Packaging Company Amcor Names David Clark as Chief Sustainability Officer: 4 Things to Know

Global packaging specialist Amcor has promoted VP David Clark to chief sustainability officer (CSO). Here are four things to know about Amcor's business and sustainability strategy, and Clark's professional experience.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Amcor is based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company's business roots extend back to the 1860s. Amcor positions itself as a responsible packaging provider for customers in such markets as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, among other sectors. The firm, backed by roughly 41,000 employees, generated $13.6 billion in annual sales for 2024.

2. Sustainability Strategy and Goals: Amcor in 2018 pledged to develop all packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025. The company also is striving to achieve net zero by 2050. Among the recent milestones: In fiscal year 2023, Amcor reduced its absolute GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by approximately 10% compared to the previous year.

Also in fiscal year 2023, Amcor expanded and formalized Scope 3 data expectations for suppliers. In particular, Amcor requested verified GHG emissions data for the products purchase from suppliers. The company also expects suppliers to commit to a minimum 3% annual reduction in emissions on the products from them.

3. Chief Sustainability Officer: David Clark, previously Amcor VP of sustainability, has been appointed to the new chief sustainability officer role. Clark reports directly to CEO Peter Konieczny.

Clark has held various sustainability and safety roles at Amcor since joining the company in 2004. He was:

• VP of sustainability since 20018;
• VP of safety, environment & sustainability from 2007 to 2018; and
• director of sustainability from 2005 to 2007.

Earlier, Clark was an Amcor Plant Manager, and he oversaw an Amcor-owned recycling plant in 2004.

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, CEO Peter Konieczny said elevating Clark to the CSO role "enables us to further increase our focus on the significant growth opportunity we can continue to unlock by commercializing solutions that drive the industry toward a circular economy for packaging, while reducing carbon footprint."

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.