SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, Washington, has launched the Zero Net Waste (ZNW) program, which it describes as “a groundbreaking tool for members to use to evaluate waste reduction opportunities and maximize landfill diversion.” ZNW will provide plastics companies with a set of resources they can use to pursue, and achieve, zero net waste in their facilities and offices, SPI says.
The program was born out of the SPI Recycling Committee’s Emerging Trends Subcommittee, chaired by Kathy Xuan, CEO of Chicago-based PARC Corp., and developed by a broad workgroup of SPI members.
Xuan says, “As chair of the subcommittee and a recycler who provides zero landfill services, we feel this program will be instrumental in providing tools and resources to accelerate the industry's pursuit of zero waste.”
According to a news release from SPI, the cornerstone of the ZNW program is the manual, which includes real-world, step-by-step tools and resources for companies throughout the plastics value chain to ensure that plastic materials and other manufacturing byproducts are put to their highest and best use. From building the business case for pursuing zero net waste, to educating employees and offering practical guidance on finding the right service providers, the ZNW program manual is designed to enable companies of all sizes to take immediate steps to begin pursuing zero-waste in their facilities.
Companies that participate in the program and meet requirements of the two-step qualification and verification process will be recognized for their efforts.
However, "the Zero Net Waste Program isn't just for companies looking for Zero Waste certification,” says Robert Flores, director of sustainability for Berry Plastics, Evansville, Indiana. “The accompanying manual is applicable to a wide variety of companies and provides the basics for how to get started, as well as how to enhance existing programs that a company already may have in place.”
Reducing reliance on landfills provides environmental and economic benefits, which are being driven by many of the major brand owners in the plastics industry today, says Nina Goodrich, executive director of GreenBlue, Charlottesville, Virginia. “GreenBlue and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition support SPI's Zero Net Waste Program,” she says. “Providing companies the tools and resources to demonstrate leadership in landfill diversion is an important step towards reducing carbon emissions and developing a circular economy.”
For more information on the ZNW program and how it can impact a company’s sustainability click here. The ZNW program is available only to SPI members currently.