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Striving for Sustainability

Environmental responsibility is just one part of Chase’s quality improvement process. Formulas, propellants, packaging and procedures are constantly being refined. In addition to the customary, ongoing efforts to protect the environment, like turning off unnecessary lights and maintaining equipment for efficient performance, Chase has taken the following steps:

Most of Chase’s own products are now in DSC cans. These two-piece containers require less energy to produce than standard three-piece cans, and are made with a minimum of 25% recycled steel. Many of these now have E-twist caps, which use less than 25% of the plastic in a typical double-shell overcap. Packing/shipping cartons are made from at least 25% recycled paper.

We bail our plastic strapping, plastic stretch film, cardboard and office paper for recycling. We handle nonconforming aerosols by recycling their metal containers, sending the concentrate for fuels blending, and using the propellant for fuel in the thermal oxidizer.

As we replace equipment, we have added computerized boiler controls to reduce gas usage by 30 percent, and installed air compressors with variable-frequency drives to reduce energy usage by 35 percent. We are replacing older motors with high-efficiency models, magnetic ballasts in light fixtures with electronic ballasts, 85-gauge engineered stretch film with 52 gauge with equal or greater load force, and original black roofing material with white material.

Chase continues to investigate the use of solar energy to heat our water baths and shelf life ovens, the conversion to low-water sanitary fixtures, and other opportunities utilizing wind power, photovoltaic power, and solar heat.