Sustainability: In the Business of Change
Over the past years, we have worked to align ourselves as one company and define ourselves within our industry as leaders in sustainable practices. Measuring ourselves against past performance as well as industry sustainability goals is critical for not only our business, but also for our employees, our customers, our communities, and our planet.
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Water
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Recycled Fiber
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Forest - Chain of Custody
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Safety
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Climate Change
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Wood Yield
Water
Goal:
Reduce water use.
13,800 gal/ton
9,800 gal/tons
13,800 gal/ton
10,300 gal/tons
9,800 gal/tons
Result:
Since 2014 we have reduced water usage by 25%.
Recycled Fiber
Goal:
Increase recycle fiber usage.
230,000 tons
400,000 tons
230,000 tons
350,000 tons
400,000 tons
Result:
Since 2014 we have increased use of recycled fiber by 52%.
Forest - Chain of Custody
Goal:
Maintain 100% procured fiber through certified fiber sourcing programs.
0%
100%
100%
Result:
100% wood fiber procurement from chain of custody since 2014.
Safety
Goal:
The vision for HCC is zero injuries. Progress toward that goal is measured by OSHA Total Incidence rate.
1.80
0.9
1.80
1.1
0.9
Result:
39% improvement in recordable incidence rate since 2015.
Climate Change
Goal:
Achieve a reduction in green house gases.
0.35 Tons
CO2e/Paper Ton
0.32 Tons
CO2e/Paper Ton
0.35 Tons
CO2e/Paper Ton
0.38 Tons
CO2e/Paper Ton
0.32 Tons
CO2e/Paper Ton
Result:
Since 2014 we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 9%.
Wood Yield
Goal:
Reduce the amount of wood required to produce a ton of pulp.
3.25 tons wood/ton pulp
2.85 tons wood/ton pulp
3.25 tons wood/ton pulp
3.06 tons wood/ton pulp
2.85 tons wood/ton pulp
Result:
Since 2014 we have reduced the amount of wood required to produce a ton of pulp by 6%.
As a member of AF&PA, Hood Container is committed to helping make progress toward AF&PA’s Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 sustainability goals. AF&PA has established five quantifiable sustainability goals that the industry aims to meet by 2030. These goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing a circular value chain, striving for zero workplace injuries, helping drive water stewardship, and advancing more resilient U.S. forests.
Hood Container’s own Project 2025 set forth in 2020 helps us measure our progress and remain inline with industry goals, rooting firm our commitment to a more sustainable future.
Sustainability has always been at the core of who we are as an organization and as an industry of renewable resources.
- Greg Hall, President & COOThe Life Cycle of A Box
The United States plants 3.2 million seedlings each day, meaning that three seedlings are planted to every tree harvested. By planting these young trees, the paper industry has a perpetual supply of raw materials, unlike mining, oil, and gas who have limited natural resources.
Young trees are more efficient at converting CO2 into oxygen and have a positive environmental impact. HCC Mill Division is both SFI and FSC certified. This means that our suppliers adhere to the highest standard for forestry stewardship and we use 100% wood fiber procurement from chain of custody.
Our mills receive about 60 truckloads per day of sawdust and waste wood from sawmills and landfills to be used as sustainable fuel for our process.
Focused on transportation efficiency, we optimize shipping schedules to reduce miles and fuel consumption by our trucks hence reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Our manufacturing processes are continually monitored for opportunities to reduce waste. We also utilize water-based inks that contain no solvents or heavy metals, more-efficient natural gas for boilers, maintain low (VOC) Volatile Organic Compounds, and are converting to 50% natural organic resin glue.
Our corrugated facilities utilize right-sizing boxes, where we use the latest software and board combination to provide box strength with the least amount of fiber. We are also Amazon APASS certified.
Between our professional truck drivers and our facility locations, we can distribute to most of the US market in less than one day.
From Mill to Market we exercise every opportunity to increase efficiencies and not only provide our customers with speed to market but also top line product.
We understand that providing quality sustainable packaging solutions are important to our customers because they are important to consumers.
Corrugated products are the most recycled packaging material. 93% of corrugated containers are recovered/ recycled (3 years average). Hood Container is an active recycler of Old Corrugated Containers (OCC). Our mills recycle, on average, about 360,000 tons per year of post-retail and post-consumer waste.
Our mills receive up to 40 truckloads a day of baled post-consumer Old Corrugated Containers from grocery stores and recycling facilities. Since 2014 HCC has increased use of recycled fiber by 74%.
Where Environmental Stewardship Takes Root
The Hood Container Corporation Mill Division is committed to adhering to the letter, and the spirit, of all environmental regulations. In the history of the company, there have been zero Notice of Violations. The division is SFI and FSC certified. This means that our suppliers adhere to the highest standard for forestry stewardship, and best management practices for timber production and harvesting. Both mills are recertified annually for this important designation.
The Power of Green
The Paper Industry has long been a preeminent participant in the Sustainability of Our Planet. There are three areas where our industry excels:
- First, the use of trees as a raw material allows for the consumption of Carbon Dioxide and the respiration of oxygen as an outcome of the tree’s growth process. The domestic Paper Industry has historically planted 4 trees for every tree harvested thus enhancing the consumption of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide in exchange for oxygen.
- About 50% of all corrugated boxes are made with papers that are recycled. Hood Container Corp’s linerboard and medium papers are close to this percentage.
- The Paper Industry has and continues to invest in equipment that allows the boxes it produces to comply with DOT requirements for Interstate commerce with less and less fiber in the box. This source reduction approach to sustainability goes a step further than just utilizing recycled fibers since carbon emissions from this approach are far less than even with the recycled papers approach. Hood Container’s papers are almost 100% source reduced packaging materials.
Our paper mills generate the majority of their energy with green fuels. This means using bark and sawdust for boiler fuel and using lignin from the pulping process to generate steam and electricity. The whole tree is used in the pulp and papermaking process, no waste.
Our Corrugated facilities utilize Right-sizing boxes, where we use the latest software and board combination to provide box strength with the least amount of fiber. Our Converting plants have transitioned fuel for their boilers from oil to more-efficient natural gas. Many plants have reduced their power needs by converting to low-wattage LED lights. We also focus on transportation efficiency using optimized shipping schedules to reduce miles and fuel consumption by our trucks hence reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of our corrugated facilities also focus on making Green Choices including:
- Utilizing water-based inks that contain no solvents or heavy metals
- Employing renewable natural resources
- Maintaining low (VOC) Volatile Organic Compounds
- Identifying and implementing increased manufacturing efficiencies
- Converting to 50% natural organic resin glue
- Classifying capital expenditures that are aimed at achieving improved energy and water usage
- Capturing and returning scrap to paper mills for recycling
- Leveraging refurbished pallets when applicable
Project 2025
In 2014 HCC set forth to protect our planet by operating in an environmentally responsible manner while being good neighbors in the regions we operate.
Since 2014 Hood Container Has:
- Become SFI & FSC Certified in our Mill Division.
- Increased use of recycled fiber by 74%.
- Reduced water usage by 28%.
- Since 2014 we have reduced the amount of wood required to produce a ton of pulp by 6%.
- Reduced Green House Gases by 17%.
- Decreased our recordable incident rate by 56% (2015-2019).
Today’s Practices Create Tomorrow’s Future Project 2025
Increased use of recycled fiber by 10%.
Reduce water use by 10%
Reduce amount of wood required to produce a ton of pulp by 12%
Maintain the use of 100% sourced fiber
Reduction of recordable incident rate
Reduce green house gas emissions by 5%
Diversity & Inclusion
HCC recognizes that its strength comes from the employees who make up the communities we are part of. These communities consist of people representing different backgrounds and viewpoints. We desire to unite generations, minorities, women, and other underrepresented groups from the community through shared Core Values that benefit the community and beyond. We strive to create a workplace that fosters and promotes an inclusive environment, attracting people to bring their talents and skills to us, in turn fostering an environment where they belong and desire to stay.
It is our intent to create and sustain a One Hood Employee Experience in which all employees from various backgrounds feel welcomed and are invited to participate passionately in Hood Container’s business priorities. Our Diversity and Inclusion strategy efforts are embedded and focused in the following areas:
- Talent Acquisition
- Leadership
- Core Values
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Growth and Development
- Rewards and Recognition
- Wellbeing and Benefits
- Compliance and Ethics
- Community Outreach
Corporate Responsibility
Hood Container has partnered with the Susan G. Komen and Colorectal Cancer Alliance organizations to bring awareness to our company’s top three cancer diagnoses. In alignment with our Guiding Principles, Serve and Care, these charities were selected for their impact on the areas they serve and their commitment to informing and empowering those affected. In addition, our goal is to provide tools to help employees and their families embrace a healthy lifestyle along their health journey.
Please click on logo to learn more about how you can get involved today.