By: Rosalyn Bandy, TLMI VP of Sustainability

The 2024 Calvin Frost Sustainability Awards celebrate our 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.  

The Trailhead Supplier category recognized Nazdar for its groundbreaking initiatives in reducing carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices throughout its supply chain. Through innovative technologies and strategic partnerships, Nazdar demonstrated that impactful change is achievable, setting a shining example for the industry.  

Nazdar’s commitment to sustainability is driven by their Core Values which emphasize doing the right thing and inspiring others to do the same. They have undertaken numerous initiatives to ensure that operations align with sustainable practices; for example, they introduced training and employee wellness programs to foster a culture that matches their core values. The response from employees is overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing empowerment and excitement about tracking and reporting on sustainability metrics. This enthusiasm translated into new, employee-driven actions with a tangible impact on doing the right thing. Departments including Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, R&D, Manufacturing, and Management are all actively involved in company sustainability efforts. 

Other key metrics that Nazdar reported: 

• Created waste-stream maps. 
• Created water usage maps. 
• Created sustainable procurement policies. 
• Retrained employees on waste handling. 
• Identified new vendors to support their sustainability goals. 
• Diverted over 20 tons of waste from landfill in 6 months. 
• Reduced 160,000 gallons of water in irrigations usage. 
• By tracking Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and implementing reduction efforts, Nazdar successfully reduced emissions by 8% year over year in 2023.  
• Installed solar panels which resulted in generating 51.2 MWh of renewable energy so far in 2024. 
• Achieved Ecovadis silver in 2023, which ranks them in the top 15% in performance of all companies in the Ecovadis database.  
• Through Nazdar’s CARES program, they offer employees 16 hours of PTO to volunteer for 501(c)(3) non-profit charities.  
• Philanthropy programs reflect commitment to being a force for social good with plans to donate over $30,000 annually to local charities, and a goal to achieve over 500 hours of volunteering in 2024.  
• Introduced numerous employee-support programs, including assistance for those experiencing financial hardship, employee resource programs for mental health, and healthcare discounts for participation in biometrics screening. 
• Provide remote or hybrid work solutions to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance.  
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and the community, they have significant training programs focusing on diversity and inclusion for all employees.  
• Reformulation initiatives removed Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) and other carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) hazards from over 25 product lines, reflecting a strong commitment to product safety and compliance.  
• Increased use of biobased raw materials by over 5,000 kg annually, with new sourcing of humectants.  
• Procured new flexo ink vehicles with over 95% bio/renewable content, as per the NAPIM definition, showcasing dedication to sustainable sourcing and manufacturing practices. 
• Set ambitious VOC reduction targets for 2024, aiming for a 40% (25 Tons) reduction through reformulating the solvent blend used in our tub washer. 
• All ink lines are evaluated for plastic recycling compliance

Looking ahead, Nazdar’s focus will be on adopting a continual improvement approach to discover new ways to operate our business. With a workforce committed to building on current progress and remaining at the forefront of sustainable practices within our industry, Nazdar is a company to watch. 

In today’s fast-paced world, companies must prioritize sustainability and environmental impact. It’s clear that, at Nazdar, they are committed to offering customers safe and eco-friendly products without compromising on performance. They believe that sustainability should be at the core of every business and are dedicated to leading the way in creating a more sustainable and eco-conscious industry.  

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. 

By: Rosalyn Bandy, TLMI VP of Sustainability

As a sustainability professional in the label industry, I have faced the same questions year in and year out about release liner – how do we help a customer meet their sustainability goals when release liner is so difficult to recycle? The recycling process involves collecting, sorting, and processing liners so that they can be used as raw materials in the production of new products. The obstacles to liner recycling are many: most waste haulers won’t take it, it must be stored indoors until there is a full truckload, there is no space to store it, many recyclers want it to be baled, there’s too much contamination, shipping is costly, silicone is hard to deal with and on and on. Because of these obstacles, liners are typically discarded to landfill after use. 

I admire the TLMI members that have created programs, with dedicated personnel, to try to help their customers recycle their liner, but those programs face the same challenges and have not had broad, industry-changing success. TLMI’s liner-recycling committee has also been working for years on solutions including a map of recyclers, technical documents, PowerPoint presentations for members to use with customers, and one-page information sheets. A few years ago, an industry coalition was formed in North America called CELAB, which stands for Circular Economy for Labels. CELAB had numerous work streams, created some good research and connections, but also had no recycling success. 

Paper and filmic liner production is estimated at nearly 600,000 tons per year. Recycling these liners not only reduces waste in landfills but would also conserve resources by reusing materials. Paper liner, specifically, is an incredibly clean, long fiber that has value and we know that many types of fiber are widely recycled across the U.S. 

The Liner Recycling Initiative. This Spring, TLMI invited CELAB NA to merge efforts on getting paper release liner recycled. It resulted in a new project called the Liner Recycling Initiative (LRI). We have hired recycling expert Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), a global consultancy known for getting non-recyclables like cartons, paper cups, and poly-coated paper into recycling streams, to drive this initiative and be our boots on the ground with recycling mills.  

Project Goals: The aim of the project is to develop a robust national release liner recycling program that connects both small and large label endusers that generate paper release liner to qualified recycling end markets.  

The key goals of this work are the following:​ 

• Build upon the learnings and recycling experience of the label industry to date. ​ 
• Identify best practices for convenient collection and aggregation of release liner for truckload and less-than-truckload shipments.  
• Identify and develop specifications for recycling mills that accept and recycle paper release liner.​ 
• Elevate all existing liner recycling programs by developing an industry roadmap to scale a recycling strategy nationally.  

Project Strategy: Two regional pilots, in Chicagoland and the northeast U.S. are planned around mills that are known to accept and recycle paper release liner.​ 

• To start, the pilot will confirm the requirements for release liner for the mills; i.e., what form it needs to be in, how much contamination is allowed, how it is packaged.​ 
• Then, with label industry help, RRS will identify endusers, both large (at least one truckload per month) and small (less than one truckload per month), that “liberate” release liner, to participate in the regional pilots.​  
• RRS will establish best operational practices for those endusers around how to collect, aggregate, and bring this valued fiber product to market for recycling.​ 
• The best practices and learnings from the pilots will be used to develop a roadmap that scales the recycling program nationally. 
• A national roadmap will also include identifying and qualifying mills willing to develop a mill specification for release liner commingled with corrugated cardboard or sorted office paper.  

The mill partner for the pilot programs is Sustana Fiber. One of the next critical steps is to ask label converters to share with RRS (with NDA in place) locations of where release liner is “liberated” and labels are applied. These could be e-commerce fulfillment centers, brands, copackers, or retailers, for example. Ideally, they would be located within 250 miles of the Sustana mills.  This will help with RRS conducting site visits to help with operational best practices and to understand logistics obstacles. This collaboration sets the stage for broader industry acceptance and a significant reduction in environmental impact. To achieve a scalable recycling program, RRS will also work with brown fiber mills to include release liner in their process. The ability of endusers to bale release liner with corrugated cardboard will solve many of the sorting, storage, and shipping obstacles they currently face. 

Want to be part of this effort or recommend a customer that generates paper liner? Contact me and I’ll connect you with our RRS team to get you started. Rosalyn.bandy@tlmi.com