Environmental Impact
OVERVIEW
Spectrum Industries received the GSA Evergreen Award for its commitment towards the pursuit of environmental sustainability through proactive waste prevention, material recovery and recycling, environmentally conscious product design and procurement and being a model facility for our community and industry.
WASTE PREVENTION
Spectrum Industries is positively impacting waste prevention efforts by implementing several company-wide recycling initiatives. These initiatives include recovering post-manufacturing materials and sourcing recycled and recyclable raw materials for use in the manufacturing process. Additionally Spectrum promotes environmentally conscious practices in all corporate activities.
RECOVERED MATERIALS
- Through the implementation of powder-coating technology as a replacement for solvent-based finishes, the combined air emissions of Volatile Organix Compounds, or VOCs, have been reduced by 60% since 1998.
- The use of powder coating finishes has reduced the combined volume of clean-up solvent and hazardous waste by 50% since 1998. Much of the powder-coating residue is reclaimed and reused. Residue that is disposed of is not hazardous to the environment.
- The 1998 implementation of the powder coating line has allowed us to eliminate the accumulation of a recyclable hazardous waste wash solvent that had averaged 7400 lbs per year.
- With the replacement in 2007 of the new, self contained, cleaning preparation wash line, the previous waste-water phosphorus discharge which had averaged 1500 lbs per year will be eliminated.
- A finishing material change to a thinner that is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hazardous Air Pollution Standard (HAPS) compliant, has resulted in a 35% reduction per gallon of VOCs.
- A change to HAPS-compliant varnish topcoat solutions has resulted in a 10% reduction per gallon of VOCs.
- Post-manufacturing hardwood trimmings, particle board, agriculture board, and corrugation waste material are ground into a reusable fiber material. This material is widely used in the Agriculture industry as animal bedding because its absorbency and value as a compost material. Spectrum's primary recipient of the reusable fiber material, Five Star Dairy in Elk Mound, WI, feeds the composted material through a digester system, which creates biogas energy. This energy is fed to generators used to power the facility's equipment. The excess energy is sold to the local power cooperative providing enough electricity for about 600 homes.
RECYCLING EFFORTS
- Company-wide recycling efforts include the recovery of all company waste paper, aluminum cans, plastics, steel, metal, used printer cartridges, and computer components.
- Post-manufacturing steel scrap is recycled locally.
- Post-manufacturing solid oak scrap is re-used in other products and made available to employees for personal use.
- Recycling efforts and the grinding of post-manufacturing waste has resulted in a 75% reduction in landfill waste since 1999.
- Corrugation and packing materials are returned and reused from projects completed by Spectrum employed installers.
- Spectrum Industries has entered into an agreement with another firm, Comprehensive Recycling, for pick-up and distribution of plastic material that is recovered from manufacturing processes. Various plastic offal materials (polyvinyl chloride and high density polyethylene) that had been previously discarded as solid waste are now being collected, sorted and identified for applicable recycling and reuse.
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN & PROCUREMENT
Throughout our raw material specification and procurement process, Spectrum Industries identifies materials and suppliers that allow the company to manufacture new and existing products from recycled or recyclable material. Examples of the items being purchased and designed through this program include:
- Spectrum has vendors available to supply customers who require a source for agricultural residue particle board for table tops.
- Components that utilize an agricultural residue particle board are manufactured from 100% post-harvest recycled fiber.
- Spectrum uses adhesives/materials that emit low or no levels of toxins to better the air quality for its customers.
- The particle board core material used in Spectrum's product line is manufactured from material that is produced from 49% to 96% recovered materials. Air emissions from the particle board are also within acceptable levels for formaldehyde.
- Medium Density Fiberboard, which is used in many Spectrum products, is produced from 15% to 30% recovered materials.
- Steel fasteners used in furniture and display assembly are 100% recyclable.
- Steel tubing and sheet steel used in furniture and display construction are 100% recyclable.
- Office chairs are composed of up to 25% recycled materials in structured plastic parts and up to 40% on non-structured parts.
- Foam cushions on chairs are made from advanced European formulas with no CFCs in the process.
- Plastic edge banding used on desks and carts is 100% recyclable.
- Glides and casters, when disassembled, are 100% recyclable.
- All chair components, with the exception of the foam padding, are recyclable.
- New product designs use components made from post-consumer, 100% recyclable plastic.
- Spectrum products are virtually 100% recyclable when their useful life is over.
- Corrugated material (cardboard), which is used in packaging products for shipping, is manufactured from 35% post-industrial material and is 100% recyclable.
- The liner within Spectrum's corrugated material is produced from material that contains at least 50% post-consumer materials and includes an excess of 5% manufactured waste.
- Product is designed to be disassembled easily for recycling pieces when product lifecycle is complete.
- "Bulk Packaging" of popular products allows Spectrum to significantly reduce the amount of corrugated packaging material used on an order, save on the amount of fuel used in delivering an order, and save on the amount of corrugated material a customer may potentially dispose of after an order has been delivered.
- During recent building additions and construction projects, Spectrum specified and installed heating units that are energy efficient.
- Spectrum actively aligns itself with suppliers who do not harm the environment.
MODEL FACILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
By incorporating equipment changes, procedure improvements, and raw material alternatives, Spectrum Industries personnel have affected a positive change for the environment that is in effect every hour of operation. This commitment to environmental protection drives Spectrum's operations to continually strive for greater efficiency with minimal environmental impact.
- The corporate use of electricity and natural gas during system-wide peak times has been reduced through a cooperative energy conservation agreement. Throughout 2007 this conservation effort helped reduce energy consumption by 43% during peak times.
- Spectrum began sourcing a new corrugation production system which reduces waste by manufacturing the packaging materials on demand. By creating the packaging materials as they are needed it eliminates obsolescence, excess inventory, and material costs.
In 2005 Spectrum acquired a new manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters. Included in the purchase was a 3 acre wetland that will be preserved. All future expansion, re-modeling and manufacturing will be done without impacting this wetland. The following improvements have already been pursued:
- Existing lighting in the new facility was replaced in many areas with a high output reflectorized system. This change was encouraged and recognized by the local municipality which resulted in energy credits.
- Spectrum began sourcing a new environmentally conscious paint line and wash system in 2006. The line chosen was installed in the new facility in 2007 and operates at room temperature. This eliminates the need to heat the wash solution saving considerable energy.
- During the wash any excess cleaning solution is captured, filtered and recycled so it can be re-used. No water is mixed in, used in the process or disposed of.
- The cleaning solution contains no CFCs, HAPs, HHCs, aromatics, chrome or ozone depleting substances. The vapor decomposes in air to carbon dioxide and air in a few days.
CONCLUSION
As detailed above, Spectrum Industries is committed to positively impacting the world’s environment. Spectrum will continue to pursue improvements through proactive waste prevention material recovery and recycling, environmentally conscious product design and procurement and by being a model facility. A commitment to environmental sustainability is not an initiative that can be completed like many corporate tasks. Spectrum Industries views it as a perpetual initiative, one that will positively impact our community, our industry, our environment and our world.