A Thousand-Year Mindset: How Flexcon is Redefining Sustainability

At the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), we believe the best sustainability leaders are those who look beyond short-term wins and commit to meaningful, generational impact. Flexcon is doing exactly that, and their 2024 Sustainability Impact Report is a blueprint for what true long-term stewardship looks like.

Shaun McDonough, Chief of Staff of Flexcon Holdings Trust and a third-generation leader in the family-owned business, summed it up best:

“Time isn’t measured in quarters or fiscal years; it’s measured in generations.”

That philosophy is more than inspiring. It’s embedded into every corner of Flexcon’s strategy. Their sustainability efforts are guided by three interconnected pillars: social well-being, environmental responsibility, and product circularity. And it’s working.

Sustainability That Spans Generations

From investing in renewable energy at their European facilities to launching an industry-recognized wellness program for employees, Flexcon isn’t just checking boxes. They are building infrastructure that will stand the test of time.

Their 2028 goals are bold:

• 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions
• 90% waste diversion from landfills
• 50% of all products manufactured to be part of the EcoFocus® sustainable solutions line

In 2024 alone, Flexcon diverted 70% of its waste from landfills and increased recycled material usage to 70%, up from just 20% in 2021. That is real, measurable progress.

People at the Center

True sustainability includes the people behind the process. Flexcon’s commitment to its employees shines through in initiatives like:

• An onsite wellness facility staffed with healthcare professionals
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) supporting veterans, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and diverse cultures
• The School Stock program, which donates over 17 tons of leftover materials to local educators and nonprofits

Their Employee Value Proposition says it all: “Together we create strong, long-lasting bonds.”

Circularity in Action

Flexcon isn’t waiting for the industry to catch up. They are helping lead it.

Their white paper, Elevating Sustainability Beyond the Label, outlined how sustainable packaging isn’t just good for the planet. It is also becoming essential to customer expectations. Their work with partners like Mercury Plastics and Hub Labels on linerless, resealable labels shows how innovation and environmental responsibility can, and should, go hand in hand.

Why This Matters to SGP

Flexcon exemplifies what it means to be a sustainability leader in the print and materials industry. They are transparent, data-driven, people-focused, and relentless in their pursuit of better.

As an SGP Patron, Flexcon isn’t just meeting our certification standards. They are helping to raise the bar for what sustainability should look like in the decades to come. And if their 2024 report is any indication, the future is in very good hands.