DS Smith Charitable Foundation

The DS Smith Charitable Foundation, established in 2011 by global sustainable packaging company DS Smith PLC, advances environmental protection and sustainability education to protect nature, enhance biodiversity, and foster circular economy understanding. Governed by a board of DS Smith employees with charitable expertise, it embodies the company's corporate social responsibility, emphasizing long-term ecological stewardship, community empowerment, scalable nature-based solutions, and rigorous impact measurement aligned with DS Smith's "Now and Next" sustainability strategy.

It prioritizes projects in water management, sustainable farming, reforestation, biodiversity restoration, and environmental education, funding activities like chalk stream restoration, tree planting, wildflower meadows, and habitat protection for species such as butterflies and threatened birds. Beneficiaries include conservation organizations, farmers, youth, and communities, with notable grants to The Nature Conservancy ($1M for freshwater projects in the UK, Croatia, and USA), Future Trees Trust, Trees for Cities, and initiatives in Austria, Germany, and Wales. Geographically, it supports sites across the UK, Europe, North America, and DS Smith operations worldwide.

Eligible applicants are typically medium-to-large, established non-profits and conservation groups with proven environmental impact; no strict income thresholds apply, but it prefers strategic partners. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is invite-only for pre-selected projects, with general queries via charitablefoundation@dssmith.com. Grants range from £100,000 to £1,000,000, exclusively for project costs (no core, unrestricted, or emergency funding). Distinguished by its corporate integration, international scope, and focus on high-impact, measurable ecological and educational outcomes, it stands out as a targeted partner for biodiversity and sustainability experts.