Merrill’s Packaging is striving to obtain the ISO 14001 certification, making good on its commitment to environmental sustainability. Through this certification, the company aims to create a formal Environmental Management System (EMS) that will evaluate and analyze the entire lifecycle of their products.
Ahead of the Curve
Merrill’s Packaging has been a pioneer in the medical packaging industry, setting a standard for others to follow. Since 1995, long before sustainability became a mainstream value proposition, our company began training employees on proper waste disposal, and developing innovative waste reduction strategies throughout our processes of product design, development and distribution.
Reducing our Footprint
In 2009, we became the first manufacturer in the state of California to be certified as a Green Business based on preventing pollution, reducing waste, conserving energy and water. That same year, Merrill’s Packaging launched our DuraPots product, which was our first horticultural product made from 100% in-house recycled materials. Created from scrap high density polyethylene (HDPE), DuraPots has helped us take our recycling and product development even further by giving us an opportunity to innovate and facilitate the replanting of herbs, flowers and more.
The following year in 2010, Merrill’s Packaging opened its first satellite facility in the Coyol Free Zone, Costa Rica. By providing packaging to medical device customers who are located in close proximity, we are able to reduce the environmental impact of greenhouse gasses associated with transportation. This strategy has proved to be so impactful that Merrill’s Packaging purchased a larger facility in the Coyol Free Trade Zone in 2017.
In 2019, Merrill’s Packaging began using solar power. The facility in Northern California completed the largest solar installation in our community, totaling almost ½ a megawatt of power. This implementation of solar power removed the equivalent energy of 67 homes from the power grid permanently.
ISO 14001
As we look to the future, we know that the benefits of the ISO 14001 certification extend far beyond reducing energy expenditures and minimizing waste. It also paves the way for more efficient production methods that can increase profitability while maintaining environmentally responsible business practices. The Environmental Management System will enable Merrill’s Packaging to evaluate and enhance all of its operations, promoting sustainable practices and positioning the company as a leader in the industry. To learn more about the ISO 14001 Certification, please visit: https://www.iso.org/standard/60857.html.