Zero Waste to Landfill Strategy Delivers $10M+ in Potential Cost Savings for Global Consumer Products Company

Executive summary

A global consumer products company partnered with SSC to implement our Operation Zero Waste Proven Process across multiple facilities worldwide. By conducting waste characterizations, analyzing facility processes, and evaluating the total cost of materials, packaging, and waste management, SSC identified more than $10 million in cost savings. The outcome included a comprehensive Zero Waste Playbook that integrates procurement, Research and Development (R&D), product design, packaging, engineering, and Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) functions, enabling the company to reduce waste. This approach not only supports their 2030 Zero Waste to Landfill goal but also provides a strategic advantage in mitigating regulatory risk and improving profitability.

Protecting our clients' data is non-negotiable. This case study has been fully sanitized to safeguard their confidentiality because, at SSC, trust and security are paramount.

 

Key Findings

  1. $10M+ Cost Savings Identified:
    Waste assessments and global facility visits uncovered multimillion-dollar savings opportunities through waste minimization and process redesign.

  2. Root Cause Analysis:
    SSC evaluated why waste was generated, considering the total costs of materials, packaging, and disposal.

  3. Comprehensive Playbook:
    A company-wide roadmap identified the role of procurement, R&D, product and packaging design, plant engineers, and EHS teams in waste generation and provided guidance that each department could implement to minimize waste generation.

  4. Strategic Risk Reduction:
    By embedding zero waste thinking into product and packaging design, the company is prepared for emerging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.

  5. Holistic Integration:
    Waste minimization was integrated into core business functions, driving efficiency, revenue growth, and risk mitigation.

 
 

Results

Estimated Annual Savings: $10,000,000+

  1. Development of a Zero Waste Playbook for enterprise-wide adoption.

  2. Waste responsibility expanded beyond EHS to include procurement, R&D, and product and packaging design teams.

  3. Strategic preparation for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

  4. Clear path to achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030 across all operations.

 

“By designing waste out of products and packaging, the company is proving that sustainability can be a profit center—reducing costs today while shaping a long-term business strategy that strengthens resilience and prepares for future regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility.”

Tad Radzinski, PE, SEP, LEED AP, SFP

President & Co-Founder, Sustainable Solutions Corporation

 

  • The consumer products company sought to elevate its sustainability program by tackling waste reduction at scale. Facing increasing pressure from customers, regulators, and future extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements, the company recognized waste as both a cost and a liability. With a corporate goal of achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030, the company partnered with SSC to build a holistic, cross-functional strategy for waste minimization.

  • SSC applied its Operation Zero Waste Proven Process by conducting waste characterizations and global facility assessments to understand the scale and sources of waste. The team performed root cause analyses, examining the total cost of materials, packaging, and disposal, and identified opportunities to minimize waste at its source. Based on these insights, SSC developed a comprehensive Zero Waste Playbook that engaged procurement, R&D, product and packaging design, plant engineers, and EHS teams. This holistic roadmap ensured that waste minimization was embedded across the business, aligning operational efficiency with regulatory preparedness and positioning the company to achieve its 2030 Zero Waste to Landfill goal.

  • Zero waste to landfill means that zero waste is disposed directly to landfill or to incineration without energy recovery by the particular facility. In order to achieve zero waste to landfill, an organization must send 100% of the waste streams to downstream material management organizations (MMO) to divert this material from landfill.

    Learn more

  • 8-Step Process to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill (Facilities)

    1. Understand the Waste

      • Conduct site visit to characterize and measure all material flows and waste streams.

    2. Develop Waste Diversion Road Map

      • Develop comprehensive waste minimization and diversion strategy.

    3. Find New Outlets for Materials

      • Identify new outlets for difficult-to-manage waste streams to divert from landfill.

    4. Report Out Meeting with Client

      • Share the road map and areas for improvement.

    5. Procedure Development

      • Create policies for employees to assist with correct waste handling practices.

    6. Employee Training

      • Educate employees and assist in road map implementation.

    7. Certify Improvements

      • Audit and certify waste minimization and diversion achievements.

    8. Market Achievements

      • Utilize various social media platforms to market client achievements.

    Learn more

 

Solutions We Delivered

 

Zero Waste to
Landfill Facilities

Learn more