Going Beyond Supporting Sustainability: Primex is Setting a New Standard

In its 60th year, Primex Plastics isn’t just celebrating—it’s helping shape the future of sustainable manufacturing. The company continues to redefine what it means to be a responsible supplier, even beyond the print and packaging industry. In 2022, its Reedsburg, Wisconsin facility became the first supplier to earn certification under the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP). This was a significant milestone for SGP, marking a key expansion of the program beyond printing facilities.

As the beta site for SGP’s supplier certification, Primex not only validated the importance of bringing upstream manufacturers into the fold but also demonstrated that meaningful environmental action is possible in even the most technically demanding production environments. The certification now serves as a blueprint for how suppliers can integrate sustainability into every layer of operations.

“Primex Reedsburg has been a dedicated supplier of printable plastics since its inception in 1986 and a long-time supporter of SGP’s sustainability mission,” said Blake Pace, General Manager of the facility. “When the opportunity arose to seek certification under the expanded supplier certification, we jumped at the chance.”

Operational Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

Primex’s sustainability efforts extend far beyond compliance. The company has invested heavily in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and materials innovation. Each initiative enhances product quality, operational reliability, and environmental performance.

Key sustainability initiatives at Primex facilities include:

• Upgraded lighting systems with occupancy-sensitive LEDs to reduce energy use
• Extensive reuse programs for packaging and pallet materials
• Smart freight planning to minimize emissions across supply chains
• Advanced reclaim systems diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of internal plastic waste from landfills annually
• Customer partnerships that have helped divert thousands of pounds of plastic from waste streams
• ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) certification at the Reedsburg facility, a globally recognized standard verifying the traceability of sustainable and recycled materials through the supply chain.

Primex also participates in Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) , a plastics industry initiative aimed at achieving zero loss of plastic materials—including pellets, flake, and dust—into the environment. The company’s program goes beyond preventing plastic leakage into waterways to address all potential environmental releases, recognizing that even small particles can have significant impacts.

To support this goal, Primex has implemented pellet and flake containment systems, storm drain filters, and digital spill reporting tools that ensure materials remain within the circular economy. The company’s Mesquite, Nevada facility is a clear example of this holistic approach: while the desert location poses minimal risk to waterways, its team remains vigilant about preventing the release of pellets, flake, or dust into the broader environment, where they could be carried by wind, ingested by wildlife, or break down into microplastics.

Innovation at the Material Level

Primex’s commitment to safer materials runs deep. Through its Color, Compounding & Additives division, the company is proactively phasing out substances of concern such as PFAS and halogenated flame retardants. By creating non-toxic alternatives that meet performance demands, Primex supports both regulatory compliance and customer trust.

Their collaboration with Sulapac—a biobased and industrially compostable material supplier—marks a strategic move into next-generation sustainable plastics, opening new market opportunities without compromising quality.

Beyond Sulapac, Primex continues to advance a portfolio of sustainable material solutions that reduce reliance on virgin resins and extend product lifecycles. Examples include:

• Prime ReCycle™ — A family of recycled-content materials available across multiple polymers, designed to divert post-industrial and post-consumer waste from landfills and support closed-loop manufacturing.
• Prime ReCycle PCR — Recycled-content options for PET, HDPE, and polypropylene that incorporate up to 100% post-consumer material, verified through ISCC PLUS certification.
• Prime BioPlast-X™ — Bio-based sheet extrusions manufactured using renewable energy and engineered to perform like traditional plastics with a lower environmental footprint.
• Absolve® — Materials enhanced with technology that accelerates degradation in microorganism-rich environments, helping reduce long-term persistence of plastic waste.

Together, these solutions illustrate Primex’s broader mission: driving material innovation that makes sustainability practical, scalable, and measurable across every stage of production.

Culture of Safety and Accountability

Primex’s sustainability strategy is embedded in its culture. In the past two years, over 65 employees have earned internal promotions, reflecting a long-term investment in leadership and skill development. The HR team also adopted digital practices that save more than 100,000 sheets of paper annually.

Safety metrics are equally strong. OSHA incident rates continue to decline, and multiple sites, including Primex Design & Fabrication, have received perfect safety audit scores and industry recognition.

Global Footprint

Primex’s impact is not just local or national—it’s global. In 2024, its UK division achieved ISO 14001 certification, operates entirely on 100% renewable energy, and has reduced carbon emissions by over 60% in the past decade.

Strategic Leadership Driving Industry Progress

Theresa Vanna has been a pivotal force within the SGP Partnership for more than 15 years, serving as Chair of the Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024, and now continuing her contributions as Immediate Past Chair. Drawing from her experience at Primex, Theresa has helped shape stronger processes and best practices across the SGP organization. Her work ensures that the program remains agile, credible, and impactful.

“One of the most meaningful chapters of my career has been watching the SGP Partnership grow and evolve and being part of that journey,” said Vanna. “To serve as the first patron-elected Chair of the Board was not only an honor but was also a reflection of how far we’ve come in making sustainability a shared responsibility across the entire printing industry value chain.”

Her deep knowledge of operational sustainability and supply chain expertise has positioned her as a respected voice at industry conferences, where she speaks frequently on environmental strategy and sustainable innovation.

Alongside her, Blake Pace played the key role in guiding the Reedsburg site to become the first-ever SGP-certified supplier facility. This achievement earned him recognition as one of SGP’s inaugural Sustainability Champions. His leadership in energy efficiency, waste diversion, and customer collaboration helped shape a replicable model for other suppliers seeking to build sustainability into core operations.

Primex Plastics exemplifies what’s possible when environmental responsibility, technical innovation, and strategic leadership come together. As both a pioneer and a partner in the SGP community, Primex continues to set new standards, proving that sustainable manufacturing isn’t just a goal—it’s a business priority. Their journey inspires others to look beyond compliance and lead with conviction.

To learn more about Primex’s sustainability practices, visit primexplastics.com/sustainability. To explore how SGP certification benefits print and supply chain operations, visit sgppartnership.org/certification.