Liner manufacturing is an industrial process that generates a considerable amount of production waste. That is why at Loparex, we have implemented an organization-wide zero landfill policy. Enabling sustainable performance means we aim to repurpose as much of this waste as possible through internal recycling measures. We also have the option of sending it to external partners for processing, recycling and, as a last option, disposal.
From a business standpoint, internal recycling yields the best returns. However, the production waste we generate can also be sold as a raw material to third parties who then turn it into a variety of products. For over a decade, our Eden, NC and Hammond, WI plants have been working with local business JCR Recycling, on a program called “Waste Nothing.” Over the years, JCR has purchased tens of thousands of tons of paper and plastic waste from our plants, creating a significant resource savings in the process.
The materials JCR purchases from Loparex have a variety of uses depending on their composition. Recycled rolls of poly coated paper, for instance, can be used to make products like tablecloths, paper floor mats, and animal pen floor liners. In each of these applications, the existing coating provides great moisture resistance. However, this also makes effective waste processing extremely important, as coated, and uncoated by-products must be carefully separated to prevent potential issues. In this regard, appropriate training and employee awareness are key.
Recycling is an important piece of our overall sustainability strategy, and our goal over the coming years is to increase both the scope and effectiveness of our measures. In addition to working with third-party recyclers at various locations, we are intensifying our efforts to find ways of reusing production waste to expand our portfolio of sustainable solutions.
The benefits of our recycling efforts are significant. For instance, “In 2021, for instance, 2,306 tons of plastic were recycled and 3,234 tons of paper – the equivalent of about 14,432 trees – at our Eden and Hammond plants alone. This saved 199.7 GWh of energy, 22,637,160 gallons (~85,690,972 liter) of water and 63,946 cubic yards (~48,890 m³) of landfill space.
Industrial by-products from manufacturing companies like us are greatly preferable to material from consumer recycling streams for recyclers. They are free of impurities and other sources of contamination and are generally more uniform. By repurposing production waste through recycling and reusing, we contribute to a sustainable future.
Partner with us and see how together, we can make a greener earth!