DS Smith’s new recycling director: ‘Focus on separate collections’

Paper and packaging producer DS Smith has appointed Dutchman Rogier Gerritsen as managing director of its recycling division. He will be responsible for the group’s recycling operations across Europe, annually processing around six million tonnes of paper for recycling at the company’s own and partner mills.

‘I am excited about this new opportunity and the prospect of working in the sector as it responds to the recycling challenge that comes from huge changes in consumer shopping habits,’ says Gerritsen. ‘As we see more packaging entering household recycling streams, we must focus on making sure that the right collection infrastructure, namely separate collections of paper, is in place to facilitate the best quality paper possible for recycling.’

Gerritsen joined DS Smith in 2012, holding senior roles in both the packaging and paper divisions and gaining valuable experience across the full spectrum of sustainable paper and packaging production. He is currently working as a cluster director for the paper division, overseeing the operational and commercial activities of some of DS Smith’s largest European mills for recycled papers. He will take on his new role fully by October.

Gerritsen succeeds Jochen Behr who is leaving DS Smith at the end of July after more than three years heading the recycling division to take up an opportunity in Australia.