Trei Johnson recognized at Packaging News Sustainability & Impact Awards in London for operational innovation and organizational sustainability leadership
Trei Johnson, Director of Sustainability at Accredo Packaging, has been named Sustainability Leader of the Year at the 2026 Packaging News Sustainability & Impact Awards, held July 14 at the Kia Oval in London. The award recognizes outstanding individual leadership in sustainable packaging, selected from a global field of nominees.
The recognition reflects a multi-year transformation of Accredo's sustainability function into a structured, data-driven global strategy. Under Johnson's leadership, Accredo has achieved several key operational and product milestones:
- Emissions Reduction: A 20.1% reduction in Scope 1-2 CO2 emissions since its 2021 baseline.
- Disclosure Transparency: Improved its CDP Climate Disclosure rating from D to B through three years of rigorous data refinement.
- Product Innovation: Commercialized the packaging industry's first 100% Braskem sugarcane resin pouch. A carbon-capture solution utilizing sugarcane-derived polyethylene that remains recyclable through existing store drop-off infrastructure.
The company has also maintained zero market-based Scope 2 emissions for over 15 years and operates the first LEED Silver-certified flexible packaging facility in North America. Beyond internal operations, Johnson serves as a founding board member of the Film and Flexibles Recycling Alliance and a voting member of the APR Flexibles Committee.
A distinguishing element of Johnson's approach is his commitment to building sustainability literacy across the organization. A recent internal sustainability education initiative delivered a 9.5 out of 10 recommendation score, with 100% of participants documenting that sustainability knowledge directly increases their professional effectiveness across functions.
"Sustainability leadership that only faces outward is only doing half the job," said Johnson. "The work that actually moves the needle happens inside the organization, in the conversations, the training, the incentives, and the culture. External recognition matters, but internal alignment is what makes it last."
— Trei Johnson, Director of Sustainability
"This recognition is a reflection of the core values Accredo was founded on. We have always believed that doing business responsibly and doing business well are the same thing. Trei's leadership is proof that commitment produces results the entire industry takes notice of.”
— Mike Mazur
Learn more at accredopackaging.com