Smurfit Kappa has just announced the opening of its first integrated corrugated plant in Africa, for which he has invested more than 35 million euros. Strategically located in Rabat (Morocco), this region offers great opportunities, since the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts a growth rate of 3,5% in 2023 and 3,7% in 2024, and allows the company to provide service not only to the local market, but also to wider regions across the continent.
The new plant, 25 m2, will employ around 400 people and will serve Moroccan and multinational companies from different sectors: industrial, agricultural, consumer goods, automotive, pharmaceutical and ceramics. In addition, it has an Experience Center, the first in Africa, connected to a network of more than 30 centers around the world, which inspires and works on the latest innovations in packaging solutions.
Likewise, it has become the first integrated packaging plant in Morocco that is supplied with green energy, since it has 1 solar panels that will power the facility to cover 500% of its energy needs and will help it reduce 55 tons of CO emissions2 per year, which guarantees that the process is as sustainable as the product. It should also be mentioned that this newly opened Smurfit Kappa plant in Morocco has a water purification and treatment system that reduces consumption by 50%.
Ignacio Sevillano, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Spain I Portugal I Morocco, has declared that “our first corrugated cardboard operation in Africa is an exciting step for Smurfit Kappa and we are delighted to inaugurate our new and modern Moroccan plant. We continue to innovate and offer our customers a great product in a sustainable way. We combine our global reach and experience with the best knowledge of our local team to offer the best service to our clients. Morocco's geographical location complements our operations in Europe and adds to our global footprint, providing a competitive advantage."
For its part, Mounir Naciri, Managing Director of Smurfit Kappa Morocco, has stated that "strategically located in Rabat, our plant will be able to supply sustainable and innovative packaging solutions to multinational, national and local clients".
