ADCO'S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
ADCO's commitment to sustainability isn't just shallow words or hyperbole – but real actions that have the potential to ensure a better world for generations to come AND impact our customer's bottom line. We recognize that this also sets the stage for a more financially stable and responsible ADCO in a world of diminishing resources.
Since we design, engineer, and manufacture products in-house, we have the opportunity, firsthand, in the earliest stages of the design process, to consider the environmental impact in everything we do. We continually seek new ways to develop products that last longer, use sustainable materials, and reduce environmental impact. And at the same time, we continue to offer the high-quality products that our customers have come to expect.
We've actually been doing this for more than 30 years since the inception of our company!
Our decisions in the area of sustainability are tied to three aspirational goals:
- Energy: Continually explore new approaches to manufacturing techniques supplied by renewable energy
- Waste: Design and manufacture products that use recyclable materials and create minimal waste
- Products: Create sensible products that improve our clients' challenges while maintaining a balanced approach to environmental impact, safety, and cost.
We conduct monthly reviews with our design, engineering, and sustainability teams to chart and self-assess our progress toward reaching these goals. And then, we take steps to make incremental improvements. We have recently added new equipment to regrind our excess plastics for reuse in additional products that we manufacture. We've acquired new and updated equipment, implemented automation procedures, and updated quality assurance programs – all in our balanced quest to consider the environment and bring "Smarter Products, Better Life" to our customers.
TANGIBLE RESULTS
Easy Cuts Blades
Our Easy Cut Safety Knife Replacement Blades are packaged in an easy-to-open dispenser, also used to store depleted blades for future recycling. A shipping label is provided inside our Easy Cut Replacement Blades box for customers to return blades to ADCO for recycling. In addition, all our replacement blades have sharpened blades on both ends of the blade, instantly doubling the life cycle of the blade. These patented blades were also designed to last 3 times longer than other blades on the market – extending the life cycle further and reducing unnecessary waste in landfills.
We have documented reports from dozens of large retail customers that 85% of their stores participate in the blade recycling program due to the ADCO Recycling Program, which has been in place for over a decade. In addition, they have indicated their blade purchasing has been reduced by up to 66%, and actual box cutter purchases have been reduced by as much as 50% due to the robust, quality design that ensures longevity and durability. Easy Cut and Easy Cut Replacement blades are built to last!
Dust-Vac
The ADCO compact Dust-Vac system is a powerful, safe, and environmentally superior alternative for deep-cleaning keyboards, computers, and other electronics. The ADCO Dust-Vac was designed primarily as a safe alternative to dangerous canned air products on the market.
The dangers of canned air have been well documented to both humans and the environment. The cost to safely discard just one can of this product may be as much as the actual retail cost! The ADCO Dust-Vac also keeps electronics running at peak performance, once again increasing longevity – and has an eco-friendly reusable metal-mesh filter.
One retail customer has documented that Dust-Vac has prevented over 1,000,000 cans of canned air from reaching hazardous waste sites in just one year alone!!
Building Initiatives
Environmental initiatives at both ADCO Headquarters & our manufacturing facilities include:
- Recycling of cardboard, paper, pallets, plastic steel, cans, bottles, and ink cartridges (we recycled over 208 tons of cardboard in just one year!)
- Controlled thermostat monitoring to reduce energy consumption
- Automatic utility monitoring (electric, gas, water) to reduce energy consumption
This represents just a small sampling of the efforts of ADCO to be responsible environmental citizens – we are open to ideas and always looking for new approaches to ensure a safer, healthier planet for all of us!