Spandex and Grundon Waste Management partnership one year on: what’s changed?

Sustainability is growing into an ever more important buzzword, but with a lot of companies reliant on a lot of external factors out of their control to stay in business, it may be a practice that goes without further thought. But waste management partnerships are proving beneficial to many within the industry, and in this feature, assistant editor Benjamin Austin speaks to Grundon Waste Management on how it has helped provide greater practices for Spandex.

‘A problem shared is a problem halved’, that is the age-old saying, and this rings no truer than when it comes to sustainability.

The more minds working to strive for a greener future, the faster that future will become a reality, and with everyone pushing for the same goal.

But the print industry is notoriously wasteful in its use of materials, substrates and equipment. Off-cuts are binned, ink cartridges sent to landfill, and the liquid itself can be harmful to the environment.

The cost-of-living crisis often pushes other priorities to the background as businesses may even just be trying to stay afloat.

With that, sustainability often becomes an afterthought, and typically, only larger corporations can dedicate staff and resources to adopting greener practices.

But it doesn’t mean to say there aren’t options for smaller or even sometimes larger household brands to explore.

Partnerships with reputable waste management services have helped many reach, or even surpass, sustainability targets, with one such company being Spandex.

The films and vinyl specialist sought the services of Grundon Waste Management more than a year ago. Since then, the partnership has reduced the company’s non-recyclable refuse to just 48 tonnes in 12 months – a figure reduced by a third from the year prior.

Nick Malvern, who is the regional sales lead in the South West for Grundon, said: “Spandex approached us because they were not satisfied with their previous recycling arrangement.

“Often, we find that customers are being provided inadequate services with poor performance and little customer communication. On this occasion, Spandex were being provided disparate services with several other waste and recycling companies, compounding the problem.

“When the contracts came up for renewal, we were able to offer a more holistic, streamlined service, which not only delivered better results but also provided just one point of contact.”

Eddie Edge, warehouse and logistics manager at Spandex, reiterated this.

He said: “We were looking to streamline the services provided previously by four or five different waste and recycling companies.

“Now we have one point of contact which works much better from the perspective of both communications and practicality.”

Spandex leaves it to the experts

Despite Spandex being a global, multi-million pound company, by deciding to outsource its sustainability processes, it means it can continue to provide its service while experts get to work on managing its waste products.

Nick continued: “We know that business leaders are rarely experts in recycling and waste management – they have busy roles with many considerations to juggle.

“We can remove from them the headache of waste management, providing dependable services and considered expertise, which not only ensures reliable services but also helps the business on its journey to growth and prosperity.

“By forming close partnerships with our customers, we’re able to design flexible and effective waste strategies that not only ensure compliance but also support our customers wider environmental goals.

“Our focus is always on delivering practical solutions that reduce waste, boost recycling rates and drive continuous improvements in sustainability performance.

“Where we work most effectively with our customers is through a partnership approach – not only providing waste management services but also advice on how organisations can minimise their waste and boost results through implementation of new innovations, as well as reduce costs.”

Grundon works with other companies within the wide-format print industry, but much like the work can be diverse, so too can its advice and practices it implements with each company.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, which is why we work closely with each customer to identify the most effective on-site storage solutions ahead of collection,” Nick explained.

“Depending on the scale and type of waste, this might involve your standard wheeled bins or even balers and compactors – all selected to ensure efficiency and safety.

“Our focus is always on delivering practical solutions that reduce waste, boost recycling rates and drive continuous improvements in sustainability performance.

“This often includes the collection and disposal of hazardous wastes such as inks, toners and print cartridges. We also handle significant volumes of associated materials, including cardboard, film, plastics and other packaging waste.”

 

Growing demand

Whether it’s a pressing importance to your company or not, it is always best to be as environmentally conscious as possible and more and more companies are actively looking at ways to improve their practices.

The motives behind it may be driven by other factors, but whatever the justification, seeking out partnerships has been beneficial to Spandex and others.

Nick said: “We’ve seen a marked increase in its importance, both for us and for our customers.

“This demand is being driven not only by our clients but also by their end consumers, who are increasingly seeking out environmentally responsible brands.

“What we’ve found is that the most successful sustainability strategies are those that engage the entire organisation. Top-down policies are important, but real impact happens when initiatives are embraced at all levels.

“That’s why our customers who use waste management strategies most effectively work hard to harness engagement from people within the business.

“The sustainability mix is wide-reaching across business functions, from supply chains through to operations and on to waste management, which is a specialist part of the equation.

“There’s a lot to get right, from compliance with regulations to creating the right culture and communicating values, as well as the functional practicalities of which services to provide.

Then there’s the measurement of results, the provision of clear data and the resulting constructive feedback by experienced professionals who can help deliver regular improvements. All of which adds value to a business’ overall efficiency and, ultimately, its bottom line.”

So, what’s next for this partnership in particular? Well, Grundon are working with Spandex to help them build even greater sustainability credentials and help the company find new ways to further its sustainability goals.

Nick concluded: “In the short-term future, Spandex are looking to expand significantly into its growth area of automotive vehicle wrapping and windscreen protection, which is an area which will bring its own needs in terms of waste and recycling.

“Of course, we’ll be there to support with the appropriate advice and technical support, and we’ll look forward to continuing with Spandex on their journey into expanding markets.”

Sustainability and eco practices can be a difficult balancing act between wanting to do better while making sure you do not overcommit resources and staff power, but by outsourcing the responsibility to the experts, companies can make a huge change to their production lines.

Obviously, integration is also key, but by working together, huge change can be made.