions
- Real-time tracking and accurate estimated arrival times for enhanced visibility and customer satisfaction
- Instant proof of delivery for improved accountability
- Elimination of manual routing, streamlining operations and reducing human error
- Improved space utilization in dedicated trucks, maximizing each trip’s efficiency
By optimizing routes and maximizing truck capacity, we have significantly increased operational efficiency and reduced our carbon footprint. Deliveries that previously required 12 Shorr drivers can now be completed by just six or seven, significantly improving driver productivity and freeing up our fleet to handle shipments that were once outsourced. This not only reduces emissions but also enables us to better serve our customers and minimize costs.
When appropriate, our employee-owners can work a hybrid schedule which reduces mileage and gasoline consumption from the daily commute and related transportation emissions.
Fuel and Energy related: 459 tCO2e
Upstream Transportation/Distribution: 89,526 tCO2e
Business Travel: 3,553 tCO2e
Employee Commuting: 569 tCO2e
Supply Chain
We recognize that meaningful environmental progress requires collaboration. We routinely engage our employee-owners, conduct trainings, communicate our environmental policy to customers and suppliers, and encourage our partners to adopt sustainable practices. By working together to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, we help minimize the environmental impact of packaging throughout the supply chain.
We collaborate closely with our suppliers to encourage the development and adoption of products with high recycled content, prioritizing the maximum feasible percentage in both paper and fiber-based materials and plastic packaging materials and made with renewable resources, without compromising quality or performance. Our focus extends to supporting the design and sourcing of products that enable a circular economy, keeping materials in circularity and reducing waste.
To ensure credibility, transparency, and reduce greenwashing, we work with our suppliers to provide documentation and third-party certifications for recycled content claims. We seek products certified by third-party organizations, including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Global Recycled Standard (GRS), and other relevant certifications.
Our Procurement team evaluates and prioritizes suppliers based on their commitment to sustainability, use of recycled materials, and alignment with Shorr’s sustainability goals. Team members receive biannual training on:
- Sustainable supply chain practices
- The importance of recycled and recyclable components
- Identifying and sourcing products with sustainability attributes
While prioritizing sustainability, recycled content, and recyclability, we also consider other environmental attributes such as energy efficiency, durability, and overall carbon footprint to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainable procurement.
To advance diversity in the Shorr supply chain and support the overall Shorr Sustainability mission, the Procurement team takes the following actions:
- Provides the commercial team with a sustainable product option (where applicable) for quotes that run through our Sourcing team.
- Research and catalog one new sustainable supplier per quarter for each of the major categories under management (specific to Sourcing team).
- Research and catalog one new sustainable product per quarter for each of the major categories under management (specific to Sourcing team).
- Tracks overall spend with Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) organizations.
Shorr Sustainability Product Standard
Products must meet one of the following criteria to qualify for Shorr’s Sustainability Standard:
- Does it align with our Eliminate, Innovate, Circulate, Successful Delivery framework,
by eliminating, innovating, or recirculating a particular resource?- Examples of this are: plastic reduction, water savings, transportation efficiencies, etc.
- Is the product made from or with recycled content?
- Is the product recyclable, either curbside or store drop-off?
- Has the product received third-party environmental certifications (e.g., BPI: compostable, SFI, FSC, etc.)?
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
These goals provide a universal framework for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, ranging from poverty and inequality to climate change and environmental degradation while promoting peace, prosperity, and sustainability for all.
The SDGs build on decades of international cooperation and provide a shared outline for countries, organizations, and communities to align their strategies with global priorities. By integrating economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection, the SDGs serve as a compass for responsible action and long-term impact.
The SDGs serve as a compass for aligning countries’ plans with their global commitments, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development that integrates economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection.
To achieve our UN Climate Pledge of net zero by 2040, Shorr has prioritized several of the 17 SDGs in 2025:
- 2: Zero Hunger [see Education and Engagement, Food Drive]
- 6: Clean Water and Sanitation [see Accolades and Water sections]
- 7: Affordable and Clean Energy [see Energy section]
- 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities [see Education and Engagement, Earth Day event]
- 12: Responsible Consumption and Production [see Waste and Sustainable Procurement sections]
- 13: Climate Action [see Accolades and Carbon Footprint sections]
- 15: Life on Land [see Accolades and Biodiversity sections]
Governance and Compliance
At Shorr Packaging, we are committed to environmental responsibility and sustainability in our operations and business practices. Our approach is comprehensive, encompassing legal compliance, pollution prevention, and continuous improvement in our environmental practices.
Regulatory Compliance: At Shorr, environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance are foundational to our organization. In 2025, we continue to strengthen our approach to be proactive, ensuring we not only meet, but anticipate and exceed, the requirements of an evolving regulatory landscape.
Education and Engagement: Shorr employee-owners receive regular sustainability newsletters, sharing updates on best practices, market trends, and our ongoing sustainability initiatives. We also partner with key suppliers to deliver third-party training on new products, industry legislation, and emerging trends, ensuring our team remains a credible and knowledgeable resource for our customers
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We engage, educate, and train employee-owners on sustainable best practices for both workplace and personal application.
Nurturing The Community: We take pride in giving back to our local communities and establishing a legacy for years to come. We host quarterly events to support causes important to us, from Earth Day to supporting veterans, students, and food shelters.
Environmental Considerations: We minimize waste generation, reduce consumption, recycle materials, and ensure environmentally responsible waste disposal. We implement policies to minimize the environmental impact of our employee-owners.
Continuous Improvement: We regularly review our environmental impacts, monitor regulatory developments, review sustainability requirements within our customer contracts, and seek opportunities for improvement.
As a leader in the packaging industry, we strive for environmental excellence. We work closely with our employee-owners, customers, and partners to establish and follow principles that guide our environmental practices. Our goal is to reduce and, where possible, eliminate the environmental impacts of our activities, recognizing this as a crucial part of our mission as a packaging partner.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Shorr, our employee-owners are our greatest asset. We recognize that the collective strength of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, unique capabilities, and talents is the foundation of our culture, reputation, and ongoing success.
We are committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from discrimination. We ensure that every individual is treated fairly and with respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and all the characteristics that make each employee-owner unique.
Dedicated to upholding fairness and respect, we ensure our policies and practices reflect our commitment to a discrimination and harassment-free workplace at the highest levels, including Recruitment and selection; Compensation and benefits; Professional development and training; Promotions and advancement; Transfers, layoffs, and terminations; Ongoing development of a workplace rooted in equity and respect.
As part of our commitment to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and a work environment free of all forms of discrimination and harassment, we strive to:
- Lead with respect and tolerance. We expect all employee-owners to embrace this philosophy and to express it in workplace interactions and through everyday practices.
- Focus on attracting, recruiting, retaining, engaging, supporting, developing, and advancing underrepresented and diverse employee-owners.
- Promote respectfulness, cultural awareness, and inclusivity by:
- Fostering a collaborative work environment in which all employee-owners participate, contribute, and individual differences are recognized and valued;
- Empowering and providing a safe space for all employee-owners
to express themselves, exchange ideas, and feel heard; and - Encouraging employee-owners to be open and receptive to others’ experiences and perspectives.
- Regularly review all our employment policies, practices, and procedures so that fairness is always maintained.
Education and engagement, both internally and externally, are at the heart of Shorr’s commitment to advancing sustainability within the packaging industry. We recognize that empowering both consumers and customers with knowledge is essential for driving meaningful change.
Many consumers are eager to make sustainable choices but lack clear information about packaging materials and proper disposal methods. Shorr proudly serves as a trusted advisor helping to bridge this knowledge gap through:
- Educational Content: We regularly publish blog posts, articles, and guides on topics such as greenwashing, recycling myths and realities, best practices for packaging disposal, and the environmental impacts of various materials.
- Clear Labeling and Guidance: We work with suppliers and our customers to clearly label packaging products with recycling or disposal instructions, helping to reduce confusion and ensure materials are processed correctly. As active members of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), we help customers and manufacturers implement the How2Recycle label, making it easier for consumers to understand proper disposal methods.
- Promoting Circularity: We encourage opportunities for reuse and promote circular economy principles by educating stakeholders on how to keep materials in use and reduce overall waste.
Shorr employee-owners receive regular sustainability newsletters, sharing updates on best practices, market trends, and our ongoing sustainability initiatives. We also partner with key suppliers to deliver third-party training on new products, industry legislation, and emerging trends, ensuring our team remains a credible and knowledgeable resource for our customers.
We believe in the power of collaboration, equity, and giving back to our communities to create lasting positive change. Our Shorr Community extends beyond our Shorr divisions. Through our outreach program, we are dedicated to forging meaningful partnerships with not-for-profits and engaging in diverse community activities to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
We take pride in giving back to our local communities and establishing a legacy for years to come. We host quarterly events to support causes important to us, from Earth Day to supporting veterans, students, and food shelters.
In the fall of 2024, our employee-owners participated in a company-wide food drive to support our local food banks and pet shelters. Over $1000 was raised, in addition to nearly 700 food items and over 150 pet items from our divisions across the country.
We believe in using our resources to support the education and lives of students who do not have access to the necessary materials. In July 2025, Shorr hosted a “back to school” event where backpacks and school supplies were donated to underprivileged schools in our local areas.
Shorr’s Earth Day event continues to be a tremendous success, and we are proud of the hundreds of employee-owners who participated on April 22, 2025. Each division conducted a clean-up in a local park, collecting over 800 lbs. of debris. We are appreciative of the collaboration with our local municipalities and park districts that generously donated supplies and support.
Shorr’s Marketing Team adopted a local park trail in North Aurora, committing to monthly clean-up events through a partnership with the Fox Valley Park District. As a dynamic and growing organization that serves a diverse population of more than 236,000 people, Fox Valley Park District shares our passion for environmentally responsible action and community stewardship.
Conclusion
At Shorr Packaging, our commitment to sustainability is woven into every aspect of our business, guided by our core pillars: Eliminate, Innovate, Circulate, and Successful Delivery. We continue to make meaningful progress in reducing our environmental impact and advancing responsible practices throughout our operations and the entire supply chain.
We will continue to:
- Reduce our environmental footprint through continuous, incremental improvements.
- Cultivate a company-wide culture of sustainability that empowers every employee-owner to contribute and lead by example.
- Take proactive steps toward environmental stewardship to protect natural resources and promote long-term resilience.
We are actively decreasing our reliance on finite and non-renewable resources, securing the long-term availability of essential materials for packaging, and enhancing our organization and industry resilience. This proactive approach not only safeguards our supply chain against potential disruptions but also positions Shorr as a model of sustainability within the packaging industry. As the packaging and regulatory landscape evolves, Shorr is continuing to build our risk assessment and management practices to ensure resilience in this space.
Our achievements to date reflect the dedication of our employee-owners, the strength of our partnerships, and our relentless pursuit of innovation, yet we recognize that sustainability is an ongoing journey. As we look ahead, we reinforce our commitments to prioritize sustainability by contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future and reinforcing our
position as a leader in the packaging industry. We invite our customers, partners, and peers to join us on this journey, working together to create lasting value for our communities and our planet.
Together, we can deliver a more sustainable tomorrow.
Additional Metrics & ESG Data
Environment (ESG)
- Total emissions: 471,997 tCO2e
- Scope 1 emissions: 1,133
- Scope 2 emissions: 1,347
- Scope 3 emissions total (upstream): 469,517
Social Metrics
- Percentage of women employed in the whole organization: 41%
- Percentage of women at top management level: 17%
- Percentage of women within the organization’s board: 0%
- Percentage of employees from a minority and/or vulnerable group in the whole organization: 27%
- Percentage of employees from a minority and/or vulnerable group at top management level: 17%
- 100% of all employees complete harassment and discrimination prevention training on an annual basis
- Employee satisfaction rate was 4.06 on a scale of 5 on Gallup
- Percentage of employees covered by employee health insurance: 75%
- Average hours of training per employee: 19 hours
- Number of Skills training provided = 1000+ (includes online and in-person training)
- Percentage of employees provided with skills training: 71%
- Employees with personal development plans = 448
- Number of internal promotions: 32
Governance
- Of the 787 vendor contacts that the Supplier CoC was sent to in 2024, 146 or 18.5% either signed our form or shared their Supplier Code of Conduct. We received 59 completed Sustainability Assessments, or 7.5%, of the targeted vendors.
- Percentage of employees trained on health and safety: 100%
- Percentage of employees trained on discrimination and harassment: 100%
Additional Information
*Renew Award—What we’re measuring: Carbon emissions avoided by using PolyPlank Renew and AirSpeed Renew in lieu of virgin alternatives. In 2023 all AirSpeed Renew products were 30% recycled content. How it’s measured: First we calculated the carbon footprint of a pound of 30% recycled plastic with a pound of virgin plastic. We used the difference of this comparison to identify the carbon emissions saved per pound of product sold. We used Compass, an ISO 14040/14044 conformant third party LCA software, to calculate this comparison. The calculation: (1 lb virgin plastic carbon footprint – 1 lb 30% recycled content plastic carbon footprint) * pounds of AirSpeed Renew sold.
†Preserve Award—What we’re measuring: The number of trees saved based on the weight of recycled paper sold. How it’s measured: We take the weight of the EasyPack paper (which is always 100% recycled paper) and multiply by 17. The EPA stated in 2016 that one ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees. The calculation: EasyPack paper weight in tons * 17.
‡Inspyre Award—What we’re measuring: The number of lives impacted by water filters donated through sales revenue from Inspyre products. How it’s measured: First we find the sales from our Inspyre EasyPack and Inspyre HC product lines (2024 data will also include Inspyre EverTec Mailers). For EasyPack, 1% of revenue is donated to Uzima. For HC, we donate one filter for every 4 rolls (which is more than 1% revenue). One filter costs $30. According to Uzima, one filter lasts up to 10 years. We translate this number to 10 lives impacted over the lifetime of the filter. The calculation: [(Inspyre EasyPack sales dollars * 1%) + (Inspyre HC rolls / 4)] / $30 * 10 lives.
Education & Engagement