Month: September 2024

In this episode, we dive into the importance and meaning of environmental and social justice across different regions. We hear from Social and Environmental Justice experts Erica Olesson, Sustainability Leader, Tonkin + Taylor in New Zealand, Scott Recker, Environmental Remediation Practice Leader at Antea Group USA, and Valentina Vieri, a Sustainability Specialist for HPC Italy. The group discusses strategies for achieving sustainable development, emphasizing the need for community engagement, regulatory compliance, and addressing vulnerable groups.

Listen now: 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perspectives-on-social-and-environmental-justice/id1741016993?i=1000669798412

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0KYbgObWHBC9nuMepTcNEt

AUGUSTA, Ga., September 18, 2024 /3BL/ – The team at Georgia-Pacific’s Augusta Corrugated facility is raising the bar when it comes to safety.

They’ve been honored with the Fibre Box Association’s ‘Innovation in Safety’ Achievement Award for a new tool they developed.

For years, employees faced significant risks when checking the gap between the glue roll and the corrugated roll on the single facer. The single facer is a large machine that uses heated corrugating rolls to form flutes that adhere to a liner paper, producing single face webbing for corrugated board.

Though it might sound like a small task, the risks involved were anything but minor.

Employees had to feed material just 4 thousandths of an inch thick into the running machine. To get an accurate read, they had to reach all the way to the nip point to push the material in while still holding on to it. This exposed them to extreme heat, pinch points, and possible crushing injuries.

Despite the dangers, the process had become routine.

“We were complacent. People were saying this is how we’ve been doing it for years. But that didn’t make it the right way,” said Daryl Harris, corrugator supervisor.

Recognizing the need for a quick and safe fix, the Augusta team got right to work. Leaders collaborated closely with the maintenance team and operators who use the equipment daily and are familiar with the risks. Together, they developed a solution in just two months!

It’s called a gap check stand, and it’s a game changer.

The new tool keeps employees completely away from the machine, eliminating risks like heat, pinch points, and crushing injuries. It’s also bolted to the floor to prevent it from being pulled into the single facer.

The impact has been huge.

Employees appreciate its simplicity and practicality. But the best part? It’s all about keeping them safe, and that’s what matters most.

“The way the Augusta team came together and quickly tackled the issue is truly remarkable,” said Paul Guy, operations manager. “When leadership engages with team members and provides a solution that is both safe and practical, it not only enhances safety but also empowers everyone to take ownership of their roles. This collaboration and commitment are what truly drives our success and is something I’m very proud of.”

Click here to read why the Martinsville Corrugated plant was also honored with the FBA Safety Award.

View original content here.

Griffith Foods Brazil is sprouting positive change. Partnering with ETEC, a public technical school in Jundiaí City, we’re empowering the next generation of agricultural technicians with the knowledge of regenerative agriculture.

Griffith Foods volunteers – students, teachers, and staff – joined forces to plant an agroforestry system, transforming the school grounds into a real-life regenerative agriculture laboratory as a dedicated learning space for 120 students in the program. According to the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education organization, agroforestry is an alternative farming system that integrates shrubs with crops or livestock and is a type of regenerative agriculture system. The students learned in the new agroforestry regenerative agriculture laboratory and through theoretical education.

This initiative is a game-changer; from 2024 onward, every graduating agricultural technician student will have the chance to learn in this one-of-a-kind lab, gaining practical skills in regenerative agriculture practices.

Together, we’re sowing the seeds for a more sustainable future!

Our Sustainability Journey 
At Griffith Foods, we are committed to driving positive impact through a regenerative mindset. Sustainability is connected to everything we do as a business, and by 2030, we are dedicated to significantly improving the future with a singular sustainable business strategy that we call our 2030 Aspirations. To learn more about Griffith Foods and its current sustainability efforts, visit them online and download the 2023 Sustainability Report.

About Griffith Foods 
At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

View original content here.