Portola Packaging reports recycling success

US based closure manufacturer Portola Packaging Inc’s North American facilities reduced energy usage by almost 20% and recycled more than 5.5 million pounds of material over the past two years.

The company is reporting an 8% reduction in energy usage in 2011, in addition to a 10.5% decrease in 2010, compared to the previous year.

In addition to energy reduction, Portola plants recycled in excess of 3 million pounds of material in 2011 – including plastic regrind, corrugated, paper, aluminium and steel. This is on top of the 2.5 million pounds the company reported in 2010.

Portola president and chief executive officer Kevin Kwilinski, said: “Our conservation goals begin with responsible manufacturing.

"This includes upstream processes which utilise material in the most efficient way possible so that there is less need to recycle on the back end. We also believe in partnering with our customers and communities to help make that happen.”

Contributing to the energy conservation efforts were more than 20 different initiatives across all eight plants. These included waste water management, replacement of poor efficiency equipment and improving air compressor optimisation.

Source: Portola Packaging