On Thursday, Hartsville, S.C.-based Novolex announced it has made progress on its ESG commitments in its latest sustainability report.
The company said in its fifth sustainability report that it in 2022 it increased its recycling capacity, diverted waste from landfills and used more chain-of-custody certified fiber and bio-based resins in its products, moving it closer to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.
“As a proud leader in the packaging industry, Novolex continues to set and achieve ESG goals for our business and for our customers,” said Stan Bikulege, Novolex Chairman and CEO. “The 10,000 members of the Novolex family are working hard to develop more sustainable packaging solutions, expand recycling and reduce waste. To achieve our ambitions, we continue to look for innovative ways to promote our safety culture, develop talent and provide an inclusive workplace.”
According to the report, the company was able to set a time-bound, numerical target to double the volume of post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyethylene film recycled at is North Vernon, Ind. by the end of 2024. The latest goal comes on the heels of the company’s recent announcement that it will operate a new recycling facility for Nova Chemicals to expand collection of post-consumer film and production of recycled material.
Additionally, the company reported on its “waste footprint” for the first time. The company implemented a waste-to-landfill measurement program that will enable monitoring and reduction of various waste streams from operations. Since starting the program, the company said it has diverted more than 5 million additional pounds of waste from landfills. The company also expanded the use of bio-based resins and other materials that reflect emerging technologies and customer needs. In 2022, Novolex said nearly half (49 percent) of its raw materials came from renewable, bio-based or post-consumer recycled sources.