Kaleigh O'Hara
Sarah Aziz
Sean Cwynar
Alma Vrushi
Bill Henkel
Cleveland State University
Victoria Avi
Keep this story going! Share below!
Cobra Plastics' lean manufacturing practices and efficient use of resources stems from a desire to better serve their customers, employees, and community. Cobra employees lead the way in developing the sustainable initiatives that make Cobra a flourishing business.
Cobra Plastics employs a number of strategies to maximize sustainability. One of the most interesting is the collection of unused plastic caps and other scraps from the manufacturing process. Instead of sending these scraps to the landfill, they grind them and remanufacture the material into new caps. This process creates a product with equal quality, while reducing the use of new materials, reducing material sent to the landfill, and reducing costs to the company.
Cobra's green initiatives are inspired by their employees. The company culture encourages every person to take responsibility for the problems they see. This engaging approach inspires buy-in from their employees, who seek out ways to make Cobra an increasingly lean and green company.
In Northeast Ohio, Cobra Plastics is implementing sustainable business practices throughout their front office and manufacturing centers. Cobra is the second largest supplier of plastic aerosol over caps and has been in the business since 1973. Over the past decade, Cobra leadership has initiated a focus on lean, green operations to become a more sustainable business. Their efforts have grown from facility improvements, to recycling efforts and reducing waste in their office, manufacturing, and shipping operations.
Beginning in 2008, Cobra revamped their facilities by adding onto the existing building and tripling the square footage. This expansion was a starting point for many of the green practices they employ today. Throughout the expansion process, they sought out opportunities for efficiency. Fluorescent bulbs and windows for natural light reduce energy use and cost. A closed loop cooling system on the manufacturing floor, which only requires a one-time water input, reduces wastewater output. A commitment to recycling has reduced trash output to a third of previous levels. Cobra also collects all discarded caps and plastic scraps from their manufacturing process and reuses the plastic for new caps. These changes have made Cobra a leaner, greener company, with reduced waste and reduced costs. As Cobra President Kent Houser says “it’s just the right thing to do.” Their efforts benefit Cobra’s business, community, and employees, creating a “triple bottom line” effect.
Cobra has built company culture around employee engagement, and their employees inspire many of their green initiatives. This buy-in from employees is central to their corporate culture and helps to create a positive environment with low turnover. Cobra Plastics’ efforts to run a greener, more efficient business contribute to Sustainable Development Goal #11 “Making cities safe, inclusive, and sustainable.” By reducing waste, operating energy-efficient facilities, and engaging their employees, Cobra is working towards a more sustainable Northeast Ohio.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
Jerry Bialko, VP Operations
Cobra Plastics is a manufacturing company in Macedonia, Ohio. They specialize in producing plastic caps for aerosol products and work with a wide variety of clients both in Ohio and around the country. They are committed to sustainable business practices which create a triple bottom line; benefit to their business, employees, and community.