Smurfit Westrock Receives BritCham Award for Social and Environmental Management
The “A Cauca of Opportunities” program was awarded for combining work in technical and agricultural education, rural employment, and environmental conservation in communities historically affected by conflict.
In the latest edition of the BritCham Awards, Smurfit Westrock was recognized in the category “Community Management for the Reconciliation and Peace of Colombia” for its program “A Cauca of Opportunities”—an initiative with a long-term vision that reflects the company’s commitment to territorial development, inclusion, and sustainability in Cauca and all the regions where it operates.
Organized by the Colombian-British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham), in partnership with the British Embassy and EAN University, the BritCham Awards celebrated their 18th edition, highlighting the most outstanding business initiatives in sustainability, climate action, and social innovation. This year, with over 350 entries, the awards recognized projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and best ESG practices.
“A Cauca of Opportunities” is a comprehensive territorial development model by Smurfit Westrock and its Foundation that, for over 40 years, has promoted sustainable development in rural and urban communities in the department of Cauca—a region rich in natural resources but historically marked by inequality and conflict. In municipalities such as Buenos Aires, Suárez, Santander de Quilichao, Cajibío, El Tambo, Popayán, Timbío, and Sotará, the program benefited 2,800 people in 2024 and generated 876 formal jobs, combining rural technical education, support for local entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation. All of this is led from within the territory and in partnership with communities, local governments, leaders, the academic sector, companies, foundations, and cooperation agencies, among others.
"This recognition fills us with pride because it is born from joint work with the communities of Cauca. There, where inequality has prevailed for years, we have learned that listening, building collectively, and believing in people’s potential can open real paths toward reconciliation. This award is also a call to continue strengthening alliances that transform territories with respect, commitment, and hope," said Vanessa Hatty, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications, and Marketing.
With this recognition, Smurfit Westrock reaffirms its focus on initiatives that generate concrete changes in the territories, demonstrating that sustainable development is possible when working hand in hand with communities.
