DS Smith Zarnesti extends commitment to education into 2024, with new opportunities for elementary school students

DS Smith paper mill in Zarnesti continues the series of initiatives with a focus on education on the circular economy and sustainability, which will commence this Fall with two new projects and will extend into next year, benefitting hundreds of pupils. In this regard, the company extended the partnership established with Brasov County School Inspectorate in 2020 and targets schools in Zarnesti and Rasnov, where activities commenced in November.

The circular economy lessons for children aged 6 to 10, contribute to DS Smith’s Now & Next Sustainability Strategy target of engaging ten million people on circular economy and circular lifestyles by 2030. Since 2020, almost 1,000 students in Brasov County took part in the attractive workshops and learned more about environmental protection, recycling and proper waste management, enriching their knowledge on the matter. Now, schools in Zarnesti and Rasnov are invited to book their seats – the activities take place in class and participation is free.

Captivating activities are also happening on site. At the end of October, over 200 children from Elementary School No. 27 “Anatol Ghermanschi” in Brasov and “Mihail Saulescu” Theoretical Highschool in Predeal visited the paper mill during “Saptamana Altfel” to take part in a unique format, including a virtual tour of the facility, a presentation on circular economy and a hands-on experiment: how to make paper from cardboard, using just basic appliances. Other groups are welcome throughout the school year, upon request.

Diana Ciuraru, HR Manager of DS Smith Zarnesti: “All major transformations started with a bold step, a drive to get involved. This was us back in 2020, when we launched a pilot project, with the circular economy lessons. Three years later, our initiative is expected with much enthusiasm by teachers, pupils and parents alike. It feels great to know that we are doing our part, helping children in Brasov County discover how each act – no matter how small – can truly make the difference for our community and for the world.”

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DS Smith has also developed a more advanced lesson plan on Circular Economy, targeting children aged 11 to 14. The Romanian version can be requested from the company’s website, under ‘Sustainability’ tab.

Using exclusively recycled paper, the DS Smith paper mill in Zărnești is the largest production unit of its kind in Romania, serving almost half of the local demand for packaging paper.

In Romania, DS Smith owns a coordination centre for recycling operations in Bucharest, two recycling depots in Stefanesti and Cluj-Napoca, a paper mill in Zărnești, two packaging production units in Ghimbav and Timisoara and three service centers, in Pitesti, Timișoara and Otopeni, Ilfov county, where a total of 650 employees work.