Sustainability Report: Packaging Firm Cuts CO2

by | Feb 14, 2011

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A packaging company has cut the CO2 emissions of its cardboard operations by over 1,500 tons through the use of a high-efficiency boiler and lighting.

Menasha Corporation installed high-efficiency fluorescent lighting at three Wisconsin plants to reduce annual CO2 by 1,064 tons. A high-efficiency boiler at its facility in Neenah, Wisc., reduced CO2 by 482 tons.

But the company’s CO2 per thousand square foot of corrugated cardboard produced rose by 8 percent last year, from .0107 to .0116. Meanwhile, gallons of water produced per thousand square foot fell from 8.19 to 6.9.

A new glue machine in the Neenah facility has reduced that process’s consumption of cornstarch and water by more than 30 percent, the company said.

A new wastewater treatment system at the facility in Hartford, Wisc., recirculates water to cool the corrugators instead of constantly pumping fresh water. This upgrade will save more than 1.4 million gallons annually, Menasha said.

The company now plans to instal five 20kW wind turbines projected to generate more than 150,000 kW hours annually – enough to provide for the average electrical needs of lighting, computers and office equipment in the Neenah office building.

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