CREVE COEUR, Mo. and CHICAGO, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (Nasdaq: SSCC) has published its 2007 Environmental and Social Responsibility report. Entitled "A Sustainable Commitment", the report highlights some of the company's achievements in the areas of workplace safety, environmental responsibility, operational excellence, and community support. The report is available at http://www.smurfit-stone.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070129/SMURFIT-STONELOGO)

"Smurfit-Stone is committed to providing high quality packaging products and services while reducing our environmental footprint," said Patrick J. Moore, Smurfit-Stone chairman and chief executive officer. "One of our core values is to make wise use of our natural resources and to give back to our communities. Smurfit-Stone has a long-standing record of accomplishments in improving the quality of the environment, the character of our communities and the well-being of our employees. This report is a welcome opportunity to share some of our success stories."

Highlights cited in the 2007 report include:

-- The company's industry-leading safety performance every year since 2001 as demonstrated by its Hodge, LA, mill logging two million hours without a recordable injury.

-- Smurfit-Stone's forest resources group working with a landowner to preserve a rare Jackson Prairie in Louisiana.

-- A partnership between the company's Ontonagon, MI, mill and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, to help restore ecological balance to the south shore of Lake Superior.

-- Support for long-term forest health and productivity by annually distributing more than 24 million seedlings for planting on private and public lands.

-- Recovery of approximately 6.6 million tons of paper and almost 128,000 tons of non-paper recyclables in 2006, and new equipment installation to recover even more recyclable material.

-- Focus on Smurfit-Stone's responsible environmental practices including information about environmental management systems, investments, training, auditing, and product certification.

-- The company's commitment to its people, local communities, and corporate governance code of conduct.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is the industry's leading integrated manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging products and services, and is one of the world's largest paper recyclers. Smurfit-Stone is reshaping the world of packaging to drive profitable growth for our business and our customers' businesses by delivering the strongest price-value equation in the marketplace. The company is a leading provider of custom, proprietary and standard automated packaging machines, offering customers turn key installation, automation, line integration and packaging solutions. Smurfit-Stone is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. The company generated revenue of $7.2 billion in 2006, has led the industry in safety every year since 2001, and conducts its business in compliance with the environmental, health, and safety principles of the American Forest & Paper Association. www.smurfit-stone.com

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation

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