Zero Landfill Organization

People, Planet, Profit: PGC’s Commitment to Sustainability

               At PGC, we fully embrace the principles of the Triple Bottom Line—People, Planet, and Profit. As a company of lifelong learners, we aim to positively impact the planet through innovative ideas and tailored solutions for our customers. Creating a culture of engagement, trust, and continuous learning is essential to delivering value to our customers and employees. 

               We take pride in operating as a Zero Landfill Organization, highlighting our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For us, profit is not merely a financial metric; it is a crucial resource that allows us to reinvest in advanced machinery, software, and our talented workforce. These strategic investments enhance the quality of our products and services while streamlining our processes, ultimately benefiting our customers and employees.

Achieving Zero Contributions to Landfills

               In pursuit of sustainability, we recognize that our materials are only part of the manufacturing equation. When we launched our Zero Landfill initiative, PGC generated approximately 16 tons of compacted waste each month—192 tons annually that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Thanks to our commitment to sustainable practices, we have successfully reduced our monthly waste output to around 9.5 tons. This waste is now sent to an incinerator that converts it into electricity, significantly improving our waste management practices.

               Our dedicated efforts have resulted in diverting about 76 tons of waste from landfills and achieving a remarkable 40% reduction in associated costs. By redirecting our waste into more sustainable channels, we discovered that discarded materials could serve as valuable resources for other organizations, benefiting the environment while contributing to cost savings. Our strategy includes increasing recycling rates and selling certain waste materials for profit, with some materials being incinerated to generate clean energy for our local community. Additionally, we have streamlined our recycling process by transitioning from baling cardboard to a more efficient bin system.

Innovations in Waste Management

               One of our latest improvements is the installation of an improved trash compactor by DMH Co. on September 1st. This new screw-style compactor offers an estimated 50% increase in compaction efficiency compared to our previous system. Environmentally, this improvement means fewer truck trips are needed to remove waste, thereby reducing fuel costs and minimizing our carbon footprint.

               Our ongoing efforts to decrease scrap waste are already yielding positive results. We now separate seven tons of blue paper and chipboard for monthly recycling and two tons of cardboard. These recycled materials are repurposed to create products like cereal boxes, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability at multiple levels.

A Focus on Waste Stream Management

               Being a zero-level landfill organization is more than just a goal for PGC; it’s a responsibility we take seriously. As we manufacture millions of parts each year, we understand that raw materials are only the beginning of our journey. The waste generated, including part webbing, slugs, excess material, pallets, and packaging, can quickly accumulate. Before our recent initiatives, we contributed approximately 192 tons of waste to local landfills annually.

               We launched a Waste Stream Management project to repurpose waste into new uses in response to this challenge. This initiative redirects rubber, plastic film, cardboard, paper, polyethylene foam, pallets, and metal into markets focused on reuse and recycling. These materials are sent to the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), where they are transformed into fuel that generates electricity and steam for heating buildings in Downtown Minneapolis.

               At PGC, our commitment to sustainability extends beyond merely reducing waste; it involves redefining our operational approach to benefit the environment and the community we serve. We are paving the way for a greener future through innovation, strategic investments, and an unwavering focus on sustainability.