SGP leads in-plant recycling effort

The Sayville, New York-based Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) says it has diverted some 35 tons of low- and high-density polyethylene scrap (LDPE and HDPE) and saved upholstery and window and wall coverings producer Designtex thousands of dollars with a recycling program it has helped establish.

SGP, which describes itself as an authority in sustainable printing certifications for print manufacturers, says Designtex has SPG certification status and engages in yearly continuous improvement projects to increase the effectiveness of its sustainability program.

In 2017, Designtex pledged to eliminate all waste from its production facilities, and as a result “saw a tremendous reduction in waste and earned tangible profits from recycling every month in 2018.”

Last year the company took action toward its zero production landfill goal by forming partnerships with its own vendors and others in the community. Designtex eliminated waste in several categories, often doing so profitably.

Aspects of the Designtex program include:

• Packaging scrap: Designtex now gets paid to return hybrid packaging materials to its vendor for reuse;
• HDPE scrap: one of Designtex’s vendors pays for the return of not only internal HDPE scrap but all HDPE scrap generated by the facility;
• LDPE scrap: LDPE scrap is delivered to a composite decking manufacturer as part of a joint program with other companies; and
• Organic waste: a local composting company composts all organic waste from the facility for reuse as soil in the employee garden. 

“By working with employees from all departments, the organization was able to design the flow around the [recycling] program so that the program fits right in,” says Paul Glynn of Designtex. He also credits employee buy-in with the success of the recycling program and other sustainability initiatives.

“Don’t forget to reach out to suppliers,” adds Glynn. “They may already have a sustainability initiative that can help reduce your waste and costs, and if not, they may be willing to collaborate to create one.”

SGP certification has been designed to help printers stay profitable by focusing not only on current sustainable practices but also on continuous improvement. As a result of these best practices, the average certified facility saves $43,000 per year, says SGP.