Q&A: Reflections from a World’s Most Ethical Companies® Honoree

Graphic Packaging International was recently recognized as one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies®, a distinction that reflects our commitment to accountability, integrity and transparency across our global operations. In this Q&A, Lori Kaczynski, senior vice president and chief audit, risk and compliance officer, and Michelle Fitzpatrick, vice president and chief sustainability officer, reflect on our ethics, compliance and sustainability progress.

Q. What does it mean to be recognized as one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies®?

Fitzpatrick: This is truly an honor and a powerful affirmation of who we are and how we operate. Integrity and accountability - two of our five core values - guide decisions across our global business, and this recognition shows that our systems are working the way they should.

It also reinforces something important: ethics, compliance and sustainability are deeply connected. As our sustainability ambitions grow, this recognition confirms that we have the foundation, systems, and governance needed to deliver on those commitments responsibly.

Kaczynski: I agree. This honor shows that ethics isn't just a value we talk about; it's part of how we run the company every day.

For customers, it signals they're working with a partner that not only provides sustainable packaging but also meets high standards for transparency and responsible practices. Consumer goods companies care deeply about the strength of their suppliers' compliance programs because it impacts their brands, their supply chains, and their own ability to meet regulatory and consumer expectations. And for our employees, it strengthens the trust and culture we've been building - the kind that helps people feel supported and accountable.

"This recognition reflects the high-integrity culture we are building - one that values doing things the right way. Acting ethically strengthens trust with customers, supports operational excellence and helps us remain a preferred partner. It also creates long-term value through strong execution and growth."

- Robbert Rietbroek, President and Chief Executive Officer, Graphic Packaging

Q: Building a strong ethics and compliance program takes sustained effort. What are some of the most important steps Graphic Packaging has taken in recent years to strengthen governance, accountability and ethical decision-making across our global operations?

Kaczynski: We've strengthened oversight in meaningful ways - including appointing our first chief compliance officer and establishing an executive committee to guide the program's strategy and metrics. We also improved how we report to the Board and Audit Committee, which gives us stronger oversight at the top.

From there, we've taken a very practical, risk-based approach. We stay close to the regulatory landscape, update our risk assessments regularly, and continually refine our Code of Conduct so it truly supports ethical decision-making. We've also modernized our policies and procedures, advanced third-party due diligence, and expanded communication and training. On top of that, we've built a strong global privacy program, improved how we manage conflicts of interest, and rolled out a "speak-up" campaign to reinforce transparency and trust. All of this is backed by solid complaint and investigation processes and internal audits.

We've also taken meaningful steps on human rights and supply-chain accountability. Through our Modern Slavery Report and ongoing alignment with the UN Global Compact, we're reinforcing responsible labor practices, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption commitments across our global footprint.

Q: As you worked through the Ethisphere assessment - reviewing hundreds of data points across areas such as governance, training, risk management and culture - what insights stood out most?

Fitzpatrick: The assessment gave us a clear, structured way to self-evaluate the progress we've made over the past few years. It reaffirmed where we're strongest: particularly in our environmental and social impact programs, as well as the processes we're establishing to better assess and manage risks in our supply chain. It also highlighted areas in our program with room to grow. Where we're headed next is further embedding ethics conversations and practices even more deeply into everyday behaviors across our global organization.

Kaczynski: I completely agree. What stood out to me is how much the assessment validated that we're on the right trajectory. Our policies and controls aren't just well-designed - employees are actually using them. The strong alignment we saw in areas like training, speak-up culture, and global accountability shows that ethics and compliance is becoming part of how we operate day to day, not something running in parallel. That's exactly the cultural depth Michelle is describing as our next phase.

Q: Ethics, compliance and sustainability are increasingly interconnected. How do your teams collaborate to ensure that our environmental and social commitments are supported by strong governance, transparency and responsible decision-making?

Kaczynski: Our ethics, compliance and sustainability teams work closely together because our environmental and social commitments only hold weight when they're backed by strong governance and responsible decision-making. We align on policies, risk assessments, training, and reporting so that sustainability goals - whether related to climate, human rights, or responsible sourcing - are supported by clear standards and transparent processes. That collaboration helps ensure ethical expectations show up in daily operations and that our sustainability strategy is grounded in integrity and accountability.

Fitzpatrick: Exactly. The strength of our sustainability commitments comes from that shared accountability. We stay closely connected across sustainability, legal, compliance, internal audit, procurement, marketing, sales and operations to make sure we're all working from the same frameworks, data standards and risk-management processes.

Whether we're setting climate targets, managing customer and/or supplier expectations, or reporting performance, we rely on consistent, documented processes and credible data so that what we say externally is fully supported internally. This integrated approach helps us manage risk, maintain trust with stakeholders, and deliver on our commitments in a way that is both responsible and resilient.

Q: What emerging risks or ethical challenges do you see for companies in our industry? How is Graphic Packaging evolving to stay ahead?

Kaczynski: We're seeing risks emerge where supply-chain integrity, data and AI governance, and evolving regulations all intersect. The challenge is not only meeting those requirements but doing so consistently across every region where we operate - while maintaining trust with customers, employees and shareholders. That's why we're sharpening our enterprise risk sensing, strengthening oversight of AI and human rights, reinforcing our "speak-up culture," and embedding compliance deeper into our business.

Fitzpatrick: Lori's exactly right, and many of those same pressures show up in sustainability. Regulations and reporting requirements are accelerating just as quickly, putting real emphasis on data assurance. Stakeholders now expect sustainability data and claims to be as accurate and reliable as financial information, which raises the bar across the board.

Where our teams come together is ensuring the governance behind sustainability data and related claims is strong. We're aligning sustainability closely with ethics and compliance, investing in better tools and processes, and working across functions to build consistent reporting and communication standards.

And as Lori noted, supply-chain expectations continue to rise - from responsible sourcing to human rights to circularity to decarbonization - so embedding these requirements into procurement and supplier oversight is critical. Weak governance or limited transparency can quickly become a business risk, which is why our integrated approach is so important as expectations keep evolving.

This recognition, alongside our placement on the 2026 rankings of America's Most Just Companies by Just Capital and 2026 World's Most Admired Companies list by Fortune, shows that others see the values our people put into action every day. It's a reminder that doing what's right for our employees, customers and communities continues to fuel the impact we're creating together.

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