What We Do
 We are a complete folding carton manufacturer. This means that from the design of the carton to pre-press to finished carton we employ quality, precision, consistency and total product satisfaction.
Your paperboard carton sells your product. Using custom inks, hard surface coatings, and die cut options, your package will be both vibrant and highly durable.
Through our personal customer service, experienced managers, and our highly skilled craftsmen, Sonderen's integrated team of qualified employees are experts at identifying solutions for your folding carton projects while using the latest in state of the art technologies.
To the benefit of our customers, a major goal at Sonderen is to incorporate every available technology in order to reduce cost and improve production turnaround time.
Sonderen and Sustainability
“With knowledge comes responsibility” – Unknown
Click below to veiw our short 90 second video:
AWB2011-Green Award-Sonderen
Environmental responsibility has been an integral part of the Sonderen company culture and philosophy for many years. Paperboard packaging provides distinct advantages over other forms of packaging, and it fits with our corporate desire to preserve and recycle. We have a universal respect for our planet and its resources and Sonderen demonstrates these practices through two principal focus areas:
- Environmentally Responsible Materials Sourcing
- Company Wide Waste Reduction Practices
Sonderen believes that where we receive materials from, and who we purchase them through, is very important. We choose to affiliate with organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the environment. These partners are committed to protecting our limited resources and the communities in which we live. Our paperboard suppliers are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and/or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified. Also, as a Member of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), we are committed to adopting the highest standards of sustainable operations and products.
To quote the PPC:
“Using renewable resources -Many of the things which we extract from the earth are not replaceable. We can’t “grow” gold to replace what we’ve mined anymore than we can extract new oil once we’ve exhausted a well. Fortunately, the very opposite is true of the wood fiber from which paperboard packaging is made. Virtually all virgin paperboard consumed in the United States today comes from “tree farms” where trees are planted, harvested and replanted specifically for this end use.”
Environmentally Responsible Materials Sourcing
Raw Materials
Paperboard
Sonderen manufactures folding cartons out of many types of paperboard including 100% recycled paperboard. This paperboard is produced using a range of 35% to 80% post-consumer content and is certified through the 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance. (Visit www.rpa100.com for more information)
Non-profit SFI is a comprehensive, independent certification program that works with environmental, social and industry partners to imporve forest practices in North America and fiber sourcing worldwide. It is based on fourteen core principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.
One of our primary suppliers offers paperboard that does not contain reclaimed fibers however they are Forest Stewardship Council Certified (FSC). To be an FSC certified, a company must reforest every acre harvested adn balance consumption (harvest) with forest growth and must also be socially and economically conscious to be truly “sustainable”. This also means that they are in the business of land management, not clear cutting. They plant 7 to 15 million trees per year. Since 1990, the company has planted over 190 million trees. These forest lands are certified under FSC and the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standards.
Pressroom Supplies
We use soy-based printing inks and water-based coatings in our press-room as well as alcohol-free fountain solutions. Sonderen Packaging reuses printing plates for reprint jobs. Reusing plates saves the chemicals and energy used to make the plates and saves our customers money as well. We reuse about 85% of our plates and recycle all other that become un-usable. We also use water based adhesives to glue our cartons as well as long-lasting plastic pallets for internal processes to reduce the need to purchase wooden pallets.
Company Wide Waste Reduction Practices
Energy Usage
Sonderen has replaced metal halide light fixtures with more energy efficient lighting Installed many lights throughout the plant and in our new warehouse with motion sensors so lights go off when no one is using them. We also reduce the thermostat and ask employees to turn off their computer monitors when they go home.
Hazardous Materials
We are constantly reevaluating our pollution prevention opportunities to try to reduce our hazardous materials usage and production of dangerous waste. Each year we issue a pollution prevention plan to the city of Spokane. We neutralize all chemicals before disposing of them and closely monitor our hazardous material usage to make sure any changes we make do not shift the risk to the environment from one process, product, or environmental medium to another.
Spent solvent is the only dangerous waste at Sonderen Packaging and is generated from cleaning ink off the printing presses. Our automated equipment allows less solvent to be exposed to the atmosphere. Installation of a solvent distillation unit has allowed us to recycle 90% of our solvent and has reduced our waste hauling by 95%.
Recycling
Paperboard fiber can be recycled, biodegraded, composted, or incinerated to produce energy. The American Forest and Paper Association has announced that the number of communitites collecting paperboard for recycling increased to over 60% in 2010. The  paperboard package is now one of the most widely accessible packaging mediums that can be recycled. The Paperboard Packaging Council has made a royalty-free logo available to be used to indicate the sustainability and recyclability of paperboard packaging. (Ask your salesperson for details on this logo as well as many other recyclable logos available to print on your product packaging)
Internally, we recycle our paperboard, corrugated waste, metals, cans, plastics and office paper.
Lean Practices
What is lean?
The principal goal of lean is to reduce waste. A company that implements lean practices will reduce their raw material usage, improve machinery & equipment usage and limit material waste in the manufacturing process all while improving productivity and throughput.
Sonderen is a member of the Inland Northwest Lean Management Consortium. The Lean Consortium “seeks out and promotes the best Lean Management practices in business, with the goal of strengthening each participating individual and member organization, while positively impacting the regional economy”. It is our goal to be a contributing member, while learning and implementing shared best practices.
Sonderen Packaging is certified with the American Institute of Baking for Non Food-Contact Packaging Manufacturing Facilities. In order to achieve this certification Sonderen was required to evaluate and document such processes as the Adequacy of our Product Safety Program, Operational Methods and Personnel Practices, Pest Control, Cleaning Practices, and Maintenance for Product Safety. Sonderen is also required to conduct self inspections regularly in order to maintain the standards of AIB. We are very excited about our certification and have received top ratings on all audits that have been conducted at our facility.
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