Impact Awards 2022: Garcoa, Sustainability/Resource Conservation
Retailers, product suppliers and service providers across the private label industry work on a daily basis to provide consumers quality products that offer great value and enhance their lives. But many companies go above and beyond, and take steps daily to protect the environment, enhance diversity programs, implement unique workforce initiatives, support needed community programs and more.
To honor the work of companies across our industry, Store Brands’ 2022 Impact Awards features several leading organizations that throughout the year have taken steps to support their customers and communities beyond the walls of their stores or manufacturing facilities.
The following profiles showcase the work of companies in several important categories: Sustainability and Resource Conservation; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Transparency; Workforce Development and Employee Support; Community Service and Local Impact; Educational Support and Learning Advancement; Food Security, Safety and Nutritional Leadership; and Philanthropic Innovation and Corporate Giving Initiatives.
Company: Garcoa
Impact Award: Sustainability/Resource Conservation
Garcoa, a California-based liquid personal care manufacturer, earns the Impact Award from the supplier side in this category for its approach to ‘going green’, particularly at its Ottawa, Ill. manufacturing facility.
This year, Garcoa transitioned all paper materials to Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified suppliers. The company also transitioned all labels for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials to Avery Dennison’s Cleanflake technology, allowing for easy removal when the PET bottles enter the recycling stream.
Garcoa also recently completed installation of a filter press at its Ottawa, Ill., flagship facility that
has reduced the amount of sludge that is hauled by 90%. The company also replaced all of the lights at the production facility with LED fixtures, and the company says it is in the process of transitioning to renewable energy where possible.
Other initiatives by Garcoa include launching an initiative to ensure each component features some percentage of post-consumer recycled material (PCR) where possible, installation of a best-in-class USP Water System that features a circular loop for efficient heating and cooling, and purchasing RSPO credits to offset non-sustainable palm oil usage.
The company’s changes and initiatives show the steps that are being taken by manufacturers to create a clean product in a clean way.