Federal Foam Technologies Inc.
Medium—Pollution Prevention
Aggressive Recycling Efforts Save Precious Landfill Space

Federal Foam Technologies Inc. is an industry leader in the custom design and fabrication of a vast array of acoustic, floor and other foam products used in everything from recreational vehicles to military packaging and medical care. With the majority of its workforce based in Wisconsin — 154 of the 193 company-wide — the New Richmond-based company, including its Ellsworth division, operates a Quality Management System compliant to the ISO 9001 and an Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001. It has served the industry since 1946.

ENVIRONMENT, COMPANY ARE BIG WINNERS WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSION

There is nothing like sheer numbers to document Federal Foam Technologies’ dedication to the environment. In 2003 alone, the company saved thousands upon thousands of pounds of material from crowding landfills through its Industrial Waste recycling program. Last year, the company diverted from landfills: 17,110 pounds of plastic film; 7,584 pounds of Vyram material; 5,524 pounds of reclaimed Polyurethane foam; 80,880 pounds of waste Polyurethane foam; 52,800 pounds of ABS plastic; 728 cubic yards of paper/cardboard; and, 11,100 pounds of wood/steel fabricating dies.

Federal Foam Technologies realized a return of $23,668 on the recycling of the Vyram material, reclaimed and waste Polyurethane foam and ABS plastic. Add that to the $6,387 the company saved from not having to transport the waste to the landfill and it comes to $30,055 of pure profit and a lot less landfill space needlessly filled. Company officials estimate it would take sales revenue of $120,220 at a margin of 25 percent to match the pure profits gained from recycling.

SHARING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Providing stewardship with others interested in earning the Environmental Management System certification of excellence, Federal Foam Technologies readily shares its successes and failures through its participation with the Multi State Working Group on EMSand Interactive Roundtables at the university and technical college levels.

Federal Foam Technologies also is working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop a statewide interest in decreasing the amount of industrial waste plastic and polyurethane foam shipped to landfills.

For more information about pollution prevention at Federal Foam Technologies Inc., contact:

Steve Vincelli
Plant Manager
Federal Foam Technologies Inc.
600 Wisconsin Drive
New Richmond, WI 54017
715/246-9500
E-mail: steve.vincelli@federalfoam.com