A Lifecycle of Sustainability

Responsibility Through Research

At Enviro-Coatings, we believe sustainability is fundamental to modern business.

Environmental responsibility, product recycling and waste management go beyond our own IGI footprint. We work with clients, product partners, manufacturers and universities to use our materials intelligently and to reduce global waste. Understanding our role in the natural ecosystem is fundamental to our success.

Companies in the materials, chemical and earth sciences industries have a unique responsibility when it comes to environmental awareness. At Enviro-Coatings, business and sustainability go hand-in-hand. As a world leading refiner and manufacturer of petroleum wax and blended wax products, IGI operates on the front lines of sustainability for literally hundreds of products from dozens of manufacturers. This “view from the source” gives our customers added insight when evaluating their own supply chain sustainability efforts.

 

Enviro-Coatings – A Partner for Possibility

Addressing the renewability of popular packaging products is essential for meaningful worldwide waste reduction. IGI works directly with our corrugated and paper customers to address sustainability from both sides – as a materials source and as an advisor and research partner for recycling options.

Our partnerships with companies in the recycling community are making exciting breakthroughs in emulsion/substrate separation that are going live in paper mills today. We are also involved with renewable products that leverage the inherent properties in wax coated paper fibers such as advanced particle board, roofing and decking used in the construction industry.

Enviro-Coatings – A Partner for Possibility

Addressing the renewability of popular packaging products is essential for meaningful worldwide waste reduction. IGI-EC works directly with our corrugated and paper customers to address sustainability from both sides – as a materials source and as an advisor and research partner for recycling options.

Our partnerships with companies in the recycling community are making exciting breakthroughs in emulsion/substrate separation that are going live in paper mills today. We are also involved with renewable products that leverage the inherent properties in wax coated paper fibers such as advanced particle board, roofing and decking used in the construction industry.

Performance Plus

IGI wax sustainable wax production research

Manufacturers continually strive to balance efficiency, performance and cost. Today, true product performance often means building-in a level of reuse and recyclability. At IGI-EC we are always looking for “what works.” That means exploring options, pushing science in new directions and partnering with like-minded leaders in research, manufacturing, product development and government.

Source Reduction

sustainable fast food packaging waxes from IGI Wax

At IGI-EC, advanced waxes, wax blends and water-based coatings demonstrate advantages in new package design. IGI’s products, new and traditional, deliver the required performance of barrier coatings at reduced coating weights, allowing performance delivery with less packaging material. Coated papers are being adopted to replace polystyrene and other bulky containers in the fast-food industry. This represents the convergence of smart sustainable practices to reduce waste, provide product protection and use fewer raw materials.

Recycling/Repulping

sustainability research for paper and wax separation

IGI-EC’s R&D groups have partnerships with industry and academic technology centers to pursue advanced recycling processes. Most EC products are fully repulpable and recyclable by standard industry processes. In addition, our product development team is working to improve the repulpability of coated papers and laminates by simplifying separation of the barrier treatments from the raw paper fiber. Pursuing blended products that incorporate vegetable components are an example of products that are already in the marketplace.

Composting

wax for compostable paper cups and products

Enhanced packaging materials often involve direct contact with food stuffs making it unsuitable for recycling or reuse. Some of our water-based products are BPI certified compostable. So are IGI’s fully refined paraffin waxes and blends with vegetable waxes. However, most  – coatings contain greater than 1% additives so they do not meet BPI certification criteria.

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