Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Monadnock Paper Mills – The UN-Plastic Journey
2023 FSC Leadership Award Winner Profile
Monadnock Paper Mills, of Bennington, NH, is the longest continuously operating paper mill in the United States.
They have been a sustainability pioneer for more than 200 years. When one thinks of leaders in sustainability, it’s unlikely that thoughts would turn to a 200-year-old company. But a company’s age does not always mean “old-school.”
Crafting extraordinary solutions for a sustainable world exemplifies who Monadnock is and what they do. With over two centuries of innovative eco-craftsmanship, Monadnock has revolutionized the industry, including the development of eco-friendly alternatives to plastic products. They carry FSC Chain of Custody certification across all product lines.
In today’s retail landscape, gift cards are a popular staple of modern shopping experiences for busy consumers. However, this convenience comes at a considerable environmental cost. According to the International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA), nearly 30 billion plastic cards are produced globally each year, and are discarded within six months.
“Continuing to rely on plastic for gift card production is almost irresponsible at this point, especially considering their brief lifecycles,” says Julie Brannen, Director of Sustainability Solutions for Monadnock Paper Mills. “There’s a pivotal opportunity here to rethink how we create these products and make a meaningful impact on our environment.”
Through Monadnock’s years of sustainability leadership, it has been a hard-fought journey where the gains are well worth it:
- Over 10 Billion Plastic Gift Cards Replaced: Monadnock's sustainable solutions have replaced billions of conventional plastic cards.
- 42,400,000 Pounds of Wood Saved in 2022: Monadnock produced paper and packaging material using 10,602,512 pounds of post-consumer (PCW) fiber, a 58% increase from 2021.
- 47 Products and 555 Grades: Monadnock’s long history of fiber and coating innovation transforms cotton, industrial hemp, jute, PCW and FSC® Certified virgin fiber into singular solutions for discerning global brands.
- 107 End-Use Applications Across 33 Industries: Monadnock is everywhere, from medical packaging, construction materials and wall coverings to fine paper, rigid packaging, and in-store graphics.
- Monadnock continuously tracks environmental impact activities across all levels of the organization and regularly sets impact reduction goals as a result. They have long communicated their progress and continue to educate all stakeholders on the importance of their sustainability initiatives.
Living up to its sustainability commitment, Monadnock’s 2022 production of materials made with recycled fiber enabled its customers to reduce:
- 53,200 BTUs of Energy: Through efficient production methods, Monadnock’s customers avoided the consumption of 53,200 MM BTUs of energy, significantly reducing their environmental impact.
- 55,000,000 Pounds of GHG CO2 Emissions: Monadnock's sustainable practices have prevented the release of 55,000,000 pounds of greenhouse gas (GHG) CO2 emissions, based on all paper sold in 2022.
- 430,000 Pounds of Waste: By implementing waste reduction strategies, Monadnock successfully avoided generating 430,000 pounds of waste, exemplifying their dedication to a circular economy.
- 98.6% Waste Diversion Rate: Trash to landfill was reduced by 11% over 2021 with an excellent diversion rate of 98.6%. For context, a Zero Waste company is often defined by a minimum 90% diversion rate.
Says Lisa Taylor, VP of Sales and Marketing at Monadnock, “We all benefit when we embrace social responsibility with transparency and authenticity. Monadnock views people, partnerships, and the community as the most valuable assets of all. These are the very values that our 200-year-old privately-owned paper mill was founded on.”
To learn more, please contact Monadnock Paper Mills.