Wearwell’s Foundation modular platform systems line uses 100 percent postconsumer recycled polypropylene.
Sustainability was not top of mind for companies in the 1950s, but recycling was the main reason Wearwell, originally known as Tennessee Mat, began producing industrial mats in 1950.
The Smyrna, Tennessee-based company launched when its founders, Max Greenberg and Charley Gross, saw an opportunity to convert scrap tires into industrial mats.
“They would take old tires, cut them down and put them together with wires and make mats you used to see at businesses,” says Phil Huss, product and engineering manager at Wearwell. “We were taking this material that nobody else wanted and making a product out of it. At the time, it wasn’t about sustainability. It was more that there was this waste and we wanted to turn it into something valuable.”
For the last 30 years, Wearwell has focused on developing safety products and ergonomic floor-related products for industrial workers. Huss says sustainability is a bigger consideration with product design today as the company has sought opportunities to include plastic scrap in its products this past decade.
“Our majority owner [Elliot Greenberg] is environmentally minded, and so am I,” he says. “We try to push for that kind of thought to be put into products when we’re developing them so that we do the best we can. We’ve come to the conclusion that in order to fix the plastic [waste] problem, we have to make sure there’s demand for recycled plastic. If there’s not, it doesn’t matter how much people put in their recycling bins if it’s not turned into anything. We have to create that demand so that there’s a value for it so people will do something with it.”
Wearwell created new demand for plastic scrap about a year and a half ago when it developed its Foundation modular platform system. The line incorporates 100 percent postconsumer recycled (PCR) polypropylene (PP).
Huss adds that this is the first time the company has used 100-percent PCR in a product.
“We had bought some postconsumer material in the past, but it was spotty,” he says. “For this product, I knew there were sources of PCR polypropylene out there that are good and controlled.”
Before Wearwell even developed the idea for its Foundation product line, Huss says the company considered ways it could use PCR. The company realized it could secure PCR PP from Troy, Alabama-based KW Plastics.
“KW Plastics is not too far from us, so we reached out to them early in the process and talked through the different product lines they had available,” Huss says. “They recycle many tons of PCR PP, and they have been a good partner with us.”
From there, the company developed Foundation modular platforms, which is made from both PCR PP, as well as aluminum. The modular platforms raise industrial workers to the height they need to be to perform their jobs, and Huss adds that the platforms also help to improve worker safety.
“It raises people above hazards, such as pipes or wires running through a working area,” Huss says.
He adds that the company often customizes the Foundation platforms for each application, offering modularity to flooring solutions. He says standard parts enable customers to assemble platforms with no tools required in 18-inch increments, which allows for a variety of configurations. Or, he adds, if a company needs to move the platform, it can easily be reconfigured.
Incorporating PCR PP into the platform’s design was not too challenging. Huss says the company uses one additive with the PCR PP for the Foundation modular platforms to prevent sinks from forming in the tiles. “That’s the only thing we had to do as far as material adjustments,” he says.
Using 100-percent PCR PP also is “simpler” than mixing the materials used for the platform, Huss adds. “Our feedstock of raw material has never given us reason to look at doing anything other than 100-percent PCR PP.”
The company hopes to incorporate PCR in more Wearwell products. “We are looking at introducing PCR to our cable protection line,” Huss says.
Since its debut, Foundation products have been used to help workers in machine centers, injection molding operations as well as a company in the aviation industry. Huss adds that there are many more industrial applications for Foundation platforms.
The company says its "record results" are a testament to continued execution and customer service focus in overcoming inflation and supply-chain issues.
Delware, Ohio-based packaging producer Greif has announced its second-quarter 2022 financial results, reporting a strong performance "driven by disciplined pricing action and cost management despite a challenging inflationary environment."
The company reports a net income of $125.1 million, or $2.09 per diluted Class A share, compared with a net income of $149.8 million, or $2.51 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2021, noting that last year's results included a one-time $95.7 million gain from the sale of approximately 69,200 acres of timberlands in southwest Alabama. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of $144.9 million increased compared with with $67.3 million in 2021.
"Our second-quarter results are a testament to our team's continued execution and customer service focus in overcoming significant ongoing headwinds related to inflation, supply chain and the pandemic to produce another quarter of record results," Greif President and CEO Ole Rosgaard said during an earnings call. "This level of execution is exemplary of the 'Build to Last' strategy in action."
Greif reports an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $251 million, an increase of $74.4 million compared with an adjusted EBITDA of $176.6 million in the second quarter of 2021, and the company's total debt decreased by $211.8 million to $1,991.2 million.
In its paper packaging and services division, Grief says net sales increased by $152.3 million primarily due to higher volumes and higher published containerboard and boxboard prices, which also impacted a gross profit increase of $56.9 million.
The company also announced several strategic actions including the completion of a divestment of its 50-percent interest in the Flexible Products & Services joint venture and applied net cash proceeds of $131.6 million received during the quarter toward repayment of debt.
In its 13th annual sustainability report released alongside its Q2 2022 earnings report, Greif Executive Chairman Peter Watson says since its acquisition of Caraustar Industries in 2019, the company has further elevated its focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors throughout 2021 to enhance its business performance. A leadership council comprised of Greif leaders from around the world focused on accelerating ESG performance in five areas: diversity, equity and inclusion, waste reduction, energy reduction, environmental compliance and circularity and innovation.
The full report can be accessed here.
According to local reports, Bay County Commissioners have been given the OK to evaluate and possibly acquire the former mill property, which ceased operations in early June.
Operations at WestRock's Panama City, Florida, paper mill permanently ceased June 6 and Bay County officials have been given the opportunity to evaluate and possibly acquire the property.
According to a report from the Panama City News Herald, County Manager Bob Majka executed an exclusivity agreement with WestRock on May 27 regarding the paper mill. Majka told the News Herald Chairman Robert Carroll would engage with experts to get appraisals completed, environmental assessments done and see if there is any type of risk or reward for the county owning the 350-acre property.
The 92-year-old mill produced containerboard—primarily heavyweight kraft—and fluff pulp, with a combined annual capacity of 645,000 tons. WestRock announced the closure in April and said the Panama City mill would "require significant capital investment to maintain and improve going forward."
The closure impacted approximately 450 employees who lost their jobs. WestRock said at the time it announced the closure that all employees would receive severance and other outplacement assistance in accordance with company policy and labor union agreements.
Carroll told the News Herald, "We need to make sure that we have great jobs that have good pay, good benefits in the long-term jobs. Some type of industry on that site, it's ideal with the roadway access to [U.S. Route] 98, the port access, it would just make sense to increase the industrial use.
"We're looking forward to look under the covers and see what's there and what it would take to develop that property again."
The coalition of companies will work together to bolster PET recycling efforts.
The Recycling Partnership has launched its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling coalition, an initiative informed by industry knowledge and expertise to improve PET circularity. Its work will focus on addressing four key opportunities to increase recycling of this valuable material:
PET plastic is in high demand for use in textiles such as clothing and carpet (where it is known as polyester) and it’s the most common type of plastic utilized in liquid bottles and food packaging today, The Recycling Partnership says.
While eliminating unnecessary usage is an important component of circularity, increased PET recycling is another critical step in advancing circularity. Company commitments and recycled-content mandates in proposed U.S. legislation also are leading to skyrocketing demand for recycled PET even though supply is currently limited.
Most Americans with recycling access are able to recycle PET bottles, but just 54 percent can recycle other types of PET packaging like plastic egg cartons and fruit containers, according to The Recycling Partnership. Additionally, the recycling rate for PET bottles was only 26.6 percent in 2021 and as much as 17 percent of bottles that are recovered are lost at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) due to sortation challenges. There is the potential to increase recovery and reduce plastic waste and help make progress toward packaging circularity goals by supporting solutions identified by the PET recycling coalition, the organization says.
The PET recycling coalition will make grants to recycling facilities for sorting equipment and related capital needs. These upgrades will improve PET bottle capture, deliver more rPET for use back into bottles and thermoforms, increase the acceptance of non-bottle rigid items in community recycling programs and strengthen recycling opportunities for pigmented and opaque PET. Through grants, technical assistance and knowledge sharing, the coalition envisions a thriving PET recycling system that captures significantly more material, enabling more circular PET packaging with increased amounts of recycled content, The Recycling Partnership says.
“The Recycling Partnership is dedicated to building a stronger U.S. recycling system, including material-focused efforts such as the PET recycling coalition. The success of these material-specific coalitions shows us that when we take a systems approach, we’re able to not only lift up that targeted material but all the other recyclables in the bin as well,” says Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership. “We encourage all companies that use PET to join the coalition and be part of the solution.”
The PET recycling coalition is part of The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity initiative and aims to advance the circularity of all packaging. The coalition is supported by and open to members representing all segments of the material’s value chain, including founding steering committee members Eastman, Indorama Ventures, Procter & Gamble and the Walmart Foundation.
“Eastman is deploying technology that transforms plastic ‘waste’ into valuable feedstock. And while making waste valuable improves the economics of recycling, we know technology alone cannot solve this crisis. Our country needs substantial innovation and investment in its recycling ecosystem,” says Scott Ballard, Eastman plastics division president. “We are excited to partner with leaders across the value chain to catalyze the change that will get all forms of PET, not just clear bottles, into our recycle stream. Together, we can create a circular economy, leave fossil feeds in the ground and do it with a lower carbon footprint.”
“Recycled PET is an extremely useful material when used and reused responsibly,” says Mark Agerton, group scientist from Procter & Gamble’s responsible packaging R&D team. “This PET coalition is a partnership to help provide the essential funding and innovations needed to increase recycling rates and drive true circularity of non-desired plastics.”
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to programs that enable system-wide transformation – and this effort is a critical element of scaling on the infrastructure needed for PET circularity. The Walmart Foundation looks forward to working with the coalition on transforming the recycling sector – and setting the foundation for designing a more circular economy for all,” says Julie Gehrki, vice president of the Walmart Foundation.
“PET is made to be remade. We are a proud member of The Recycling Partnership, and by joining this coalition our goal is to ensure PET never becomes waste and stays in the circular economy,” says Muthukumar Paramasivam, business head, PET & aromatics Americas at Indorama Ventures.
Additional founding members include The Coca-Cola Co., Danone, The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation and Niagara Bottling. The coalition set an initial funding target of $25 million over five years and is seeking additional supporters.
The PET recycling coalition is aided by an advisory committee of industry leaders, including the American Beverage Association, Association of Plastic Recyclers, Closed Loop Partners, Foodservice Packaging Institute, National Association for PET Container Resources and RRS. In addition to serving on the advisory committee, RRS will serve as the coalition’s technical partner and inform the coalition’s strategy with supporting research.
“We are pleased to continue our work to build PET packaging recycling by supporting this important collaborative effort,” says Resa Dimino, managing principal at Resource Recycling Systems. “The PET recycling coalition builds on the important actions of the Foodservice Packaging Institute, the Association of Plastic Recyclers and other industry leaders to optimize the mature market for recycling PET bottles, while building the recycling infrastructure for newer entrants to the recycling market, such as PET cups, clamshells and colored bottles.”
The recycling centers will support various Arca services, including residential appliance recycling programs.
Arca Recycling Inc., Minneapolis, a wholly owned subsidiary of JanOne Inc., will open three recycling centers in June and July to support growth in its recycling business and help Arca better serve its customers across North America.
The recycling facilities are in Kent, Washington; Tulare, California; and Hainesport, New Jersey. The company says the facilities will have the capacity of 100 units per day based on one shift. They will focus on appliance recycling for Central California, the greater Seattle area, Northern New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area.
The company says it chose these locations to better serve our existing contracts with utilities to provide appliance recycling services for their customers. It also wants to establish presence in markets where it see a need for commercial appliance recycling services. The facilities will create 12 jobs between the three facilities and primarily serve the residential and commercial district.
The Hainesport, New Jersey center will be equipped with advanced appliance processing equipment, a technology that reduces the size of recyclable material by compaction and baling. Compacting materials recovered from appliances allows Arca Recycling to transport these materials more efficiently, reducing its carbon footprint and will provide cost savings on labor and transportation.
These recycling centers will support a range of Arca's services, including residential appliance recycling programs implemented on behalf of major electric utilities, Energy Star appliance replacement programs and appliance recycling on behalf of Arca's commercial clients.