Sustainability Pledge
Our commitment to keeping every IBC tote out of the landfill and building a circular economy.
Our Pledge
“We, Ohio IBC Totes, pledge to operate a zero-waste facility by 2030. We commit to ensuring that every IBC tote we handle is either reconditioned for reuse or fully recycled into new raw materials. No container that passes through our hands will end up in a landfill. We will reduce our carbon footprint year over year, conserve water through closed-loop recycling, and build partnerships that advance the circular economy for industrial containers across the state of Ohio and beyond.”
Signed by the leadership team of Ohio IBC Totes, Columbus, Ohio
Our Progress So Far
Sustainability is not a marketing slogan for us. It is a measurable commitment with specific targets and transparent reporting. Here is where we stand today.
Totes Diverted from Landfill
50,000+
Goal: 100,000 by 2030
50%
Material Recovery Rate
99.2%
Goal: 100% by 2028
99%
CO2 Emissions Reduced
1,200 tons
Goal: 5,000 tons cumulative by 2030
24%
Water Recycled in Cleaning
85%
Goal: 95% by 2028
89%
Lifetime Environmental Impact
1,500,000
Pounds of Plastic Saved
750
Tons Diverted from Landfill
1,200
Tons CO2 Prevented
2.1M
Gallons Water Recycled
12,000
Trees Equivalent Saved
Specific, Measurable Goals
Vague promises help no one. Here are our concrete sustainability targets with deadlines, baselines, and accountability measures.
100% Material Recovery
Achieve a 100% material recovery rate, meaning every component of every IBC tote we process including the HDPE bottle, steel cage, pallet, valve, and gasket is either reused or recycled. Current rate: 99.2%. The remaining 0.8% is primarily degraded gasket material that we are working to find recycling partners for.
50% Carbon Reduction
Reduce our operational carbon footprint by 50% compared to our 2022 baseline. This includes emissions from our delivery fleet, warehouse operations, cleaning processes, and supply chain. Key initiatives include transitioning to electric delivery vehicles, installing solar panels on our facility, and optimizing delivery routes.
95% Water Recycling
Increase our cleaning water recycling rate from 85% to 95%. Our closed-loop water treatment system already recycles the majority of wash water. Reaching 95% requires investment in advanced filtration and reverse osmosis systems that recover water from the final rinse stage.
Zero Single-Use Packaging
Eliminate all single-use plastic packaging from our operations. This includes shrink wrap, plastic strapping, and protective packaging materials. We are transitioning to reusable strapping systems, recyclable paper-based packaging, and blanket wraps for transit protection.
100,000 Totes Diverted
Reach a cumulative total of 100,000 IBC totes diverted from landfills. We are currently at 50,000+ and processing approximately 8,000 to 10,000 totes per year. At our current growth rate, we are on track to exceed this target ahead of schedule.
Carbon-Neutral Delivery Fleet
Transition our entire delivery fleet to electric or alternative fuel vehicles. We have begun with two electric box trucks for Columbus metro deliveries and plan to add two vehicles per year. Charging infrastructure is being installed at our facility with solar-powered charging stations.
What We Have Already Done
Our sustainability journey did not start with a pledge. It started with action. Here are the milestones we have already achieved.
Founded with Zero-Landfill Policy
From day one, we established a strict zero-landfill policy. Every tote that enters our facility is either reconditioned for reuse or broken down and sent to material-specific recyclers. This was not an add-on or afterthought. It is the foundation of our business model.
Closed-Loop Water Treatment Installed
Invested $180,000 in a closed-loop water treatment system for our tote cleaning operations. This system captures, filters, treats, and recycles wash water, reducing our freshwater consumption by 85% compared to a single-pass cleaning system.
Steel and HDPE Recycling Partnerships
Established direct partnerships with Ohio-based steel recyclers and HDPE pelletizers. Totes that cannot be reconditioned are disassembled at our facility, and each material stream goes directly to a dedicated recycler. The steel becomes new steel products. The HDPE is pelletized and becomes new plastic products.
Biodegradable Cleaning Chemistry
Transitioned our primary cleaning agents from petroleum-based detergents to plant-based, biodegradable alternatives. These formulas are equally effective at removing industrial residues but break down naturally in the environment instead of persisting.
First Electric Delivery Vehicles
Added two electric box trucks to our delivery fleet for Columbus metro deliveries. These vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions and are charged at our facility using a combination of grid electricity and on-site solar panels.
Environmental Impact Reporting for Customers
Launched our customer environmental impact reporting program. Every bulk customer receives quarterly reports showing how many pounds of plastic they diverted from landfills, how much CO2 was avoided, and how much water was conserved through their choice to buy reconditioned totes.
Our Partnerships
Sustainability is a team effort. We work with organizations across Ohio and beyond that share our commitment to a circular economy and responsible resource management.
Ohio EPA Recycling Programs
We participate in Ohio EPA recycling initiatives and comply with all state environmental regulations. Our facility operations meet or exceed Ohio environmental standards for wastewater treatment, air quality, and solid waste management.
Local Steel Recyclers
Partnership with Columbus-area steel recyclers who process the galvanized steel cages from totes that cannot be reused. The recycled steel enters the supply chain as feedstock for new steel products manufactured in the Midwest.
HDPE Pelletizing Facilities
Used HDPE bottles from non-reusable totes are sent to specialized pelletizing facilities where they are ground, washed, and converted into recycled HDPE pellets used in manufacturing new plastic products.
Ohio Agricultural Co-ops
We work with agricultural cooperatives across Ohio to collect used totes from member farms and provide reconditioned replacements at discounted rates. This keeps farm containers circulating in the economy instead of accumulating in barnyards.
Sustainability-Focused Businesses
We partner with hundreds of Ohio businesses that have their own sustainability goals. Our environmental impact reporting helps them quantify and publicize the waste reduction they achieve by choosing reconditioned totes over new.
Wood Pallet Recyclers
Damaged wooden pallets from IBC totes are sent to pallet repair and recycling operations. Repairable pallets are restored and returned to service. Non-repairable pallets are chipped for mulch, animal bedding, or biomass fuel.
How You Contribute
Every customer who chooses a reconditioned IBC tote over a new one is making a measurable environmental impact. Here is what your purchase actually does for the planet.
When you buy a reconditioned tote from Ohio IBC Totes, you prevent approximately 30 pounds of HDPE plastic from being manufactured from virgin petroleum. You avoid the 75 pounds of CO2 emissions associated with producing a new HDPE bottle. You save the 50 gallons of water consumed in new plastic manufacturing. And you keep a perfectly functional container circulating in the economy instead of occupying space in a landfill for the next 400 years.
When you sell or return your used totes to us, you complete the circle. Those totes are reconditioned and sold to the next user, extending the lifecycle of the materials indefinitely. This is the circular economy in action, and you are an essential part of making it work.
Buy 1 Reconditioned Tote
Save 30 lbs of plastic, prevent 75 lbs of CO2, conserve 50 gallons of water
Buy 10 Reconditioned Totes
Save 300 lbs of plastic, prevent 750 lbs of CO2, conserve 500 gallons of water
Buy 100 Reconditioned Totes
Save 3,000 lbs of plastic, prevent 3.75 tons of CO2, conserve 5,000 gallons of water
Return Used Totes for Reconditioning
Extend tote lifespan by 3-5 years, keep materials in productive use, earn buyback credit
Set Up a Tote Rotation Program
Zero net waste from your tote usage, simplified logistics, lowest total cost of ownership
Certifications Pursued
We are actively pursuing industry-recognized certifications that validate our environmental commitments and provide third-party verification of our sustainability practices.
ISO 14001
In ProgressEnvironmental Management System certification. Demonstrates that our operations follow a systematic framework for managing environmental responsibilities.
R2 Certification
Planned 2027Responsible Recycling certification for electronics and materials recyclers. Validates environmentally responsible recycling practices and downstream accountability.
Ohio EPA Star
ActiveRecognition from the Ohio EPA for facilities that exceed environmental compliance standards and demonstrate leadership in pollution prevention.
B Corp Assessment
Under ReviewEvaluating B Corporation certification to demonstrate our commitment to balancing profit with purpose and meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance.
Timeline to Zero Waste
Our roadmap from where we are today to our 2030 zero-waste goal. Each milestone builds on the last, creating a compounding environmental impact.
Eliminate Single-Use Packaging
In ProgressComplete transition away from plastic shrink wrap and disposable strapping materials. All transit packaging will be reusable or recyclable.
Zero-Waste Cleaning Operations
On TrackAll cleaning waste streams fully captured, treated, and recycled. Zero cleaning chemicals or rinse water discharged untreated. 90% water recycling rate achieved.
100% Material Recovery
On TrackEvery material from every tote including gaskets, labels, and valve components is recycled or reused. Achieve true 100% material recovery rate across all operations.
Carbon-Neutral Operations
PlannedOffset remaining operational carbon emissions through verified carbon credits while continuing to reduce absolute emissions through fleet electrification and solar power.
Certified Zero Waste to Landfill
TargetAchieve third-party certified zero-waste-to-landfill status. 100,000 cumulative totes diverted. All operations running on renewable energy. Complete fleet electrification in progress.
Calculate Your Environmental Impact
Curious how much environmental impact your business could make by switching to reconditioned IBC totes? Use our Eco Impact Calculator to see the specific pounds of plastic saved, CO2 prevented, and water conserved based on your actual tote consumption.
The calculator provides a downloadable impact report that you can share with your sustainability team, include in ESG reporting, or present to stakeholders who want to see quantifiable environmental progress.
Use the Eco Calculator30 lbs
Plastic Saved Per Tote
75 lbs
CO2 Prevented Per Tote
50 gal
Water Conserved Per Tote
400 yrs
Landfill Time Avoided
Join the Circular Economy
Every tote you buy reconditioned, every empty you return, and every referral you make brings us closer to a world where industrial containers are never wasted. Be part of the solution.
Already a customer? Return your used totes and complete the circle.