We recognize the existence of plastics in our environment. The low cost, convenience, and versatility of plastics have caused their proliferation in our lives. The lack of adequate end-of-life waste management in many parts of the world causes litter and a global marine pollution problem. Stopping the leakage of plastics into waterways is a global problem. ClearView Packaging has been participating in cleanup efforts since 2019. The Riverkeeper is a Hudson River Clean-Up effort on the first Saturday of May each year. Details can be found at www.riverkeeper.org. ClearView participated for the 5th years in a row in May 2023.

For nearly three decades Pod Pack has been a full-service co-manufacturer based in Baton Rouge, LA of high-quality single serve coffee and tea packaging solutions to a full array of customers across diverse food and beverage channels. As part of their sustainability efforts, Pod Pack offers a full line of single serve Pods and Keurig compatible cups that are fully BPI (Biodegradable Product Institute) certified. BPI certifies “industrial compatible” products that meet relevant ASTM standards or composability. The BPI process is rigorous and ensures that these items can be cycled back into the soil safely through a commercial composting facility. Certified compostable materials that make their way to composting facilities gives the used material the ability to stay in the economy, breaking down in the soil to help fuel new growth and avoiding wasting valuable resources in landfills.

Joe’s Garage is a contract manufacturing company in Seattle Washington offering flexible coffee roasting and packaging services in the Specialty Coffee Industry.   Coffee is among the most highly traded commodities in the world with a global footprint of 10 million acres spread over 12.5 million farms.  Industry reports estimates suggest that a majority (over 50%) of the environmental and social impacts associated with coffee production occur at the farming stage, particularly related to deforestation, water usage, and farmer livelihoods.  Joe’s Garage has worked on avenues to address the sustainability of supply chains.  They offer clients the capability to source and produce Rain Forest Alliance certified products, Fair Trade certified products, and certified Organic products. Third party certifications use verification systems and independent auditors to ensure supply chain members are meeting requirements.  For companies, the certifications encourage responsible business practices and transparency throughout the supply and production process.  In offering these certifications, Joe’s Garage helps companies build more resilient supply chains, strengthen consumer loyalty, and achieve their sustainability goals.

Summit Plastics manufactures and converts custom packaging. Re-purposing used or scrap polyethylene material is an area important to Summit Plastics. Reusing existing materials lowers emissions, treats used material as valuable keeping them out of the natural environment and prevents down-cycling. For over 10 years, Summit Plastics has re-pelletized its own internal scrap to make new material. In 2024, investment in new pelletizing equipment will allow the company to increase its recycling of used material to include re-pelletizing from outside sources. The company sees itself not only as a source for custom packaging, but also as a collaborative partner for others in recycling used plastic.

Clearview Packaging’s holiday employee bowling event in December of 2023 doubled as a charitable endeavor. One of Clearview’s employees passed away tragically in the summer of 2023. He left behind a young middle school aged son. To help with the son’s long-term education, Clearview donated 25 cents for every pin knocked down during the event. The donation went to an account setup for the son for his post high school education. The event was fun, exciting, and heart-warming as 4 teams square off to raise money and beat each other. The star of the show was the son and his family who came to the event to participate. Clearview looks forward to next year to raise money for a cause in need of support.

Fredman Bag has been a member of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources Green Tier program since 2012. Green Tier empowers companies who are engaged in sustainability to use a systematic approach to minimize environmental risk. The program helps align business objectives with environmental stewardship. Commitments to maintain status in the program include annual internal audits, conducting 3rd-party audits every three years, and submitting an annual report. Green Tier program membership has driven, and continues to drive, many of the environmental sustainability actions at Fredman Bag. One of those actions is Landfill diversion. Fredman Bag has diverted 100% of its waste away from landfills for over 5 years and counting, due to specific processes and training, plus engaged people. We partner with recyclers who take our by-products and use them as feedstock to make other things.

Many times, sustainability is only thought of in terms of the environment. Sustainability also engages in the social part of the business where companies seek to find ways to maximize things like employee health and wellbeing. Traco Packaging’s employee of the month program is unique and helps drive positive change. Employees are nominated for the award by coworkers on a monthly basis. The criterion for nomination is simple: any action that makes working at Traco or living in the community a better place is eligible. All monthly nominations are recognized, and one monthly winner is announced with an award and gift card. The twelve-monthly winners are eligible for a larger prize at the year-end holiday gathering. The prizes are motivational for each employee, but the real gift is felt by all who are rewarded with a giving culture.

In 2024, Summit Clinical Research established an internal Sustainability Board and began a new sustainability page as part of their quarterly staff newsletter. Initially, sustainability was narrowly seen as an environmental initiative. As a service provider without a physical product, the business’ environmental impact seemed very low. Increased awareness of efforts by other service providers combined with some training to help the company view sustainability as a combination of environmental, social and governance issues. The company sustainability impacts are greater in the social (employee health & well-being and community involvement) and governance areas. The Sustainability Board focuses on uncovering the company’s important sustainability issues and taking authentic actions to address those issues. The newsletter sustainability page is a means to educate staff, share ideas and raise employee awareness.

Entering its 15th year, KPS Life has been providing clinical trial research solutions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry to help bring life changing drugs to market for patients. Each year, KPS Life donates to the local food bank in addition to a local domestic violence center in the area where KPS Life is headquartered in Malvern, PA. Such donations come in the form of clothing, old cell phones as well as any financial contribution.

Since its inception in 2016, Pinnacle Clinical Research (PCR) has been at the forefront of research, treatment, and detection of fatty liver disease. Affecting 25% of adults worldwide, with an increased prevalence in minority communities, the disease state is further amplified given it’s asymptomatic and without a, yet, FDA-approved treatment. Thus, PCR is driving sustainability through its commitment to the traditionally underserved, as evidenced by site locations in marginalized communities, and PCR’s leadership composition mirrors this assurance of inclusiveness.

Associated MetalCast offers unparalleled expertise in precision-machined, complex metal component manufacturing. With manufacturing comes human error and the potential for accidents. In 2023, the company finished the year with zero recordable accidents and zero lost time incidents. The achievement is the result of the company’s persistent and consistent focus on employee health, safety and training by management and all employees. To further their health and safety focus, Associated MetalCast has partnered with The University of Alabama Safety State Program for inside consultation. The consultation program is designed to reduce cost of doing business and contribute to return on investment in both the short and long term.

Global Gourmet recognizes themselves as a trusted food manufacturer which compels the company to invest in environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. An important component of safe and efficient food manufacturing processes is refrigeration. Global Gourmet has been proactive in transitioning its refrigeration systems over the long term toward ammonia and away from freon. Ammonia offers exceptional thermal efficiency and does not have ozone depletion or global warming characteristics, making it an ideal environmentally friendly refrigerant option.

The move toward ammonia is good for the company: energy efficiency lowers costs. The move is also good for stakeholders: low emissions exceed regulatory requirements, is a positive for the community, attracts customers and helps build positive internal culture.

By continuously focusing on issues most important (most material) to the business and its stakeholders, Global Gourmet builds both returns and resilience.