EnvironmentalCorner

Celebrating iapd Member Achievements in sustainability

The 2024 IAPD Environmental Excellence & Environmental Impact Award Winners

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he IAPD Environmental Excellence Award and Environmental Impact Award were created to honor companies who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to sustainable business practices. Applicants for the award are assessed by the IAPD Environmental Committee based on strategies for recycling, conservation, community outreach, employee engagement and more. As we enter the new year, let’s take a moment to look back on the inspiring achievements of the 2024 Environmental Excellence and Environmental Impact Award winners.

Mike Felder and John Delahunty of Cast Nylons Ltd. receiving an award
A Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Mike Felder and John Delahunty of Cast Nylons Ltd.

Gold – Cast Nylons Ltd.

Cast Nylons Ltd. has demonstrated significant environmental progress since establishing their Eco-Green Program in 2012. 

They consistently exceed their goal of recycling over 75% of their solid waste annually.  

Cast Nylons Ltd. also diverts 25,000+ pounds annually from landfills through an innovative recycling initiative which involves the depolymerization of one of their plant waste streams to convert it back to its original raw material.

The company has implemented numerous facility improvements, including LED lighting conversion that saves 300,000+ KWH yearly, installation of water control systems, and building efficiency upgrades such as wind curtains and improved insulation. They’ve also upgraded their manufacturing processes by installing chillers to eliminate city water use for process cooling and reduced electricity usage per pound of nylon produced by almost 20%. They have also utilized renewable energy for electrical power generation. 

Their comprehensive approach includes employee education, raw material hazard reduction and support for environmental causes like ocean cleanup and reforestation through organizations like 4 Ocean and Nature Conservancy.

Eddie Howe, Dallas McLaughlin, Sherrie Bloom, Dr. Keith Hechtel, Jay Forcellina, Luke Wittman, Jeff Burke, Gerry Helbig and Peter DelGado of Curbell Plastics, Inc. receiving the Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award
A Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Eddie Howe, Dallas McLaughlin, Sherrie Bloom, Dr. Keith Hechtel, Jay Forcellina, Luke Wittman, Jeff Burke, Gerry Helbig and Peter DelGado of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Gold – Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Curbell Plastics, Inc. has demonstrated significant achievements in environmental stewardship. The company has won multiple awards, including 10 IAPD Environmental Excellence Awards and EPA WasteWise Certificates for Excellence in Solid Waste Management. In 2024, they earned a Bronze rating from EcoVadis, placing them in the top 35% of assessed companies.

They maintain a comprehensive recycling program and focus on optimizing material use through their cut program. They’ve diverted over 19 million pounds of materials from landfills since 2013, with 6.5 million pounds being repurposed. Their zero-landfill facilities in Orchard Park consistently maintain this status.

The company has implemented numerous energy efficiency initiatives, including 13 relighting projects across multiple locations, saving over 600,000 kWh of electricity annually. They’ve also completed their first greenhouse gas inventory for Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Curbell actively promotes sustainability through community engagement, employee participation and partnerships with organizations like the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable.

Sneha Jaishankar, Don McMillan, Dale Delmage and Jesús Zamora of Redwood Plastics and Rubber receiving the Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award
A Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Sneha Jaishankar, Don McMillan, Dale Delmage and Jesús Zamora of Redwood Plastics and Rubber.
Gold – Redwood Plastics and Rubber
Redwood Plastics and Rubber has significantly expanded their recycling program, increasing material recycling at their Langley, BC, Canada branch from 11,800 pounds to 180,000 pounds in one year, with other branches collectively recycling an additional 31,888 pounds. The company recycles 26-50% of their plastic scrap, focusing on reprocessing materials into new products and partnering with retail outlets to repurpose smaller scraps.

They offer environmentally conscious products, including the Rise-it Pedestal System made from recycled truck tires and milk jugs, and offer reprocessed UHMW products. The company has implemented comprehensive recycling programs across all branches, collecting approximately 2.5 tons of wood/pallets, 8 tons of metal, and 2 tons of cardboard monthly. Additionally, quality improvements have been made a priority to minimize returned material authorizations from customers, achieving a 30% reduction in returns, significantly decreasing waste and product rework.

Their sustainability initiatives include energy-efficient LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and employee engagement through branch-specific Green Teams.

Silver – Finger Lakes Extrusion Corporation
Finger Lakes Extrusion Corporation demonstrates exceptional material recycling practices, preventing over 90% of their plastic scrap from entering landfills. They reprocess the majority of their scrap material back into products, using between 25 – 100% repurposed material depending on the application. Any material not suitable for their process is segregated for other recyclers.

The company utilizes a 556 kW solar farm that generates the majority of their annual power needs. They’ve implemented energy-efficient practices including motion-sensor lighting and utilizing heat from extruders and chillers to warm their facility. Their recent investment in an inline x-ray measurement unit has reduced start-up time and material waste while improving product quality.

The company maintains a comprehensive recycling program for materials including cardboard, electronics and industrial supplies. They reuse process water, changing it only weekly, and proudly support their local watershed association, Canadaigua Lake Watershed Association.

Kevin Duffy, Kevin Vincent, Susan Svotelis, Jeri O'Brien, Jeff Bostic and Greg Hallam of PLASKOLITE receiving a Silver Level Environmental Excellence Award
A Silver Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Kevin Duffy, Kevin Vincent, Susan Svotelis, Jeri O’Brien, Jeff Bostic and Greg Hallam of PLASKOLITE
Silver – PLASKOLITE
PLASKOLITE demonstrates strong commitment to sustainability by recycling over 90% of their plastic scrap through internal reprocessing and external recycling partnerships. They’ve implemented a strategic “run-to-size” program to minimize waste by producing sheets to customer specifications rather than standard sizes that require trimming.

The company maintains comprehensive monitoring systems for recycling metrics as part of their ESG scorecard, including tracking post-industrial scrap reintroduction and external recycling volumes. They’ve developed innovative solutions like densifying plastic sawdust for reuse and maintain partnerships with customers to collect and recycle ABS, PVC and PMMA scrap.

Environmental initiatives include solar power at their Spain manufacturing site, energy-efficient lighting upgrades and water conservation through cooling water recirculation and reverse-osmosis systems. They’ve chosen to focus exclusively on long-life performance plastics rather than single-use products. The company maintains ISO 9001 quality programs across their facilities and has received recognition from the Ohio EPA for successful environmental practices and community engagement.

Marty Mazurkiewicz, Jeremey Kietzke, John Johnson and Erik Vanover of Professional Plastics, Inc. receiving a Silver Level Environmental Excellence Award
A Silver Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Marty Mazurkiewicz, Jeremey Kietzke, John Johnson and Erik Vanover of Professional Plastics, Inc.
Silver – Professional Plastics, Inc.
Professional Plastics maintains a comprehensive recycling program that prevents over 90% of plastic scrap from entering landfills through partnerships with recyclers and material repurposing initiatives. They accept scrap materials from customers at their branches and work with suppliers on waste reduction programs.

The company has implemented energy efficiency measures across their facilities, including sensor-controlled lighting systems and LED upgrades. They’ve reduced paper waste throughout their supply chain operations and maintain recycling programs for various materials including oil/coolant, electronics, metals and office furniture.

To reduce single-use plastic waste, they’ve installed water dispensers at all facilities and provide reusable water bottles to new employees. Their community engagement includes a partnership for upcycling materials with Child Creativity Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to children’s science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education. The company also focuses on environmentally friendly purchasing, including recycled office supplies and packaging materials, and has automated irrigation systems to conserve water at their branches.

Rebecca Samson-Inclan, Valerie Glover, Karen Brock-Amoah, Samantha Stacy, Autumn Werner, Alicia Spence, Amy Brandon and Anna Rinaldi of SIMONA AMERICA Group receiving the Bronze Level Marketing Excellence Award
The Bronze Level Marketing Excellence Award was presented to Rebecca Samson-Inclan, Valerie Glover, Karen Brock-Amoah, Samantha Stacy, Autumn Werner, Alicia Spence, Amy Brandon and Anna Rinaldi of SIMONA AMERICA Group.
Silver – SIMONA AMERICA Group
SIMONA AMERICA Group has made significant sustainability commitments aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including participation in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with plans to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 5.25% annually through 2030 and achieve net-zero status by 2050.

The company has installed over 3,300 solar panels at their Archbald, PA, USA facility, generating 2,360,000 kWh annually, representing 14% of the facility’s power consumption. They’re constructing an on-site recycling center at their Newcomerstown, OH, USA location to reduce transportation costs and energy consumption through in-house material processing.

SIMONA has achieved ISO 14001 certification at their SIMONA Boltaron facility and earned Vantage Vinyl Verification through GreenCircle Certified LLC, demonstrating commitment to sustainable vinyl supply chain practices. They’ve launched a dedicated sustainability website to keep stakeholders informed of their environmental initiatives, focusing on sustainable products, production processes and appreciation of resources.

Rick Gough, Courtney Kincaid, Mike Kaszuba and John Kilmer of Polymershapes receiving the Bronze Level Environmental Excellence Award
A Bronze Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Rick Gough, Courtney Kincaid, Mike Kaszuba and John Kilmer of Polymershapes.
Bronze – Polymershapes
Polymershapes maintains a comprehensive recycling program tracked through a company-wide dashboard with six years of data. They prevent 26 – 50% of plastic scrap from entering landfills through partnerships with recyclers and suppliers. The company offers customer scrap collection services, providing gaylords that are picked up when full and sent to recycling partners.

Their waste reduction strategies include run-to-size programs, cataloging off-cuts and utilizing in-house fabrication at most locations to maximize material yields. They’ve implemented barcode systems to reduce paper usage and track aged inventory and cut-offs through their ERP system to optimize material usage between locations.

The company promotes sustainable products from suppliers and has introduced private label eco-friendly materials. Energy conservation measures include LED sensor lighting in warehouses and offices, timed HVAC systems and water bottle refill stations. In 2024, the company formalized their commitment through their first public sustainability statement and rolled out sustainability training across their 85+ locations, supported by the development of a sustainability resource library.

Tony Szoka of NewAge Industries receiving the Environmental Impact Award
The Environmental Impact Award was presented to Tony Szoka of NewAge Industries.
Environmental Impact Award – NewAge Performance Products
NewAge Performance Products, a newly rebranded division of NewAge Industries, demonstrates comprehensive sustainability leadership through renewable energy initiatives. Their two Pennsylvania facilities utilize rooftop solar arrays that generated 1.3 million kWh in 2023, with 100% renewable energy sourcing for U.S. operations resulting in net-zero Scope 2 emissions.

All heavy equipment, including forklifts, are run off alternating current (AC) battery power instead of propane, resulting in 20% more battery life and a 10% increase in overall operating efficiency over direct current (DC) motors. They recycled 81.47 metric tons of silicone in 2023 through an innovative process converting waste into silicone oil.

In 2024, they earned a Gold EcoVadis rating, placing them in the top 25% of assessed companies. In 2023 they submitted for B Corp recertification, maintaining status as the only tubing and hose manufacturer with B Corp certification. Their commitment includes comprehensive recycling programs, energy-efficient equipment upgrades, water conservation efforts and community engagement initiatives.

Congratulations to the 2024 winners!
To learn more about the environmental and sustainability efforts of IAPD, visit iapd.org.