Green Team Roundtable: Redirecting Waste Streams

Devens continues to lead on sustainability through local collaboration. The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center has been working behind the scenes to help local businesses rethink what they throw away. Through waste audits, materials reuse matchmaking, and collaborative programming, the Center has supported efforts to reduce, recycle, and redirect waste and unneeded materials across the business community.  The Center’s Quarterly Green Team Roundtable series is bringing together businesses in the Devens Region to connect, learn and partner on solutions to common sustainability challenges facing businesses today.  At the most recent September Green Team Roundtable, local businesses came together with the Devens Enterprise Commission and Eco-Efficiency Center to exchange solutions, share challenges, and identify new opportunities to reduce waste and make progress toward corporate sustainability goals as well as community goals in the Devens Forward Plan.   

5 Takeaways from the Redirecting Waste Streams Green Team Roundtable:  

1) Companies Are Driving Waste Reduction Through Collective, Circular Solutions  

Many participating businesses are exploring new ways to compost, recycle, and repurpose materials—especially lab and personal protective equipment (PPE) waste common across biotech operations. Several attendees shared interest in collaborating on joint disposal contracts to reduce costs and create closed-loop systems. Partnerships with vendors like Ansell and Triumvirate were highlighted as promising pathways for scaling PPE recycling and improving plastic recovery across their operations.  

2) Shared Challenges Around Plastics and Packaging Are Opening Doors for Shared Infrastructure  

Companies discussed the difficulty of managing the large volumes of plastic packaging and wrap that arrive with equipment and lab supplies. Devens DPW is currently exploring options for plastic recycling balers at the drop-off center, an investment that could support multiple businesses. Trex and other plastic collection partnerships were also mentioned as opportunities ready for growth.  

3) Businesses Are Looking to Reduce Toxics with Support from Regional Experts  

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass emerged as a valuable resource for companies looking to evaluate hazardous materials and adopt safer alternatives. Several businesses expressed interest in partnering with TURI to advance toxics reduction goals in labs and manufacturing spaces.  

4) Certification Efforts Are Strengthening, and Devens Can Help Companies Earn More Recognition  

With many companies pursuing third-party verifications through programs like USGBC LEED, EcoVadis and My Green Lab certifications, participants discussed how the Devens Enterprise Commission and the Eco Efficiency Center can play a role in helping businesses earn higher ratings. These certifications not only demonstrate commitment but also help companies track and meet corporate sustainability objectives, as well as attract partners, talent, and investment.  

5) Peer Exchange Is Fueling Real Progress Across the Devens Community  

Little Leaf Farms shared how learning directly from their neighbors is influencing their own sustainability journey:  

Green Team Business Spotlight: Veranova  

Among the Green Team Roundtable participating companies is Veranova, who has become a regional example of what ambitious, science-based sustainability can look like in biotech manufacturing. Their green team is actively piloting and scaling waste-reduction initiatives—from glove and PPE recycling with Ansell’s RightCycle program to non-contaminated plastics recovery with Triumvirate. They are also advancing My Green Lab certification for multiple labs and building toward EcoVadis Silver as part of their global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments.