Quality Environmental Safety Policy

We maintain effective systems and continually improve to assure total satisfaction and compliance.

Measurable Objectives
1. On Time Delivery
2. Favorable Customer Satisfaction 
3. Low Defects Per Million 
4. High Efficiency
5. Optimal Utilization
6. On Time Supplier Delivery
7. Clean and Safe Workplace
8. Training Hours
9. Minimize Trash to Landfill
10. Efficient Recycling
11. Efficient Energy Usage

Sapona Plastics maintains an integrated quality/environmental/safety management system that meets all requirements and in compliance with ISO 9000:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO45001.

Sapona Plastics is committed to preventing pollution and reducing any adverse environmental impacts from our manufacturing activities, products, and services. We will continually improve the EHS system to enhance environmental and safety performance. 

We are dedicated to going beyond mere compliance regarding relevant health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and requirements.  We will conduct all business activities in a responsible manner free from recognized hazards and fulfill all compliance obligations.  We are committed to consultation and participation of workers. 

Goals
12 month average pounds of waste to landfill less than 4% of pounds of product shipped.
12 month average pounds shipped to recycling less than 12% of pounds of product shipped.
12 month average energy cost as a percent of sales produced less than 4%

Expected outcomes
Scope 2 CO2 emissions resulting primarily from energy consumption less than 0.031 Tons per operating hour.

Environmental and Sustainability programs and records
In 2019 Sapona produced Recycled Grill Brush Handles - Plastic handle used reprocessed/recycled PP, over 350,000 lbs per year of recycled plastic.
Most scrap produced is ground and recycled back into the product unless limited by specification.
Our CEO, Jack Lail, maintains the grounds and keeps the landscaping in good shape.
Leadership - Dean Lail, our president, has been a certified Drinking Water Treatment Facility Operator and certified Distribution System Operator, responsible for the Drinking Water system at Sapona.
Cans and bottles are recycled by our scrap recycler. Receptacles are in the break room.
All Electric Presses - Sapona Plastics has 10 all-electric presses which save over 25% electricity compared to traditional hydraulic presses. Future presses and auxilliary equipment will be energy saving. 
Our electricity usage in 2009 resulted in an estimated equivalent pollution count as follows:
6,548 pounds of nitrogen oxides
23,955 pounds of sulfur dioxide
4,616,034 pounds of carbon dioxide
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EPA Clean Energy
Lighting Survey - Energy Management Program at NCSU in conjunction with Randolph Electric prepared a survey report of lighting estimating a possible annual savings of $24,000 or 47KW by changing lighting fixtures, lamps and installing occupancy sensors. For every KWh saved, 1.24 pounds of CO2 is not released into the atomosphere. The recommendations were implemented.  
In January 2011, Southpoint Solutions replaced all lighting and fixtures in the Sapona Plastics building saving an estimated 345,000 kWh per year and reducing demand by 48KW.  72 existing Metal Halide light fixtures were replaced with CM 4 lamp T8 fixtures from Orion Energy Systems.
Office areas are collecting and recycling paper routinely.  After 6 years we actually saved $72,000 and replaced all lights with LED in 2017.
In 2011, Sapona formalized a contract with Carolina Container with Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified sourcing.   The contract was renewed in 2015 www.sfiprogram.org

Asheboro Recycling, Pelican and/or Sonoco - All clean scrap plastic and cardboard generated is recycled. Obsoleted inventory of metal equipment and components have been recycled.
Sapona is embarking on our commitment to Zero Pellet Loss to the environment in 2012.  ​​

Sonoco Recycled Corrugate 2021

MIR Plastic recycled in 2021 (Lbs.)

Our MoldFlow software provides simulation information on the carbon footprint, embodied water, and embodied energy of a plastic part.  You can learn more about embodied water at the following link:
http://environmentvictoria.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/embodied-water.pdf

Can plastic lip balm tubes be recycled?Unfortunately, lip balm tubes are not curbside recyclable because they are small enough to clog up the machinery and are typically made of a mix of plastics. 

Links of interest related to environmental issues:

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Remove 1 Lb. of plastic from the ocean by buying a bracelet.

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