We're Passionate About Our Planet

A Legacy of Leadership in Sustainability

ONGOING INITIATIVES

Recycling

Materials sourcing, utilization, disposition

Onsite electricity cogeneration for efficiency, cost savings, and to relieve the local grid

Emissions management & reduction

Waste reduction and disposal

Advocacy for manufacturing and plastics

BY THE NUMBERS

<1.5% of waste goes to a landfill

50% reduction in water usage using inline filtration

350,000 pounds of material diverted from landfills annually

1,744,627kWh of energy saved using high-efficiency lighting

161,518kWh of energy saved using variable frequency drive motors

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC MYTHS

“Zero waste” efforts that eliminate single-use plastics minimize the environmental impacts of an event. In reality, the benefits of diverting waste from the landfill are small. Waste reduction and mindful consumption, including a careful consideration of the types and quantities of products consumed, are far larger factors dictating the environmental impact of an event.

A History of Sustainability

Beginning in 2007 Hoffer Plastics implemented a facility wide recycling program. The focus of this program was to eliminate all manufacturing waste from going to the landfill. Hoffer’s Executive Management Team supported this initiative which involved employees from all departments.

In 2021, less than 1.5% of the 25,000,000 lbs of manufacturing resin ended up in the landfill. The company wide initiative institutionalized a culture of enhanced corporate sustainability. This corporate culture has helped spur on many innovative and cost saving ideas from employees. Capital saved from these projects has allowed the organization to reinvest in other areas allowing it to be one of the leaders in our industry.

Scrap Separation and Recycling

All plastic is segregated by type including any floor sweepings or contaminated materials. In 2021, we used 25,000,000 lbs of material and sent less than 1.5% to the landfill.

The engineering team identified the most voluminous polymer used in our manufacturing process and created a separate collection system for the machines running that material. Now that this scrap is acceptable for recycling, we no longer need to have the trash compactor picked up each week. Instead we have worked with the garbage company to have the compactor picked up on an on-call basis.

We estimate the annual impact of this system change to be 350,000 pounds of material diverted from landfill.

FROM THE BLOG

Revolutionizing Flexible Spouted Pouch Packaging with Ultrasonic Welding

Packaging World captured the successful collaboration between Effytec, Dukane and Hoffer Plastics in action at PACK EXPO. Editor Pat Reynolds visited the team at the show to spotlight Effytec’s servo-driven GP32 form-fill-seal machine manufacturing sustainable pouches with Dukane’s innovative SynQro™ ultrasonic welding technology and Hoffer Plastic’s proprietary P22 spouts. Made from 100% recyclable mono-materials, these…

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Cobots Accelerate Success at Hoffer Plastics

Plastics Technology sat down with members of the Hoffer Plastics team to learn more about the company’s ongoing investment in automation and the benefits to customers. Automation project manager Adam VanMeter explored our integration of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and cobots, which together support part inspection, filling, palletizing and transporting boxes. Since installation, automation has…

Innovative Ultrasonic Spouted Pouch Sealing Solution Debuts at PACK EXPO 2024

Collaborative innovation pays off as Dukane, Effytec and Hoffer Plastics launch mono-material solution. SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. (October 15, 2024) – What happens when you bring together a state-of-the-art packaging equipment manufacturer, an innovative plastic welding technologies leader and an award-winning injection molder? A sophisticated new mono-material polyethylene (PE) packaging solution that was created from the…

IndustryWeek Best Plants Award Winners: Championship Effort, Championship Achievement

Hoffer Plastics is humbled and honored to be chosen as a 2024 Best Plants Award Winner by IndustryWeek! This award recognizes more than 71 years of operational excellence, exceptional customer care and employee satisfaction within its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in South Elgin, Illinois. The company’s success is attributed to its high-volume, high production capability, which…

Four Ways Flexible Packaging Can Strengthen a Circular Economy

Sustainability can’t be something we just talk about in the plastics industry. Not when 87% of the public is worried about the impact of plastics on the environment, according to Accenture. That’s why companies across the country are working to transform the traditional model of plastics production, use and disposal. Circularity ensures that every stage…

Five Pathways to a Thriving Workplace Culture in Food Manufacturing

Food Industry Executive shared insights into Hoffer Plastics’ commitment to creating a thriving workplace culture with perspectives from Hoffer Plastics team members Jeff Klabunde, Vice President of Operations and Shari Nelson, Director of Human Resources. By prioritizing training, professional growth and embracing new technologies, companies like Hoffer Plastics foster a skilled, motivated workforce that drives…

Hoffer Plastics Receives IndustryWeek 2024 Best Plants Award

Recognizing operational excellence, customer focus and ongoing employee engagement SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. (September 3, 2024) – Today, Hoffer Plastics, a leading provider of custom injection molding solutions, joins the ranks of manufacturing’s top leaders as an IndustryWeek Best Plants Award winner. This recognition is a celebration of Hoffer Plastics’ dedication to fostering a culture of…

Hoffer Plastics Named an Industryweek 2024 Best Plants Finalist, Received Illinois Manufacturing Association’s Community Impact Award

Hoffer Plastics, a leading provider of custom injection molding solutions, is pleased to announce two significant achievements. The recognitions showcase a dual commitment to driving higher quality and greater productivity for customers, while strengthening the community through educational opportunities and engagements that provide pathways to a brighter future. Named one of IndustryWeek’s 2024 Best Plants…

Seal It Right: Selecting the Best Cap and Spout for Your Flexible Packaging Application

A convenient, lighter-weight solution that uses less material and extends shelf life, flexible packaging is flexing its strengths in the marketplace today. This type of packaging, which you mostly recognize in formats like pouches, bags and more, is widely utilized across a variety of industries from food and beverage to personal and home care solutions…

Celebrating Three Generations of Manufacturing Innovation & Leadership at Hoffer Plastics

How Thinking Ahead Continues to Propel Hoffer Plastics into the Future Back in 1953, Robert Hoffer started out with a powerful idea: Putting the needs of customers, employees and the community first would drive a successful business. It’s a seemingly simple concept that has led Hoffer Plastics through 70 years of business. Today, into our…

We're Passionate About Our Planet

A Legacy of Leadership in Sustainability

ONGOING INITIATIVES

BY THE NUMBERS

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC MYTHS

A History of Sustainability

Scrap Separation and Recycling

FROM THE BLOG

GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY!