Green Bay, Wis. (November, 2022) – The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has named Green Bay Packaging Inc. a Green Master within its Green Masters Program. Recognizing sustainable actions in businesses from across Wisconsin, the Green Masters program works to identify businesses that have taken at actions in each of the nine pillars of sustainability. Participants in the program receive recognition for their sustainability accomplishments and develop ideas for future sustainability actions. Green Bay Packaging has achieved the Green Master designation for its thirteenth consecutive year.
Green Bay Packaging (GBP) has incorporated sustainability into its strategic business plan and deployed it through widespread initiatives, technology, and innovation to take its sustainability efforts to the next level.
The new state-of-the-art, 100% recycled paper mill incorporates advanced recycling capacity, innovative energy efficiencies, and a circular reclaimed water system, which has so far resulted in significant reductions per ton of paper production of 30% less water, 33% less waste, 25% less greenhouse gas, and 12% less energy, all of which is expected to continue to improve. The mill, achieving the first-in-the-world net zero water use validation, is continuous testimony that GBP is a leader in water and environmental stewardship. In 2021, the Green Bay mill returned 23,000,000 more gallons to the Great Lakes than withdrawn, utilizing ‘reclaimed’ municipal wastewater to replace freshwater demand.
“The Green Bay mill investment in technology, product innovation and sustainability performance is an accelerator that demonstrates Green Bay Packaging’s commitment to sustainability within our operations and as a product value-add solution for our customers,” says corporate environment and sustainability director, Lisa Bauer-Lotto.
Additionally, the zero waste to landfill initiative achieved 98% landfill diversion across all converting operations (in both within Wisconsin and nationally throughout the company), advancing recycling and beneficial use through upstream and downstream evaluation for product and material end-of-life solutions.
The Green Masters Program is an objective, points-based recognition, assessment benchmarking and certification program that enables Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies working towards sustainability. The program has established three levels of participation: Green Apprentice, Green Professional, and Green Master. Green Bay Packaging joined the program as a Green Master in 2010. Each year at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference, the current top 20 percent of companies are identified and recognized as the Green Masters level companies and celebrated at WBSC’s Annual Sustainability Conference, which will be held this year on November 16th at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packaging is honored to have been part of the Green Masters program since its inception in 2010. The program reflects an important benchmark of progress alongside other likeminded Wisconsin businesses. Participation in the program has brought insight on alternative and mindful strategies for reducing the environmental footprint while increasing community and workforce engagement and welfare.
“The Green Masters Program is a tool for businesses to assess and develop their sustainability program, to benchmark against their industry and to receive a third party certification recognizing their achievements in sustainability,” says WSBC’s managing director, Jessy Servi Ortiz. “We are proud to have companies like Green Bay Packaging leading the way in Wisconsin.”
About Green Bay Packaging, Inc.
Established in 1933, Green Bay Packaging Inc. is a family-owned, vertically integrated manufacturing company consisting of corrugated container plants, a folding carton facility, recycled and virgin linerboard mills, pressure-sensitive label roll stock plants, specialty converting operations, timberlands, and a sawmill facility. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Green Bay Packaging is dedicated to the innovative development of its products and forestry resources, with a focus on safety, sustainability, quality, and continuous improvement throughout all 37 facilities in 16 states. For more information about Green Bay Packaging Inc., visit gbp.com
To learn more about Green Bay Packaging’s positive impact on surrounding areas click here
© November 8, 2022