Accredo Built on a foundation of sustainability

Accredo: Built on a Foundation of Sustainability

Eye on Sustainability
September, 2010

Flexible packaging converter, Accredo Packaging, Inc. has been up and running for just over a year, but
is already an industry leader recognized for its comprehensive focus on sustainability. The 200,000 sq
ft., state-of-the-art Sugar Land, TX plant was designed and built to meet LEED Silver certification
standards, and utilizes 100% wind-generated electrical power, with a focus on eliminating waste while
minimizing its carbon footprint.

Accredo Executive Vice President, Rex Varn, says their commitment to producing sustainable flexible
packaging solutions, primarily targeting the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) segment, is supported
by a sizable R&D budget. Adds Malcolm Cohn, Director of Sustainability, “we’re researching
compostable and recyclable solutions, but we also want to find new ways to produce conventional
polymeric packaging in a more sustainable way. Reducing waste, using less resources and increasing
productivity equates to better sustainability.”

Some of the company’s biggest breakthroughs to date are in the area of stand-up and flat bottom
pouches, as well as wicketed bags. Accredo was the first to produce a zippered stand-up pouch made
entirely from certified compostable components, providing a major area of growth for Accredo.
Utilizing the most efficient machinery is part of Accredo’s equation for sustainability. The facility
houses 3-layer and 9-layer VAREX blown film lines as well as 10-color NOVOFLEX presses from W&H,
with more equipment scheduled for installation.

Accredo Packaging is part of the API group of companies, a family-owned and operated enterprise established in 1986.

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Copyright © 2009- Accredo Packaging, Inc. Accredo Packaging®, AccredoFlex® and the Accredo logo are registered trademarks of Accredo Packaging, Inc. Accredo Packaging and Accredo Asia are part of the API Group of companies. All rights reserved. Accredo Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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I'M GREEN™
I’m green PE is a plastic produced from sugarcane, a renewable raw material, while traditional PE uses fossil fuel sourced raw materials. For this reason, I’m green PE captures CO2 from the atmosphere during its production, helping to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Additionally, suppliers must follow principles of sustainable development present in the “Responsible Ethanol Sourcing” developed and implemented by Braskem, which covers aspects such as respect for biodiversity and good environmental practices. I’m green PE retains the same properties, performance and application versatility of traditional PE and can be recycled within traditional PE recycling streams. Source: Braskem USA
BPI COMPOSTABLE

BPI is a science-driven organization that supports a shift to the circular economy by promoting the production, use, and appropriate end of lives for materials and products that are designed to fully biodegrade in specific biologically active environments.

As part of the third-party certification, BPI utilizes independent laboratories. These labs must either be accredited in the scope of ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868, or have demonstrated compliance, ensuring they are capable of performing the tests. 

Certification for compostable products is critical for ensuring that items have been properly tested, meet international standards, and can be identified as such by composters, municipalities, restaurants, consumers, and others engaged in the diversion of organic waste. BPI advocates for compostable products as tools for scalable diversion of organic waste to composting.

For more information, please visit https://www.bpiworld.org/

EPA GREEN POWER PARTNERSHIP
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Green Power Partnership (GPP) in 2001 to protect human health and the environment by increasing organizations’ voluntary green power use to advance the American market for green power and the development of those renewable electricity sources. The Green Power Partnership helps to achieve Clean Air Act requirements by reducing the pollution and the corresponding negative health and environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The program provides a framework that includes credible usage benchmarks, market information, technical assistance, and public recognition to companies and other organizations that use green power. Partners commit to use green power for all, or a portion, of their annual electricity consumption.

For more information, please visit https://www.epa.gov/greenpower

OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP
Zero Pellet, Flake, and Powder Loss is a priority for the plastics industry—and a critical issue for our environment. Spilled pellets, flakes, and powder can make their way into local waterways and ultimately estuaries and the ocean. This isn’t just an eyesore and a litter issue; pellets, flakes, and powder, if accidentally mistaken for food by birds or marine animals, could harm them. That’s why the industry is behind Zero Pellet, Flake, and Powder Loss—and it can only be achieved with your help. The OCS Program was created to help you protect the environment and keep it clean. The campaign’s goal is to help every plastic resin handling operation implement good housekeeping and pellet, flake, and powder containment practices to work towards achieving zero pellet, flake, and powder loss, protecting the environment and saving valuable resources.

For more information, please visit https://www.opcleansweep.org/

CERTIFIED BIO-BASED

The USDA Certified Biobased Packaging label on a product certifies that the packaging contains third-party tested and verified biobased content. The purpose of this label is to make it easy for consumers to locate and compare biobased products for purchase.

The USDA has established minimum biobased content standards for many product categories. A product must meet or exceed the minimum biobased content percentage in its given category in order to qualify for certification. Products belonging in categories for which minimum biobased content requirements have not yet been established must contain at least 25% biobased content.

Biobased products are derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. These products provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. For the purposes of the BioPreferred program, biobased products do not include food, animal feed or biofuels.

For more information, please visit https://www.biopreferred.gov

HOW2RECYCLE
How2Recycle is a standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. The label communicates the following details:
  • How to prep the material for recycling
  • For more information
  • How to recycle
  • Type of material
  • Packaging format
Source: https://how2recycle.info/
OCEANBOUND PLASTIC

Cleaner oceans start by preventing plastics from entering them in the first place. Being able to recycle that plastic is even better. That’s the concept driving OceanBound Plastics. 

We take material at-risk of becoming ocean pollution and turn it into a reliable plastic resin. Combining supply chain experience with technical expertise, we create a versatile product that can be used in virtually any application where HDPE is preferred. Every pound of OceanBound Plastic is potential pollution transformed into a recyclable resource.
Source: Envision Plastics

MINORITY OWNED

The National Minority Supplier Development Council advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. They work through the NMSDC Network to support and facilitate MBE integration into corporate and public-sector supply chains; build MBE capacity and capabilities through our programs and other education offerings; and facilitate MBE-to-MBE partnerships to meet the needs of their corporate members. They do this by matching our more than 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to their vast network of corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. Their corporate membership includes many of the largest public and privately-owned companies, as well healthcare companies, colleges and universities.

Source: https://nmsdc.org/about-nmsdc
WASTE REDUCTION

Our expanded gamut printing process eliminates all ink changes which results in up to 95% ink waste reduction, and up to 35% less ink and solvent usage.

Our state of the art extruders are capable of producing the thinnest, high-performance films and barriers that can also incorporate eco-resins such as renewable content or post-consumer recycled content.

We also have a closed loop recycling system in our US facility to recycle and reincorporate our waste into new packages.

All of these work to reduce our waste to landfill relative to conventional printing and extrusion processes.

WIND ENERGY

Accredo Packaging uses 100% wind electricity to power its Sugar Land, Texas Global headquarters and manufacturing facility. In 2013, we were recognized by the EPA for our leadership in green power with the Green Power Leadership Award.

Our sustainability goals include continued dedication to 100% Texas wind energy in our Texas operations through 2025.

LEED® CERTIFICATION
LEED projects earn points across nine basic areas that address key aspects of green buildings.
  1. Integrative process
  2. Location and transportation
  3. Sustainable sites
  4. Water efficiency
  5. Energy and atmosphere
  6. Materials and resources
  7. Indoor environmental quality
  8. Innovation
  9. Regional priority
Based on the number of points achieved, a project earns one of four LEED rating levels: LEED Certification Legend: 4 Levels
Source: http://leed.usgbc.org/leed.html

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