Smurfit Kappa, a global leader in sustainable food packaging solutions, has recently inaugurated its first plant in North Africa. The new integrated corrugated plant in Rabat, Morocco, marks an exciting opportunity for the company to not only serve the local market but also cater to wider regions in Africa.
The plant comes at a promising time, with the OECD forecasting a 3.5% growth rate in 2023 and 3.7% in 2024 for Morocco (source: North Africa Post). Over the past five years, Smurfit Kappa has invested approximately €4.7 billion to support its customers and capitalize on long-term growth drivers.
Investing over €35 million, Smurfit Kappa has built a state-of-the-art facility spanning 25,000 m2 in Rabat. From ground-break to operation, the plant was completed within an impressive seven months and will create 400 direct and indirect jobs. It will cater to domestic Moroccan businesses as well as global companies across various sectors such as industrial, agricultural, FMCG, automotive, pharma, and ceramics. Furthermore, the facility showcases the latest innovations in packaging solutions through its newest experience center, which is part of a global network of over 30 centers.
The plant has made significant strides in sustainability by integrating solar power. The incorporation of nearly 1,500 solar panels makes it the first packaging facility in Morocco to be supplied by green energy. This not only ensures the sustainability of the product but also leads to a 55% reduction in electricity consumption and 900 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved annually. Additionally, the plant features a robust purification and water treatment system that curbs water consumption by 50%.
Tony Smurfit, Group CEO, expressed his enthusiasm about this significant milestone, stating: “Our first corrugated operation in North Africa is an exciting step for Smurfit Kappa, and we’re proud to unveil our state-of-the-art Moroccan facility. By leveraging our global scale and expertise alongside the exceptional knowledge of our local team, we’re committed to providing the best-in-class service to our customers. Morocco’s strategic geographical location not only complements our European operations but also enhances our global footprint, giving us a competitive advantage.”
