END CAP REUSE 
Partnered with 3M to reuse vinyl film end caps, eliminating recycling and power costs.
In our effort to create and innovate within The Vomela Companies supply chain, long-time partner 3M and Republic Services creating a cross-company committee around ESG Design and Innovation goals.
This team sought out a plan to collect and reuse plastic end caps from our consumption of 3M Adhesive Backed Vinyl Films. Internally, our SGP Improvement Team was looking to find an alternative to the typical recycling efforts by working backward in the supply chain for a waste stream solution.
Plastic end caps can be found at each end of material rolls from 3M pigmented films, vinyl, and laminates. The end caps, which are squared, provide a means to suspend, support the roll in a box. This suspension keeps the roll of material from laying on a side which would flatten or mark it. Making the material unusable.
What followed was a plan to ship the end caps back to 3M and have the production plant in Nevada, MO that manufactures the film, reuse them. In the 1st week of collection, St Paul had 19 pallets to be picked up for reuse – one pallet load is 10-20 boxes full. Going forward, the end caps will be sorted into different sizes, palletized, and shipped back. Vomela is looking to expand this recycling program across the entire network of Vomela companies adding on more products as it continues to grow. 3M is looking to prepare an impact statement for the project and remains committed to working with the Vomela Sustainability Group on future endeavors.
