In conversation with Ted Hansen, CEO, Convergen Energy
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Labelexpo Americas has partnered once again with Convergen Energy, TLMI (Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute) and Rosemont Exposition Services on a label waste sustainability program.
The program is aimed at saving any printed materials, that would otherwise be going to landfill, at Labelexpo Americas 2024. The show takes place from 10 – 12 September at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Illinois.
We spoke with Ted Hansen, CEO at Convergen Energy, about the label waste program, and how exhibitors at the show can get involved in this initiative to help drive a more sustainable future.
Hello Ted, it’s great to be once again partnered with Convergen Energy, TLMI and Rosemont Exposition Services on the label waste sustainability program. Can you tell us a bit more about Convergen Energy?
Convergen Energy has been providing sustainable alternatives to landfilling for non-recyclable industrial by-products for the past 15 years. Over this timeframe we have diverted more than 700,000 tons of non-recyclable materials away from landfill. We utilize these materials to produce a renewable fuel that is used in solid fuel boilers to displace fossil fuels. For every ton of renewable fuel we produce, at least one ton of fossil fuel is eliminated.
Can you talk us through the label waste sustainability program and what the industry benefits will be?
Our goal is to work with the label industry to provide cost-effective means to send non-recyclable by-products to our facility. We try to use a come-as-you-are approach and accept materials in loose, bale, roll, and almost any other form the customer has. We have worked with TrueNorth Collective to complete a full Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to calculate the environmental benefits and greenhouse gas emission reductions that result from sending non-recyclable materials to Convergen.
Industries throughout the U.S. and the wider world are increasingly under greater pressure to demonstrate sustainable business practices. Our solution helps these companies avoid landfilling and can be used to meet their customer’s sustainability requirements and demands.
How can exhibitors at Labelexpo Americas 2024 get involved in the program?
Exhibitors can get involved by scheduling a waste collection service with RES each time this is required. RES Service Centers are located in Halls A & F.
Materials by exhibitors that would be accepted for collection include:
1. Pressure sensitive label stock
2. Flexible packaging
3. Shrink or wrap around material
4. Metalized PET, release liners, matrix waste
The following materials that are not accepted for collection include:
1. Chlorinated products (ex. PVC, vinyl),
2. Garbage, post-consumer waste and metal
All exhibitors should email Claire Comery, Operations Director, Informa Markets at claire.comery@informa.com to confirm their participation in our waste removal program. Exhibitors who schedule their waste removal through RES to have it collected by Convergen throughout the show will not pay for the collection. RES will cover this charge.
The label waste program is a step towards driving a more sustainable future for the label and package printing industry, helping producers divert and reduce the amount of waste going into landfill.
How has the initiative had an impact on label waste sustainability, and how is this year’s show set to build on this?
We have been running the label waste program at Labelexpo Americas since the 2016 edition. At each of those editions, we have seen a number of label and package printing producers promote the sustainable benefits they receive when diverting their materials away from the landfill.
Convergen can send the supplier a report that details the greenhouse gas emission reductions that occur from sending the material to our facility. Our customers have also benefited because we offer a solution that they can recommend to their customers.
One way the show helps is by providing the exhibitors with a real-life example of how landfill avoidance can be achieved with their materials. It helps to see first-hand how easy it is to get the materials to Convergen.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important topic for the label and package printing industry. How does this label waste program drive sustainable solutions?
Sustainability solutions are often hard to achieve or difficult to quantify. Most companies want to do the right things environmentally, but the cost and logistics can create hurdles that are difficult to overcome. The program is very straightforward, the benefits are measurable, and it is cost-effective compared to landfilling. Sustainability is all about taking real, beneficial steps now in order to create a culture of doing the right thing. This is a practical step that is proven and relatively easy to do.
