Smurfit Kappa Recycling Scheme Raises Over £40,000 for Hospice Care

A total of £41,038.74 has been raised for St Giles Hospice which will help to fund the provision of high-quality care to local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses. This has been largely achievable thanks to businesses in the region who donate their recyclable paper and cardboard to the depot. Smaller businesses deliver their recyclable cardboard and paper direct to the depot, while larger business can request a bin which is collected free of charge. Smurfit Kappa Recycling pays for every tonne of material collected and over the years an increasing number of customers have been nominating St Giles Hospice as the recipient for the payments. It is hoped that even more local businesses will join them over the coming months as the recycler begins working towards its £80,000 fundraising target.

All of the material supplied to Smurfit Kappa ends up at its paper mill in nearby Nechells, Birmingham and its sister mill in Kent, where it is recycled into brown paper which is used to make new packaging materials. As well as generating much-needed funds for St Giles, the initiative provides a free and environmentally-responsible recycling solution for local businesses and ensures a valuable resource is put to good use, close to home.

Jeremy Green, Commercial Manager for Smurfit Kappa Recycling, says: “We are delighted to have supported St Giles Hospice over the years. Its valuable work has positively benefitted so many of our employee's immediate families and friends; everyone understands what a vital role St Giles plays within the local community.

“We are really proud of the amount that we’ve been able to donate thanks to all the recyclable paper and cardboard we’ve received from so many diverse small businesses in the region. Small amounts really do add up.

“We’re now looking forward to developing the partnership and hope that other business will help us raise even more money for St Giles by getting involved with this fantastic project.”

Richard Phillips, Corporate Account Manager for St Giles Hospice, adds: “The support we’ve had from Smurfit Kappa Recycling over the past few years has been brilliant. They have also been heavily involved in supporting our events with both volunteers and financial support – they’ve been a fantastic partner in so many ways.”