Where regulations allow, SACO strives to use as much recycled polymer as possible. As a company, we achieved our goal of becoming ISO14001 Certified, which includes an environmental component. In our Automotive Sheet division, we are able to recycle scrap from our own products back into our manufacturing process, as well as taking in scrap from other industries.

Our sustainably built Headquarters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin was one of our biggest steps toward sustainability. With energy efficient lightbulbs, automatic lights, sinks, hand dryers, multiple water bottle filling stations and recycling stations for employee use, this building is the pinnacle of sustainability. The most impressive aspect of our green HQ building is that its heating and cooling system is run using non-contact service water from our manufacturing equipment. There are approximately 106,000 gallons of water flowing through the heat pumps at HQ every day.

SACO obtained ISO 14001 (Environmental) and ISO 45001 (Safety) certifications to complement our ISO 9001 (Quality) certifications not only to provide a basis for continuous improvement but to also provide a basis for an integrated management system vital to communicating across all levels of the organization. All three aspects are important to sustainability. For example, a company cannot be sustainable (viable) for the long haul if it is unsafe or does not work to reduce waste or pollution or produces inferior quality product. If any one of these three aspects are consistently poor, a company cannot survive (be sustainable).

SACO is proud to lead the way in sustainability by ensuring that 100% of PEXIDAN® scrap materials are diverted from landfills. This achievement demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and positions SACO as a forward-thinking leader in the pipe, wire, and cable industry. By partnering with Quincy Recycle, a dedicated recycler, SACO exemplifies how businesses can integrate circularity into their operations to achieve meaningful impact.

THE PROBLEM

A common misconception within the industry is that PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is not recyclable. This belief has contributed to the industry’s sustainability challenges with substantial amounts of scrap material historically ending up in landfills. SACO sought to address this issue head-on, aligning with our values and responding to growing customer demand for sustainable solutions.

OUR SOLUTION

Through an innovative partnership with Quincy Recycle, SACO has successfully recycled all PEXIDAN® scrap since 2015. Rather than discarding these byproducts, SACO ensures that they are repurposed into valuable applications, giving them new life and reducing environmental impact.

HOW IT WORKS

• Scrap Collection: Scrap material generated from our operations is meticulously gathered and sorted.
  
  
• Recycling & Repurposing: Quincy Recycle ensures SACO scrap is recycled into durable goods. While specific details about end-use applications vary, they commonly include products used in households and other practical markets. Quincy Recycle partners with businesses like SACO to handle all recycling needs from fiber to plastic scrap. Quincy Recycle brings in mixed commodity materials and weighs, sorts and ships them into various practical markets.
  
  
• Environmental Benefits: By diverting scrap from landfills, SACO significantly reduces waste, conserves resources, and supports a circular economy.
  
  

One of the central goals of this initiative is to dispel the pervasive myth that PEX is not recyclable. Historically, cross-linked polyethylene’s unique chemical properties have presented challenges for conventional recycling methods, leading to its reputation as a non-recyclable material. SACO has proven otherwise. By leveraging Quincy Recycle’s specialized recycling expertise and abilities to utilize various end user markets we’ve created a scalable and sustainable solution that converts scrap into useful products, effectively turning what was once considered waste into valuable resources.

This not only challenges outdated narratives within the industry but also empowers stakeholders—from manufacturers to end-users—to reconsider their assumptions about the recyclability of PEX. By demonstrating the practicality of recycling PEXIDAN® on a large scale, SACO is paving the way for a broader shift towards sustainable materials management.

WHY THIS MATTERS

• Debunking Myths: This initiative demonstrates that PEXIDAN® is indeed recyclable, addressing a critical misconception within the industry.
  
  
• Strengthening Sustainability: This program underscores SACO’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact and aligning with the global push toward sustainable practices.
  
  
• Setting the Industry Standard: SACO’s approach sets a benchmark for other producers of crosslinked materials by showcasing how recycling and repurposing can be integrated into production processes effectively.
  
  

A PARTNER IN SUSTAINABILITY

Our collaboration with Quincy Recycle is foundational to this successful circularity initiative. Quincy Recycle's expertise in recycling and commitment to innovation enables SACO to ensure that scrap materials are transformed responsibly into useful goods. 

WHAT’S NEXT

SACO’s journey toward sustainability is a testament to our values and commitment to innovation. By embracing circularity, not only is waste reduced but it also proves that even traditionally challenging materials like PEXIDAN® can have a circular lifecycle.