Click on the image to view our Sustainability Brochure.

The Vanguard Companies are leaders in Business and Environmental Sustainability. While others may say this, Vanguard lives it every day through actions and commitments. Take for example the “Sustainability Resume” of our CEO, Mark Mathes:

• Member and Chairman, AICC (Association of Independent Corrugated Converters) Sustainability Committee
• Member, FBA (Fibre Box Association) Sustainability Committee
• Member, Wal-Mart Sustainable Value Networks
• Member, Wal-Mart PSST Team (formerly CPG Committee) to advise on issues relating to the Wal-Mart Scorecard
• National speaker on the subject of sustainability in the corrugated industry
• One of the most quoted individuals in the corrugated industry media
• Member, Board of Directors, AICC
• Member, Board of Directors, FBA
• Member, Board of Directors, Corrugated Packaging Alliance
• Faculty Member, In-Store Marketing Institute
• Member, Editorial Advisory Board for Paperboard Packaging Magazine

Click here to read articles about Vanguard's Sustainability Leadership.

Possibly the biggest contributor toward our goal of becoming carbon neutral is our facility. All 360,000 square feet of the Vanguard complex is located underground in the Hunt Midwest Subtropolis. By using the geo-thermal properties of our underground environment, we consume zero energy for the purposes of heating our three buildings. This makes Vanguard’s carbon imprint significantly smaller than many of our competitors.
Our commitment to sustainability initiatives also impacts our daily operations.

Examples of this include:

• Vanguard Packaging is the only company in its industry to hold the combination of ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications and have obtained chain-of-custody certifications with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
• Our sales department drives Ford Escape Hybrid vehicles which emit 40% less Green House Gases, while improving gas mileage by almost 30%.
• All water used in the production of corrugated products is pre-treated in our own waste water treatment operation before it is discharged into the sanitary sewer system.
• Our design team actively looks for opportunities to create sustainable packaging solutions for our clients.
• Vanguard shares its knowledge of sustainable practices with other companies in the industry.
• Vanguard has effectively reclaimed over 95% of its waste stream through traditional recycling and a partnership utilizing Vanguard waste as an Alternate Solid Fuel (ASF) which replaces coal in a local power plant.

By concentrating on all aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic and social), the company is not only making decisions that are right for the environment, but also decisions that support the future viability of Vanguard Companies and the industry as a whole.

For more specific information on our individual Sustainability initiatives, please review the following documents: