Since March 14, in order to combat the Covid-19 epidemic, the government has decreed the closure of sites open to the public that are not essential to the life of the country. And since Tuesday midday, the State has been asking the French to stop going out to stop the spread of this particularly contagious disease. These various measures may sow confusion among employees and company directors.
Jean-Christophe Bugeon, CEO of the French subsidiary of the Irish papermaker Smurfit Kappa (8.9 billion euros turnover in 2018 and 46,000 employees in 35 countries), would like to set the record straight on the i's concerning the packaging industry. Smurfit Kappa France has 50 sites in France.
Packaging, a key sector for industries vital to the French people
"Continuity of operations is a top priority for all strategic sectors that contribute to maintaining communications, food and basic necessities, health and hygiene, home delivery and population mobility. Our company (...) is active in a key area, corrugated packaging". The packaging is "indispensable" to maintain the activity of these strategic sectors.
"To continue to supply these vital industries that are in high demand right now, our company must be able to keep working and our employees must be able to move to our production and distribution centers."
"Staying at home can't concern the people who produce to feed the French."
He goes on to say: "The government's communication must insist on the need for employees in the food chain to work. Staying at home on your couch cannot concern people who produce to feed the French. Without packaging, the products cannot reach the stores."
"It goes without saying" that all safety measures to ensure the protection of its employees have been taken. Teleworking is implemented wherever possible and employees working on site "have no risk of contamination at the workstation and demonstrate responsibility and determination."
Jean-Christophe Bugeon also enjoins all his suppliers (paper, starch, inks, equipment and maintenance) essential to the manufacture of packaging to do the same.
"It's a whole chain that our country needs to avoid being at a standstill and allow deliveries of basic necessities. Feeding the French will only be possible if the entire food industrial chain continues to function."
