Letter From the President & Chief Executive Officer

Lately, it seems that we’ve been surrounded by messages about sustainability in every aspect of our lives. But what does it all mean? Here at Bemis, we are proud to have embraced a three-tiered approach incorporating Economic, Environmental, and Social considerations in our efforts to create long-term, sustainable value. Sustainability isn’t just about “green” practices. It’s about being poised to move into the future as a robust, successful company. It’s a challenge we’ve met throughout our history and will continue to meet with talent, creativity, and sensitivity.

As the largest flexible packaging manufacturer in the Americas and a leading producer of pressure sensitive materials, Bemis has built its strong reputation throughout 150 years of providing quality products to our customers, products that are tailored to their needs and do the job better than any other products could. We are extremely proud of this long history, and we look forward to continuing to lead the way in new and exciting developments in polymer chemistry and adhesive science and to remaining a rewarding and profitable investment for our shareholders. In many ways, our economic sustainability rests on our commitment to driving technology forward, a commitment that we’ve held firmly to for the past century and a half, and one we’ll continue to uphold moving forward.

We also recognize that this company is made up of more than the products we produce, and we must look to the wellbeing of not only our employees, but the communities in which we operate. The Bemis community is made up of nearly 20,000 employees spread across 78 facilities in 12 countries, and we take our obligation to provide them with a safe and rewarding work experience very seriously. Part of that obligation means striving to be active and valued members of the communities where we operate, and we are grateful that our profitability allows us to respond to so many needs. Over the last five years, Bemis has contributed in excess of $12.5 million to non-profit organizations in our communities around the world, including $5.1 million to support education, and over $4.5 million to support basic needs served by hunger, shelter, and social welfare programs. We view responsible community participation as an integral part of business, and are proud of our employees’ involvement.

Finally, we recognize that, in addition to our shareholders, customers, and employees, the environment is a silent stakeholder in our company, and we have an obligation to behave responsibly toward it. Through ongoing sustainability efforts, we are working to increase efficiency, and reduce waste and emissions throughout our operations. Our commitment to environmental stewardship incorporates our material science and engineering expertise, and has led to the development of innovative packaging that improves food protection and safety, and increases product shelf life. Packaging innovations such as these not only reflect our awareness of our customers’ changing needs, but also improves the environmental impact associated with a product’s life cycle.

Armed with the culture of stewardship and sustainability that has been an integral part of our 150-year history, we are prepared to move into the next 150 years with the confidence that we play a valuable role as a corporate citizen of individual communities and of the world.

Sincerely,

Henry Theisen
President and Chief Executive Officer, Bemis Company, Inc.