PortionPac Achieves Growth through Sustainability
Company Profile: Environmental stewardship is the cornerstone of PortionPac Chemical Corporation's business philosophy and mission. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1964 by Syd Weisberg, a chemist who dedicated his career to reducing the risks and environmental impact of using chemicals. His legacy continues to drive the company today. PortionPac produces concentrated, pre-measured cleaning and floor finish solutions that are not only environmentally friendly, but also reduce freight, handling, inventory and distribution costs. Products are shipped in polyethylene envelopes that reduce packaging at the source and waste disposal at the end of the product life cycle. The PortionPac system also carries important quality and safety benefits through its Rule of 1: one Pac to a bucket, bottle or tank of water. This eliminates the guesswork associated with bulk materials and provides standardization of operations. PortionPac provides in-service sessions plus individual hands-on education for its customers, which include commercial, institutional and public entities. Among its growing customer base are state corrections departments, where inmates trained in the PortionPac system leave prison with marketable job skills. PortionPac operates out of a 60,000 square-foot facility and has 80 employees.
Situation: PortionPac was at risk of losing customers as larger companies launched green products. The company was searching for ways to build brand identity in a newly competitive marketplace. As company president Marvin Klein puts it, “We had to cut through the ‘greenwash' from bigger companies and show that our product is superior.” PortionPac's need was coincidental with the Chicago Manufacturing Center's launch of its GreenPlants initiative, designed to help companies identify and achieve the bottom-line benefits of sustainable manufacturing practices. PortionPac and CMC began working together in October 2004 to address the immediate marketing challenge as well as PortionPac's goal of becoming a national model for sustainability.
Structured Solution: CMC GreenPlants Director Karen Wan enlisted the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at the Illinois Institute of Technology to conduct a Life Cycle Overview that would both document the environmental benefits of PortionPac's products compared to its competitors, as well as identify possible improvements. She also proposed that PortionPac work with CMC and Natural Capitalism Solutions (an international leader in the sustainability arena) to design a sustainable enterprise strategy to meet these goals; Improve PortionPac's ability to market the sustainability of its products and services; Produce marketing collaterals for the green marketplace; Increase sales; Achieve national recognition of the PortionPac brand and business model.
Results: According to Marvin Klein, PortionPac's work with CMC has exceeded his initial goals, and has given the company new credibility in the marketplace. Adds Chief Operating Officer Burt Klein: “We have progressed from management by values to a more formalized approach to addressing issues. The validation of our work has been invigorating.” Measurable results of PortionPac's Sustainability Leadership project include; 15 – 20% annual sales increases over the past two years; 15 new jobs; $50,000 in cost savings due to packaging improvements; Diverting two tons from the waste stream by locating a user for the silicon release paper that is a by-product of its labeling process. PortionPac has also made significant progress toward its goal of national recognition for environmental stewardship. In 2006 the company earned an Illinois Pollution Prevention Award and a Green Works award from the City of Chicago. And, PortionPac earned certification from Green Seal, an independent organization that validates environmentally responsible products and services.
“Our work with CMC has made an enormous difference for us. As a small company, you have to be ahead of the market. People who wouldn't give us an interview in the past now want to talk. This [Sustainable Leadership] is a wonderful way to evaluate your company. There isn't any reason why every manufacturer wouldn't want to do it. If each of us can make a small improvement, it can make a big difference in the world.”
Marvin Klein, President
