Green Business: Our Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

At Sanwa, we take steps daily to reduce our environmental footprint. We are passionate about responsible and sustainable manufacturing, meaning that we constantly modify and improve our processes to minimize negative environmental impacts.

We also believe that sustainable manufacturing plays a role in employee and community wellness, as well as product safety. All of these factors inspire our teams to operate with a mindset that profits and efficiency can go hand-in-hand with eco-friendly actions.

Our Dedication to Sustainable Manufacturing

“Sustainable operations” isn’t an abstract concept at Sanwa. It’s a way of doing business that impacts the way we think, work and engage in our communities.

From reusing leftover plastic materials to recycling water for cleaning, we’re proud to share our practices for sustainable manufacturing at Sanwa.

Decreasing Waste Materials

Like figuring out a puzzle, our factory teams work to find the best methods for laying out and printing each and every project. By calculating the most quantities possible to a sheet, we can decrease the amount of waste material per printing. When multiplied, this can have a huge impact on waste and cost savings per project.

During design reviews, we also work closely with our customers to give recommendations and determine if adjustments can be made to improve the efficiency of printing, and therefore reduce the scrap rate associated with printed materials.

And for molded parts, we review sizes and shapes with every customer to determine the most efficient design. Our in-house tooling allows for rapid design changes and quick communication, so production adjustments can be made on-the-fly.

Grinding and Reusing Plastics

When possible, our factories have the capabilities to grind and reuse spare pieces from non-finished products. This process results in “regrind,” which is the leftover clear resin material that is re-ground into a usable form again.

Our customers are always consulted before we regrind parts from their projects. If an agreement is made, we are able to use up to 25% reground material in new printed products.

This regrinding process allows us to boost the recycled content of a product or part, and reduce the amount of waste generated from scrap materials.

Recycling, Reducing & Reusing Shipping Materials

At Sanwa, we are always on the lookout for best-fit packaging.

Our teams are practiced at measuring and arranging deliveries to maximize the use of package space. Since many custom parts are large and uniquely shaped, finding precisely-sized packaging can be a challenge. However, we know that when scaled, efficient product parceling can lead to a big reduction in environmental impact over time.

We also opt for recycled paper products when possible, for both office use and shipping around the world.

Lastly, when it comes to shipping large orders, we opt for reusable plastic pallets. These sturdy pallets can be reused many, many times once washed and sterilized. They also tend to be lighter weight than their wooden counterparts, which can result in savings on freight and shipping for our customers -- an added benefit.

Sharing a Commitment to Quality

We believe that smart business and sustainable business can co-exist, and a major element in that match-up is our commitment to quality.

When we commit to producing high-quality parts, it reduces the amount of debris that eventually ends up in landfills. It also curbs the amount of waste materials from sub-par products or defects that would need to be re-manufactured to meet client expectations. When we get it right the first time, we know it makes a difference to our customers and our climate.

Because of this, all our factories have Kaizen (continuous improvement) policies in place, where each and every employee submits a recommendation per month to improve processes and/or reduce scrap materials. From production to management, employees at all levels are involved with sustainable improvements, and each month’s winning idea is recognized and awarded.

Want to Learn More About Sustainable Manufacturing?

We invite you to get in touch with our sales teams to learn about ways in which Sanwa can help you produce your high-quality plastic parts mindfully and sustainably. If you believe in maximizing the use of materials, reducing scrap waste, and continually improving your production line’s environmental footprint, we’d love to talk with you about your options with Sanwa.