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Doing business with integrity

Sustainability

At FLEXcon, we place high value on doing the right thing. Always. It’s what drives us. That’s why for more than 60 years, we’ve been conducting business with

integrity – it’s one of our four core values. 

A major part of this commitment has been incorporating sustainable business practices wherever we can. As a global manufacturer of pressure-sensitive films and adhesives, we recognize the potential impact on the environment from our manufacturing processes and our products. It’s our policy to minimize environmentally adverse operations by striking a balance between environmental factors and our manufacturing processes. In addition to our many sustainable manufacturing initiatives, this is evidenced by our Gold sponsorship of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) and our L.I.F.E. certification from TLMI (Label Initiative for the Environment).

We believe being a good steward of our environmental resources will make us a stronger, more competitive company, better able to support and satisfy our broad customer base. Our employees and neighbors also benefit from our sustainability efforts. 


Customers/Suppliers

We work with our customers and suppliers to support sustainability initiatives by:

  • Developing enviro-friendly products utilizing enviro-friendly materials and water-based adhesives.
  • Reviewing packaging options to minimize waste, focusing on the re-use of pallets and packaging supplies.
  • Being active in raw material recycling programs.

Community

We understand the importance of being a good neighbor in the communities in which we operate.  To do so, we will continue to:

  • Actively pursue the most current environmental technologies available for new and existing processes and engaging in activities that directly impact reduction in air emissions, effluents and toxic material use reduction or elimination.
  • Provide materials for schools and other civic orginazations.
  • Support charities within the communities we operate

Employees

Our employees play a vital role in the success of our business, and we strive to be a great place to work for all our employees by:

  • Encouraging employees to live a healthier life by offering a workplace wellness program.
  • Being a smoke- and tobacco-free workplace.
  • Providing an open forum for all employees to suggest opportunities in environmental and sustainable matters.
  • Maintaining the highest standard of safety through OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), of which FLEXcon has been a participant of since 1995.
  • Utilizing an Environmental Management System (EMS), which defines responsibilities of employees at all levels of the organization to continuously monitor and improve environmental factors.
  • Requiring all FLEXcon employees and operations to comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations relating to environmental matters.

We understand that sustainability is an investment in the future that will not only benefit our customers, employees, and suppliers, but also the societies and the world in which we live.

– Darwin Irish, Director of Risk Management

Sustainability Dashboard

Our Sustainability dashboard tracks eight key elements: reducing natural gas, electricity and water consumption; waste reduction, recycling, hazardous waste, air emissions and safety. Since 2009, FLEXcon’s sustainability initiatives have resulted in the following:

  • Across-the-board reduction in utility consumption that has made FLEXcon more competitive and efficient.
  • Utilization of conservation methods when feasible to manage and quantify water usage. This has enabled FLEXcon to maintain current water consumption levels at usage rates dating as far back as the year 2000. A continued focus in the reduction of waste and the re-use of manufacturing and packaging supplies through cooperation efforts between FLEXcon’s customers and suppliers.
  • Continued pursuit of green initiatives, including such technologies and methodologies as greener products; alternative energy sources; disposal of hazard waste as an alternative fuel source; waste-to-energy facilities; and application of them where feasible to promote and sustain industry best practices.
  • Participation in lightweighting efforts with customers and suppliers to reduce the weight of products, resulting in a reduction in energy and resources.
  • Sustained EMS policy for continuous compliance with air emission regulations. Air emissions are greatly reduced by routing through various types of thermal oxidizers, which achieve a minimum of 98 percent destruction efficiency, and through the development of high-performance, water-based adhesives.
  • Consolidation of our holiday/vacation schedules to allow longer periods of equipment down-time to save heat, light, and power, while focusing on preventive maintenance.
  • Matching of film roll length to the size of the order to minimize material waste and reduce downtime.
  • Predictive maintenance program that allows equipment to perform at a high level of efficiency.

While we are proud of our accomplishments, we recognize that our sustainability initiative must always be evolving, with constant improvements to minimize any impacts of our current and future activities. Moreover, we understand that sustainability is an investment in the future that will not only benefit our customers, employees, and suppliers, but also the societies and the world in which we live.

Want more information on FLEXcon’s Sustainability Initiative? Contact Darwin Irish, Director of Risk Management, at (508) 885-8369. 

Read about our Environmental Policy.

To learn more about FLEXcon's disclosures under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act click here.

You can also learn more about our commitment to Lean Manufacturing.

Click here for a glossary of “Green” terms.