Our Companies:

Sustainability

Leading the way to a sustainable future.

Menasha Packaging and ORBIS care deeply about our customers’ sustainability goals as well as being good stewards of our planet. Every day we lead the way, using data and insights to create packaging and supply chain solutions that minimize our environmental footprint today, and for generations to follow.

The entire ORBIS portfolio of reusable containers, pallets, and racks supports the circular economy. ORBIS helps companies reduce and eliminate waste associated with single-use or expendable packaging, reuse of packaging assets over a long service life, and the recycling of packaging at the end-of-life.

Menasha Packaging creates sustainable packaging and supply chain solutions for over 1500 brands in today’s marketplace. Our design centers optimize materials that are SFI sustainably sourced and 100% recyclable to improve shipping efficiencies, and when possible, eliminate single-use plastics.

Building on a legacy of leadership.

Menasha and ORBIS are committed to taking tangible steps to reduce our environmental impact and nurture the circular economy. Our “30 by 30” goal is to reduce our water use by 10%, landfill waste by 10%, and total emissions by 10% per production ton no later than 2030. It all adds up; everything we can do now increases the chances of a cleaner world for the next generation.

Water use

We’ve decreased our use of water by almost 90% in the last 10 years through conservation and reuse.

Goal:

To reduce our use of water another 10% on each production ton.

Waste reduction

Recycling and process improvements related to waste management have driven down our company-wide pounds of waste per production ton by 9% over the last 10 years.

Goal:

To reduce our landfill waste an additional 10% by 2030.

CO2/Emissions reduction

We’ve reduced our total greenhouse gas emissions by 15% over the last 10 years, a time when we also doubled in size.

Goal:

To reduce total GHG emissions an additional 10% per ton of production by 2030.

Sustainability in action

Partnering up pays off

ORBIS CORPORATION

Curbside efficiency.

ORBIS is helping major U.S. grocers meet the dramatic increase in online shopping and curbside delivery. Retailers use ORBIS totes to fulfill online orders that are picked up curbside by consumers. ORBIS’ Pally, a hybrid dolly/pallet with wheels, is also used to wheel orders from store to curb.

Mentors matter.

MENASHA PACKAGING COMPANY

Robots save energy.

A robotic case handling system at Menasha Packaging automates the process of moving finished goods from packaging lines to pallets. This energy efficient system eliminates a manual and repetitive process, reducing employee injuries and improving safety.

Raising the safety bar.

ORBIS CORPORATION

Reducing power consumption.

A new machine at ORBIS quickly produces large, high-quality parts in the production of Bulk-Pak containers (pictured at left) and select plastic pallets. The new technology incorporates an energy-efficient hydraulic system, reducing power consumption by 15%.

A caring marriage.

ORBIS CORPORATION

Reprocessing ocean waste.

The ORBIS “Ocean in Mind” program is helping clean up coastline waste and stimulate local economies. The program reclaims and reuses plastic material recovered near major waterways. Once collected, the plastic is sorted, reprocessed, and used to make reusable packaging for the supply chain. ORBIS collaborates with valued partners to collect and reprocess this waste into useful materials for its manufacturing process.

A caring marriage.

MENASHA PACKAGING COMPANY

Responsible packaging.

Menasha Packaging’s ResponsiPak portfolio of
packaging solutions includes patented designs that reduce waste, eliminate carbon emissions through improved shipping, or eliminate 100% of single-use plastic (i.e., blister packaging). ResponsiPak’s portfolio includes patented options and helps customers achieve their sustainable packaging goals.

A caring marriage.

ORBIS CORPORATION

Working smarter.

ORBIS in Toronto is making use of robotic systems to improve workflow and efficiency, increase safety, and enhance ergonomics. An automated labeling system affixes RFID smart labels onto totes and then scans them. The system reduces repetitive labor and eliminates bending or reaching.

A caring marriage.

MENASHA PACKAGING COMPANY

Good meets better.

Beyond Good makes premium, single origin chocolate, and chose Menasha Packaging’s ResponsiPak to uphold commitment to operating ethically and sustainably. The packaging eliminates single-use plastics and the corrugate is 100% recyclable. ResponsiPak reduced costs and enhances the brand experience. A scannable barcode allows consumers to see where Beyond Good’s chocolate comes from: individual farmers who practice regenerative farming with no labor exploitation.

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Environmental stewardship

Showing the way on sustainability.

Environmental stewardship is more than a responsibility. It’s a powerful opportunity to create value in how we do business, how we serve our customers and how we engage employees. As a company that relies on Earth’s resources, we strive to strike a balance in growing efficiently while reducing the environmental impact of our actions. We continue to discover the best means to achieve this balance.

Going gold.

Menasha Corporation’s headquarters building, constructed in 2016, in Neenah, Wis., has been LEED Gold certified for its sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Reclaimed wood is used throughout the building, including the company’s heritage area.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost recognition program for buildings that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

Other environmental initiatives

Repurposing plastic.

ORBIS is helping clean up coastline waste and stimulate local economies with its Ocean in Mind program, which reclaims and reuses plastic material recovered near major waterways. Once collected, the plastic is sorted, reprocessed and used to make reusable packaging for the supply chain.

Calculating impacts.

Customers can make informed sustainability decisions with our environmental calculator tools that are customized to provide data relevant to our products.

Master recyclers.

Our ORBIS business manufactures and markets high-quality waste diversion and recycling products in the U.S., Canada and beyond. In fact, we have the largest line of “blue bins” for curbside recycling on the market.

Carbon disclosures.

We report our emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an independent nonprofit holding the world’s largest database of primary corporate climate change information.

Passing multiple tests.

A Menasha Packaging test lab is a certified International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) packaging provider. ISTA focuses on transport packaging and is the leading industry developer of testing protocols and design standards that define how packages should perform to ensure protection of its contents. Menasha Packaging has certified labs with the ability to conduct multiple ISTA testing procedures inclusive of the 6 Series Amazon tests.

Reprocessing plastic.

The Recycle with ORBIS program allows customers to recover, recycle and reprocess containers or pallets at the end of their service life to turn them into other useful products.

Greater shipping density.

ORBIS’ BulkPak® containers are collapsible, allowing more containers to be packed for a return truckload. 252 collapsed bins per truckload can be returned, versus the standard 208 bins per return truckload – a gain of up to 20% in shipping density for automakers and tier suppliers.

For more environmental success examples, see our 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

Download the report

View the report online

Many companies tout their environmental stewardship. At Menasha Corporation and our companies, we receive awards for it.

Learn more on our awards page.