Four Menasha Packaging Company facilities were formally accepted into Wisconsin’s Green Tier program. Shareholders, employees and local dignitaries gathered for the event in mid-June. Pictured L to R are: Mark McDermid, Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Jim Kotek, CEO and president, Menasha Corp.; Jean Romback-Bartels, acting regional director, DNR; Morgan Wiswall, purchasing initiatives and sustainability manager, Menasha Packaging; Mike Waite, president, Menasha Packaging; Tom Eggert, DNR; and Bruce Urben, DNR

“As a Green Tier participant, Menasha Packaging Company’s investments in renewable energy should benefit both the environment and the company’s bottom line,” says Jean Romback-Bartels, DNR acting northeast regional director.

Menasha Packaging develops packaging products and merchandise displays that use less material and are made from recycled or environmentally friendly. The company has a headquarters office in Neenah; its plants in Neenah, Hartford, and Green Lake produce packaging, including retail-ready, protective, and corrugated carton packaging; and the plants in Neenah and Hartford also create merchandising displays.

The company has recently increased its environmental commitment to focus on sustainability and the triple bottom-line—economic value, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Menasha Packaging, along with its parent Menasha Corp., has created a 20/20 Vision. By the year 2020, they will have reduced their carbon emissions, water consumption, and solid waste by 20% relative to 2010 production levels.

As part of Green Tier participation, Menasha Packaging will operate under an Environmental Management System (EMS)—a “plan-do-check-act” tool that helps a company understand its environmental impacts. It also helps a company operate more efficiently by reducing energy usage, minimizing waste, and reducing pollution.

Renewable energy is a major focus of Menasha Packaging and its parent company. The mid-June event included a dedication of five wind turbines next to the company’s headquarters that are expected to generate 150,000 kW hours annually—enough to provide electricity for lights, computers, and office equipment at the facility.

Wisconsin’s Green Tier program encourages businesses to move beyond regulatory compliance in order to promote superior environmental performance. Participation in this program is strictly voluntary. Menasha Packaging Company is in Tier 1 of the program, which is designed to encourage new goal-setting and innovation.