Responsible Operations
Operating ethically while minimizing our environmental impact
Producing sustainable solutions is important to us, but so is how we make them. Throughout our supply chain, from our raw material suppliers to our manufacturing processes and the way we distribute our products, acting responsibly is a crucial aspect of the way we operate.
Environmental Footprint
We are putting into practice many decarbonization activities to reduce the environmental impact of our manufacturing sites and warehouses. From sourcing green and renewable energy, and ensuring that we use it more efficiently, to implementing environmental protection schemes, we are constantly monitoring our environmental footprint and making improvements.
Energy Initiatives
Each of our manufacturing locations is constantly finding ways to improve energy efficiency such as replacing older equipment with newer energy saving versions and implementing smart software that monitors and improves machinery usage in line with production requirements.
Switching to renewable energy sources is another way that we are lowering our environmental footprint. At many of our manufacturing sites, offices and warehouse we have installed solar panels that help to power our plants. We have also installed two windmills at our manufacturing site in Arendonk, Belgium, that provide on average 40-50% of the sites annual energy
Committed to Operation Clean Sweep®
As a signatory of the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) programme we are committed to preventing marine litter by plastic pellet, flake and powder loss into the environment. We have implemented a policy across the Ravago Group to ensure that we comply with OCS requirements:
- Identifying and removing potential sources of plastic loss
- Implementing technical improvements such as installation of pellet, film, or powder retainers and maintaining good manufacturing practices
- Educating employees and our business partners on the awareness and accountability for plastic loss prevention, containment and clean-up
- Monitoring our progress through tangible objectives and housekeeping tours
- Engaging our valued business partners to participate in the initiative
By the end of 2025 all Ravago Manufacturing Europe sites will be OCS certified, supporting our goals of achieving zero pellet, flake and powder loss in our operations.
Business Integrity
We are determined to act responsibility in our business. By carefully selecting the partners that we work with, we aim to work with others who behave in line with our own ethical standards.
Caring About People
One of Ravago’s core values is human focus, meaning that respecting and caring about the well-being of people both internally and externally is a key principle that defines who we are. Forming long-term and ethical partnerships with our customers and suppliers has always been integral to the way we do business. We have anti-corruption and anti-bribery policies in place, and ensure that companies that we work with respect human rights.
To maintain our integrity, we are members of organizations such as Plastics Recyclers Europe so that we can work together with our industry peers to bring change. We also have several sustainability related certifications such as QA-CER and RecyClass for our recycling processes, and EcoVadis rating Silver so that customers can trust what we promise.
Health & Safety
Everyone has the right to feel safe at work and go home at least as healthy as when they arrived. We work together with our employees to promote a health & safety culture within both our manufacturing and office locations.
Protecting our people
Fostering a health and safety culture is critical to the success of our company. We want our employees to go home to their families every day happy and healthy, whether they are working on the factory floor or in an office. We also want anyone who visits us to feel comfortable and protected from any potential hazards. That’s why we have many health and safety rules and initiatives in place to continuously reduce risks and create a safe environment for everyone.
In our manufacturing sites, we monitor safety closely by conducting regular safety meetings and recording any lost time incidents and near misses. We then implement corrective actions so that incidents are avoided or are not repeated. We also have strict targets in place for all employees so that everyone works collectively to make safety a priority.
We take actions such as reviewing equipment to see where replacements need to be made with newer more environmentally friendly options, increasing automation to remove manual processes, improving signage and instructions and providing high quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We also provide training programs such as fire safety, first aid and hot work.
We work hard to make sure that our products are safe to be handled and used in their intended applications. Our Regulatory & Compliance department ensures that our products meet certain standards, such as REACH compliance or the absence of hazardous substances.
