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Packaging is a key component of delivering safe, high-quality products to our consumers. However, we recognize packaging and plastic waste is a global issue that is an increasing concern for our customers and consumers. Beyond waste, we know that both the production and disposal of packaging contribute to our Scope 3 GHG emissions.

To reduce the potential negative impacts of plastic waste and waste sent to landfills, we are reducing unnecessary materials and increasing recyclability across our packaging portfolio while still ensuring our ability to deliver high-quality and safe, consumable products to our customers.

In addition to increasing our proportion of more sustainable materials, we are eliminating unnecessary packaging and ensuring responsible sourcing. We are well on our path to eliminating hard-to-recycle PVC from our global packaging portfolio. As of December 31, 2022, we had qualified alternatives for 100 percent of the PVC in our packaging supply chain and are nearing full global conversion to non-PVC alternatives.

We remain focused on our commitment to achieve 100 percent plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2030.

Beyond these efforts, we continue to drive circularity by using more recycled materials across our portfolio. One example is the redesign of our Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup multi-pack carriers, which are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. This change eliminates nearly 33,000 pounds of virgin high-density polyethylene annually.

Our aim is to leverage our expertise and resources to help provide solutions that will protect our own products and potentially offer solutions with benefits beyond our business. For example, beyond consumer packaging, we are finding ways to further reduce our secondary, transport and retail display packaging by investing in design solutions that improve distribution efficiency and eliminate the need for extra trucks on the road. These packaging reduction efforts are helping Hershey mitigate the impact of excess packaging and packaging waste on our overall Scope 3 GHG emissions.