In today's world, the green movement is more important than ever.No matter what the industry, it's a company's responsibility to make changes and choices that support the environment.When you're looking for a plastic injection molding company, there are several things you can check for to be sure you'll be working with an environmentally responsible business.
Certification
ISO 9001 Certification is a way for companies to keep a close eye on their production processes.Meeting the International Standards for Quality Management ensures the company has been thoroughly audited and is fully in control of its' procedures so that no part of the production process "slips through the cracks."
Waste Reduction
Make sure the company you work with is minimizing waste.During the molding process, excess plastic is generated.What does the company you work with do with it?Look for a company that has a system to recycle all excess plastic.
What about boxes?The efforts of cardboard recycling make a huge difference.AtRodon,we conserve 150 tons of cardboard per year, enough to fill 3000 cubic yards of landfill space or 3 football fields about a foot deep! Using servo robots to incrementally stack parts, we reduce part distortion while tripling or quadrupling the number of parts packed into the same size carton.Rodon's customers are also offered a returnable/reusable packaging program to further reduce cardboard use
How is the virgin resin delivered?Ideally, it should be delivered in bulk and loaded into silos, minimizing the need for packaging.Find out how your plastic injection molding company has its' raw materials delivered.
Waste Reduction "Landfill-Free" Facilities and Energy From Waste
Did you know that waste could generate energy?Energy-from-waste technology is now available through companies likeSustainable Waste Solutions, LLC, (SWS).In fact, Rodon was one of the first molding facilities to be designated as a "Landfill-Free Facility" by SWS.This means all of our waste gets processed into electricity.SWS generates enough electricity from waste to power tens of thousands of homes per day.
Non-toxic Materials
Look for companies that use only non toxic colorants and resins.All lubricants and cleaners used in processing should be non‐toxic as well.At Rodon, we run FDA‐regulated products, uses resin sources certified by FDA, RoHS, REACH, and NSF.
Local Vs.Overseas Shipping
Questions to ask are, is the company importing materials or shipping production overseas?Or, is all work done here in the U.S.A.?Where do they get their colorant and other supplies?The more businesses can keep things local, the better.
Waste Minimizing Technology
The most eco-friendly plastic injection molding companies employ state-of-the-art machinery to assist them in minimizing waste, transportation, and packaging.The Rodon Group was able to go from packing 750 parts to 4500 parts per box by implementing a robotic packing system.Now, 15,700 fewer boxes are being used and 13 less trailers are on the road.Additionally, plastic waste is eliminated from the molding process through the use of high-tech equipment that transports it to a grinder so that it can be re-used.
A plastic injection molding company that thinks green is "landfill-free," and has the right certification, waste reduction, transportation and technology in place to minimize the impact on our planet.As a business owner, it's your job to ask the right questions and make sure the company you work with is sustainable.
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