Smurfit Westrock has been honored with the 2025 Portafolio Award for Corporate Social Responsibility for its A Cauca of Opportunities program--an integrated territorial development model that, for more than 40 years, has worked hand-in- hand with rural and urban communities in the Cauca region to build real, long-term opportunities.
The Portafolio Awards, organized by Colombia's leading business newspaper and Casa Editorial El Tiempo (the country's most influential media group) have celebrated excellence, innovation, and social responsibility among companies and leaders driving Colombia's economic and social progress for over 30 years. Regarded as the 'Oscars' of Colombian business,
Smurfit Westrock was selected as the winner this year among high-caliber finalists including Sodimac Homecenter, PepsiCo, Henkel, and Nespresso (Nestlé), companies that also represent standards of excellence in their respective sectors.
Led jointly by Smurfit Westrock and its Foundation, A Cauca of Opportunities brings together rural technical education, local entrepreneurship development, and environmental conservation in a region historically affected by inequality and conflict. In 2024 alone, the program directly benefited 2,848 people and generated 876 jobs in municipalities such as Popayan, Timbio, Cajibio, Suarez, El Tambo and Sotara.
The results are both tangible and measurable:
- 1,145 graduates from the Agricultural and Forestry Technical Institutes (ITAF), consistently performing above-national averages
- 865 rural entrepreneurs supported--50% of them women--with sales surpassing COP 1.38 billion in 2024
- 382 hectares of natural forest protected, and 135,000 trees planted
- 113 rural aqueduct intakes strengthened, providing safer water to nearly 29,000 people
The model is built from the territory outward, through collaborations with communities, local governments, academia, companies, foundations, and international partners. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that each initiative responds to the real priorities of the communities and is led by them, strengthening ownership and long-term sustainability.
"This recognition celebrates the power of collaborative work grounded in listening and respect. In Cauca, we have learned that meaningful development grows alongside the communities themselves. Graduated youth, advancing rural businesses, and families leading their own transformation remind us why we do what we do. This award motivates us to continue building alliances that create real opportunities in the territories," said Germán Gambini, CEO of Smurfit Westrock for the Central Cluster.
With a presence in Colombia for more than 80 years, Smurfit Westrock maintains a deep and long-standing commitment to the country's social and environmental development. In 2024, the company invested COP 13.6 billion in social and environmental initiatives, reaching 21,800 people across more than 30 municipalities.
This new recognition--following the BritCham Award recently granted to the same program--reinforces Smurfit Westrock's commitment to a business model where economic growth translates into shared wellbeing, community leadership, and environmental sustainability.
