Bedford Launches Sustainability Report, New Website

WORTHINGTON, Minn. – Bedford Industries is marking the end of a dynamic and pivotal year with the launch of its first-ever sustainability report and a new and improved website.

New Sustainability Report Captures Ongoing Strategy

Although Bedford has long manufactured its products with a sustainable future in mind, the company recently documented these efforts in its first sustainability report – “People. Production. Products. Our Sustainability Programs 2020”.

“Since my grandfather founded the company in 1966, we have been committed to reducing waste and reusing the materials we produce,” said Milbrandt. “To us, sustainability isn’t a marketing buzzword. It’s a long-term strategy ingrained in our DNA. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and plan to continue building on this momentum in the future.”

Among the findings Bedford shares in the report:

• In nearly one year, Bedford has diverted more than 32,000 pounds of ties and tags from landfills and upcycled them into usable products. Bedford’s TagBack™ initiative, which allows growers, retailers and consumers to collect and return Bedford ties and tags for recycling, helped contribute to this total.
• Bedford’s ElastiTag® and PushTag® packaging solutions have helped reduce plastic packaging by as much as 87% in select products.
• Its expanded production facilities at its Worthington, Minn., facility use power sources that are 45% renewable and 57% carbon free.

New Website Reflects Expanded Offerings, Markets

As Bedford continues to update and innovate its products, enhance its services and expand into new markets, the company has overhauled its website – www.bedford.com.

“When we say ‘redesign’ we mean more than just throwing on some updated art and calling it good,” said Jay Milbrandt, president, Bedford Industries. “We spent quite some time revamping how our website looks and functions, how products are organized, and even offering new content and insights into our company.” Along with a new look, users will experience an easier way to search Bedford’s services:

• By product: Users can learn about Bedford’s Twist Tie®, ElastiTag®, and CloseIt® product lines on the site’s product pages. Visitors will find an overview of what each line offers, as well as an extensive product listing to find the ideal solution(s) to match their needs.
• By industry: For user convenience, Bedford also organized its products by industry. Bakery, coffee, produce and medical get their own pages for quick product match.

Capping a Year of Change

The report and improved site are the exclamation point in a pivotal year for Bedford, Milbrandt added.

The company’s 400+ employees worked hard to keep up with the increased demand for products like nose wire tie for face masks, and ties and tags for the bakery, produce and coffee industries, as those industries also worked tirelessly to meet increased market demands ignited by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic also tested the team’s ability to respond to new needs. In March, the company designed and began mass producing ElastiShield™ face shields in less than one week for front-line workers who struggled to find personal protective equipment. By fall, with schools reopening, the company also introduced ElastiShield in youth sizes. In addition, the company for the first time opened an online store for healthcare facilities, schools and other organizations to more easily order shields and for home crafters to order nose wire cut ties for the millions who were sewing them at home.

“Whether it’s a long-term strategy like our sustainability initiatives, or a fast turnaround like ElastiShield, our company was nimble and met the market when and where it needed us this year,” Milbrandt concluded.