From plastic to wood and everything in between, PCNA has a goal of zero waste in its Pennsylvania facilities by 2025. Must Read | Suppliers reduce its head count in the past five years, but the company has converted that savings into extra money for salaries, aimed at retention. Ringel says that any production employee who wants a raise is able to get one as part of a Pay For Skills program that provides the opportunity for upskilling. Other perks include an employee assistance program – the PCNA Cares Share Fund – for times of financial hardship, English as a Second Language training in the Miami facility and more. The company has made inclusion core to its behavior, too. It has a second chance hiring program to support people who have been incarcerated and has welcomed 15 immigrants from Afghanistan to its factory ranks. There refugees were displaced when the U.S. withdrew from the country three years ago, leaving the Taliban to resume power. Working at PCNA gives these new members of the community a chance to establish themselves. “It just makes you feel good,” Ringel says. From all accounts, the CEO is interested enough in the details to dive in and understand things like the chemistry of sustainability, but he also has the touch to allow employees to lead in their areas of specialty without being too hands-on. Nick McCulloch, PCNA’s director of ESG, describes a recent meeting among himself, Ringel, Haesler and a 4imprint contingent that included Suzanne Worwood, the distributor’s senior vice president of merchandising and supply chain, who wanted to get into the deepest of sustainability conversations. Ringel barely spoke, McCulloch says, instead giving the expert the chance to lead the discussion for PCNA. McCulloch credits Ringel for driving the sustainability initiatives. “For a CEO, it is about recognition of the fact that sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have,” McCulloch says. In addition to the likes of Haesler, Brown, McMann and McCulloch, Ringel also collaborates closely with Ralf Oster, CEO of PF Concept, PCNA’s sister organization based in the Netherlands. Given Europe’s increased emphasis on sustainability, both culturally Learn more about the leading suppliers. media.ppai.org/ ppai-100 44 • JUNE 2024 • PPAI
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