Sustainability

Meramec's Green Team is a dedicated team of employees from all areas of the company who meet on a regular basis to discuss and implement ways to make Meramec a more environmentally friendly company.

Approximately 75% of Meramec's waste is recycled.

The Items we recycle are scrap polyurethane, metal, batteries, electronics, paper, and plastics. Even our coffee grounds are used for compost!

To make this possible, we have partnered with various organizations, including Systech Environmental Corp. The majority of our waste is shipped to Systech's Cement factory and used in their cement kiln in place of coal. One ton of our waste is equivalent to burning 1.1 tons of coal.

Since the program’s inception, we have shipped over 3,700 tons of waste to Systech, which saves them from burning 4,070 tons of coal. With 3,700 tons of trash kept out of landfills, this partnership is a win for Meramec, Systech, and the environment.

Check out Systech's website if you would like more information on their recycling options.

Environmental Program Summary

The Meramec group is committed to finding innovative ways to protect our environment, while providing quality products for our customers. Here are some of our recent initiatives.

Improve Energy Efficiency

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT	Install a small compressor that could run equipment on weekends so main compressor won't have to	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace existing office lighting with new high efficiency fluorescent light fixtures	Completed
PARTS WASHING	Replace tank type water heaters for parts washers with more efficient instantaneous water heaters	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace old HVAC unit with a new programmable high efficiency unit	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Relocate powder mix room for improved efficiency	Completed
PART MOLDING	Replace low efficiency light fixtures with high efficiency light fixtures throughout the factory	In Progress
SPRAY PAINTING	Have JHF evaluate compressor motor and recommend ways to improve efficiency	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Analyze our energy usage and make suggestions to improve efficiency	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace dock doors with more modern better sealing designs to reduce heat loss	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace large gas fired space heater on the dock with more efficient hot water based space heaters	Completed
PART MOLDING	Utilize waste heat from large air compressor to preheat process water	Completed
SPRAY PAINTING	Install air compressor receiver tank and flow regulator to allow plant air pressure to be lowered several psi thereby reducing energy usage	In Progress
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT	Lower Mold Tech compressed air pressure from 130 to 90 psi. Correct air leaks in the system	In Progress

Improve Working Environment

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
CHEMICAL MIXING	Review project status and safety procedures surrounding new blowing agent	In Progress
PART MOLDING	Reduce overspray particulate in IP from paint and mold release	In Progress

Make Our Products More Eco Friendly

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Promote the EMS program on the Meramec website through postings and with press releases	In Progress
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT	Work toward replacing listed blowing agents as well as catalysts and phthalates	In Progress

Reduce Air Emissions

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Relocate the smoking break room from inside to outside the factory	Completed
PART MOLDING	Evaluate water based and other low-VOC mold releases	Completed
SPRAY PAINTING	Work with paint supplier to develop a lower VOC paint	Completed
SPRAY PAINTING	Work with paint supplier to develop lower VOC paints for IP	Completed
PART MOLDING	Build mold cleaning booth for IP to contain airborne particulate	Completed
PART MOLDING	Convert from solvent based to water based mold release in IP department	In Progress

Reduce Hazardous Waste Generation

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
CHEMICAL MIXING	Identify waste sources. Educate employees. Brainstorm solutions. Implement	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Find buyers for excess and obsolete chemical inventory	Completed

Reduce Landfill Waste Generation

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Reuse packaging materials such as bubble wrap as well as packing peanuts and corrugated cartons where possible	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Team with WITS non-profit to collect and recycle our old computers as well as monitors and cables etc.	Completed
PART MOLDING	Changeover shot bags are made of polyethylene and can be separated from the changeover shots they contain and be reused	Completed
PART MOLDING	Investigate feasibility of trash compactor to reduce volume of solid waste	Completed
PART MOLDING	Replace magic markers with more environmentally friendly china markers	Completed
PART MOLDING	Ship PU as well as plastic and all burnable scrap to cement kiln in Kansas City area to recycle the energy content	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Discontinue sending daily purchase order faxes - send electronically by email	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Issue monthly management and sales reports as PDF's and email them to the appropriate individuals	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Print UPS End-of-Day reports as PDF's and email them	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Evaluate the need for distilled water versus tap water in the chemical department	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Find recycling companies that can properly handle dirty steel and plastic pails	Completed
PART MOLDING	Buy isopropyl alcohol in drums instead of small plastic bottles	Completed
PART MOLDING	Donate off-spec. Klogs to Haitian relief effort	Completed
PARTS WASHING	Find recycling companies that can properly handle dirty steel and plastic pails	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Bale incoming shipping cartons and send to Latitudes for recycling	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Install a reverse osmosis water filtration system in the office to replace bottled water	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Partner with recycling company to sort and recycle all paper waste	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Email material certificates of compliance instead of faxing them in	In Progress
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Email timecard and production reports in lieu of printing copies	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Revisit emailing invoices to customers instead of printing and mailing	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Convert to coreless paper towels and toilet paper in all bathrooms	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace Styrofoam cups with paper cone cup dispensers in the factory at the drinking fountains	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Buy chemicals in drums instead of pails when possible. Drums are easier to recycle	Completed
PART MOLDING	Reeducate staff about not replacing plastic bags in trash cans. Empty can contents while bag remains in place	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Educate employees about recycling their aluminum cans. Add aluminum can receptacles where needed	Completed
SPRAY PAINTING	Adhear to scheduled paint filter replacement	Completed
CHEMICAL MIXING	Buy chemical powder in paper bags instead of fiber drums. Easier to recycle	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Discontinue printing Wellness Mats PO's in favor of printing as a daily report	Completed
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Store UPS reports electronically instead of printing each day	Completed

Reduce Water Usage and Wastewater Generation

ASPECT	PROJECT	STATUS
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION	Replace inefficient toilets with new low flow models	Completed

Giving Back >