Manufacturer, consumer product company, printer/converter and trade shop alike are in the process of implementing or improving both programs and policies. Several have pledged to become carbon free and set 2030 as their target. The objective behind all moves: drive home results—internally, as well as at customers. Critical focus areas: inks, substrates and the interaction and interrelationship between them.
FTA member manufacturers, like INX International Ink Co, maintain, “The development of each and every product—including two recent formulations, INXhrc and Genesis washable label inks—is rooted in the company’s sustainability commitment that dates back to 2005.” Corporate wide, it stretches to member sites: Dunkirk, NY; Appleton, WI; Homewood, IL; Quebec, Canada; Lebanon, OH; Santa Fe Springs, CA; West Chicago, IL and its headquarters in Schaumburg, IL.
Photo courtesy of Dart Container Corp
At FTA printer/converter member Dart Container Corp, “Sustainability is a huge priority.” The converter’s multi-locations manufacture products to give people the freedom to have their favorite food or beverage, but also takes responsibility for the environmental consequences of that freedom.” And the commitment extends corporate wide, including all nine FTA member plants: Atlacomulco, Mexico; Chicago, IL; Conyers, GA; Dallas, TX; Federalsburg, MD; Horse Cave, KY; Leola, PA; Scarborough, ON, Canada and its headquarters in Mason, MI.
Using those firms, which coincidentally partner on the planet improvement pathway, as examples, let’s examine the goings-on, progress made to date, work taking place and the future intentions to live up to expressed commitments and foster social responsibility.
Driving Principle
At INX, principles adopted nearly 20 years ago have taken root. “No one organization can protect our planet and achieve game-changing sustainability goals by going at it alone. We are dedicated to driving increased sustainability throughout our value chain—with our suppliers, our customers, and in the communities and regions in which we live and operate. We proactively seek to work with supplier partners who support our goals to make sure our products conserve resources, minimize environmental impacts and improve economic returns.”
Through the years, INX has steadfastly devoted resources to improving its sustainability performance and best manufacturing processes. More recently, the introduction of a “Coloring a Safe and Sustainable Future (CSSF) model” in 2020 is structured to increase efficiencies, reduce carbon footprints and contribute to a circular economy.
“It guides the way we develop, manufacture and distribute products, as well as how we work with our customers and suppliers,” says President and CEO John Hrdlick, who is retiring on April 30 and will be succeeded by Bryce Kristo. “We believe with the right focus and R&D capabilities, we can help our customers innovate and achieve their sustainability goals, and deliver greater value to their customers.”
“Since our baseline year of 2005, we have reduced waste by 9.3 percent through employee training and improving our manufacturing processes.”
The CSSF model supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. INX has retooled its manufacturing operation to meet those objectives. “As training for the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) continues at all our plants, we are seeing changes and modifications that make for a better and sustainable product and an improved manufacturing process. This includes everything from energy and emissions reductions, to a decrease in waste and minimizing the dependence on clean water,” says David Maternowski, VP of quality and business management systems.
Maternowski indicated that secondary benefits are also being realized. “Sustainability as part of the product, the process, and the people are the three pillars that complete our vision and journey,” he says. “SDGs 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 15 are wrapped into one lean process change. Our employees now use less carbon energy (gas and electric and other resources) by removing unnecessary steps within the process. They experience fewer steps, less hand motion and less physical lifting with a stronger reliance on visual work instructions. It has produced a more positive work atmosphere with less stress on the body and mind.”
Proper employee training has yielded other benefits including improved waste management techniques for inks and substrates, according to Jim Kochanny, INX SVP and COO. “Since our baseline year of 2005, we have reduced waste by 9.3 percent through employee training and improving our manufacturing processes,” he notes. “Currently, 70 percent of all waste is reused or recycled by our in-house inventory management program, waste treatment system, solvent distillation and managed partners for waste-to-energy usage. With continued process improvement projects, we are confident that we will reach our goal of 100 percent reuse/recycle of our generated waste by 2030.”