If there is one skill that Weatherchem Corp. has an abundance
of, it’s the ability to prevent a leak. So when the controlled dispensing closures company decided to put its efforts into being
more sustainable, it was able to put a lid on its more wasteful
habits.
When Albert J. Weatherhead III purchased Ankeny Corp. in 1971
and changed its name to Weatherchem, the company began a consistent streak of creating closures that regularly were ahead of the
market. But when Weatherhead and President Jennifer Altstadt
looked into the future of the business, they realized a new focus on
the products of the company — and the business as a whole — had
to be made as the global spotlight on the environment grew.
The evolution into more sustainable processes started with small
changes and eventually led to more drastic ones. By purchasing
more energy-efficient and cost-effective light bulbs, having
employees turn off lights during lunch and computers at night, and
creating a recycling program that donated paper to schools so they
could turn them in for money, Weatherchem created avenues that
employees could participate in every day. Soon, Weatherchem purchased lighter, more energy-efficient machines that used 38 percent less energy. Along with that, new systems were created so
that the machines are now booted up in a slower process that does
not demand a spike in energy, keeping the company’s energy costs
lower.
Beyond conserving energy, Weatherchem is also working to
reduce its environmental footprint by producing less waste. The
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in most parts of
the developed world, packaging makes up as much as one-third
of the non-industrial solid waste stream, so Weatherchem developed two new closures for the spice market that are sift-resistant.
The product is fully contained in its package, eliminating the need
for a wasteful liner. That product combined with the company’s
efforts over the last two years to create a lighter-weight design for all
of its new products, creates less overall waste.
Finally, the company is working on a biodegradable cap, ensuring that the evolution of the company will keep up with business
and environmental movements by being ahead of the curve when
it comes to sustainability.
HOW TO REACH: Weatherchem Corp., (330) 452-4206 or www.weatherchem.com