In 2022, the team at Blooming Color in Lombard, IL, USA, was frustrated by seeing tons of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material being just thrown away, sent off to the landfill. Rosemarie Breske Garvey and Brian Scott knew there had to be a better way to deal with the problem. They reached out to their recycling partner to see what could be done.

What they discovered was mind-blowing.

Immediate Impact

HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer derived from petroleum. It's used in HP Indigo ink containers, coating buckets and other material. Rosemarie was excited to hear that the items could indeed be collected and recycled easily. "It really meant just adding another gaylord right next to containers for paper and corrugated recycling," she said. "Really there was little change to our processes to make this happen."

The team wasn't sure what to expect In the initiative’s first year. The results were staggering.

Blooming Color successfully diverted over four tons of HDPE from landfills. Although this number might seem modest compared to the 443 tons of paper recycled, the impact has been profound, resulting in a 78% reduction in CO2 emissions over and above the emission reduction of both paper and corrugated recycling combined. This move has both environmental and economic benefits, as Blooming Color now receives compensation for the recycled HDPE material, underscoring the value of sustainable practices.

"Think about that," Breske Garvey added. "In the print world, just one company. Just think of the impact of larger players or the impact collectively of the Dscoop community!"

Blooming Color successfully diverted over four tons of HDPE from landfills.

Challenges of Recycling Plastics in the Print Industry

While Blooming Color has made strides in HDPE recycling, the challenge extends to educating employees and peers. Many team members understand paper and corrugated recycling well, thanks to the visible processes around paper pulping and reuse. However, plastics — often perceived as complex and opaque — require more visibility. In daily life, people may not think about plastic recycling unless they actively participate at home. Blooming Color’s recycling team seeks to demystify this process, explaining how containers, such as those that previously held HP Indigo inks, are cleaned and reprocessed, possibly reemerging as everyday items.

Facing Limitations and Finding Solutions

The initiative also highlights Blooming Color’s challenges in managing other plastic-based consumables. There are still certain consumable products like HP Indigo plates or blankets that do not have a path to recycling. These items continue to make their way to landfills. Despite these limitations, Blooming Color remains optimistic and committed to finding new ways to manage consumable waste responsibly and to raising awareness within the industry about the need for a more comprehensive recycling framework.

"Of course we wish we started this earlier, but we're thrilled with he amazing impact it already has had on our carbon footprint. It makes us excited and curious about other steps we can take to lessen our environmental impact while continuing to deliver success for our customers," said Brian.