2024 Calvin Frost Sustainability Leadership Award Highlight: Crane Consumables
By: Rosalyn Bandy, TLMI VP of Sustainability
The 2024 Calvin Frost Sustainability Leadership Awards celebrate TLMI members’ innovative efforts to positively impact the environment and society. This year’s winners in the Trailhead, Journey, and Elevation categories have set new benchmarks for sustainable practices, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Today, I’ll blog about the Trailhead converter winner, Crane Consumables.
Crane Consumables described their groundbreaking initiatives as they started on their sustainability journey. For Crane, it began with a simple realization – they were generating a significant amount of label waste that couldn’t be recycled traditionally. Founder Rod Crane took it upon himself to find a better solution. After contacting paper recyclers, he discovered the label waste could be turned into fuel pellets for various applications. This initial step made a notable impact, but more importantly, it sparked a lasting commitment to sustainability within the Crane company.
Over the years, Crane made concerted efforts to reduce the environmental footprint and contribute to the well-being of both employees and the community. This involved a shift in their organizational culture, focusing on environmental initiatives and community partnerships. Crane implemented improved recycling and waste prevention practices, increased energy efficiency, and collaborated with educational and community organizations to create mutually beneficial solutions. The response from employees was overwhelmingly positive, which further drove the effort. Crane’s sustainability and community-focused programs served to reduce employee turnover and foster a sense of pride and responsibility among the workforce.
One of Crane’s focus areas was engaging press operators in specific actions that promote sustainability. While all employees share the desire to contribute to environmental conservation, Crane placed particular emphasis on effecting a cultural shift among press operators. Previously, press operators were enthusiastic about the recycling program; however, as Crane transitioned toward eliminating waste from rolls, boxes, and cores, they witnessed a remarkable increase in press operators’ engagement.
From a material point of view, one of the most significant environmental and economic sustainability impacts was their decision to switch to narrower master rolls. By purchasing rolls that are 0.5% narrower, Crane saved over 157,500 MSI of material, equivalent to approximately 2 full truckloads of paper. Over the past 3 years, this change resulted in savings of around 400,000 MSI, making a substantial difference to their environmental footprint.
Some key metrics that Crane reported:
- They recycle over 95% of our paper waste, increasing recycled material by 160 tons, marking an impressive increase of 143.29% from 2022 to 2023. This not only reduced the amount of material destined for landfills but also led to a significant decrease in their carbon output by approximately 2600 metric tons in 2022 and 2023.
- Crane’s matrix waste diversion from landfill soared to over 500 tons in 2023.
- All cardboard used at their facility is either recycled or reused. In 2022 and 2023, they sent approximately 29 tons of cardboard for recycling; a 20% increase compared to the previous year.
- They installed LED lights in the warehouse. LED lights are 90% more efficient than their previous lighting system, providing better work conditions and contributing to a safer environment.
- For the past 8 years, Crane has exclusively used electric forklifts and implemented a strategy to charge them during non-peak hours thereby reducing strain on the power grid and minimizing emissions.
- Crane installed a new air compressor that brought about a 90% improvement in efficiency compared to the old compressor. This resulted in an annual saving of 9,600 kWh of electricity.
- In 2023, the company introduced two electric vehicles, a charging station, and designated new EV parking spots. The electric vehicles traveled an estimated 19,800 miles, eliminating 6.3 metric tons of CO2 and 707 gallons of fossil fuel.
- Crane incorporated a dedicated anilox cleaner with a filtered water recycling system that uses less than 5 gallons of water per wash and is 82% more efficient than using a sink. This led to an estimated annual saving of 8,625 gallons of water. Additionally, they use water-based inks during color printing.
- In 2024, Crane implemented the FlowLogic Water Management System, which is designed to detect water flow of more than 28 fl.oz. for more than 2 hours continuously. Over the past 6 months, this system saved approximately 60 gallons of water by identifying and addressing small leaks in the plant.
Looking ahead, Crane outlined several key next steps to further their sustainability efforts:
- Expand recycling programs to include more materials and improve landfill diversion rates.
- Reduce carbon footprint by increasing the use of electric vehicles and optimizing logistics.
- Enhance employee training programs to focus on sustainability and innovation while eliminating material waste.
- Deepen community engagement efforts by supporting local schools and organizations.
- Set measurable sustainability targets and regularly track progress to ensure continuous improvement.
These initiatives demonstrate Crane Consumable’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. They are dedicated to continuously seeking innovative ways to minimize their environmental impact and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
These exceptional achievements testify to the transformative power of sustainability in today’s business landscape. The “Frosties” not only recognize the outstanding accomplishments of these companies but also serve as a call to action for others to join the movement towards a more sustainable future. As we celebrate the 2024 Calvin Frost Sustainability Award winners, we invite companies from every sector to take inspiration from their success and embark on their own sustainability journeys. Together, we can create a world where environmental stewardship and social impact are not just aspirations, but fundamental principles guiding every business decision. The “Frosties” remind us that sustainability is not merely a choice, but a responsibility we all share. Let’s continue to push the boundaries, challenge the status quo, and build a future where sustainability is not just a goal, but a way of life.