Ecover to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Chicago

Ecover has decided to plant its U.S. manufacturing roots in the Windy City.

The Belgium-based ecological cleaning brand recently announced that it will build a flagship manufacturing facility in the Pullman Park neighborhood on Chicago's south side. The new space, which will bring about 100 manufacturing jobs to Chicago, comes after a long effort to bring the company's first U.S manufacturing facility to Illinois.

Ecover develops and produces laundry and cleaning agents from plant-based materials. The company's Plantastic is a plastic made from sustainably sourced sugarcane. In conjunction with Closed Loop Recycling, Ecover is also supporting the Waste Free Oceans (WFO) initiative, which will collect plastic waste from UK seas and re-use it in packaging. The company has pledged that by the end of 2014 a "significant" amount of its products will contain a percentage of waste from the sea.

After the acquisition of San Francisco-based Method in 2012, Ecover said it became the largest producer of green cleaning products in the world. The company said launching its own production facility on North American soil is a logical next step.

Details are scarce for the moment, but a Method spokesperson told PlasticsToday that the company will produce its packaging and fill bottles in its plant. They will have more details to share in the fall.

"Building a world-class manufacturing plant is pivotal for us as a leader in innovative and sustainable products and the support from the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have been integral in our considerations," said Philip Malmberg, CEO of Ecover, in a news release. "Chicago's commitment to job growth and its business-friendly environment truly helped make this opportunity possible for Ecover and Method."

Ecover is known for its ecological factories. The company said it built the world's "first" ecological factory in Malle, Belgium, which features a green roof extending more than 6000 sq m. In 2007, the company opened its second ecological factory in Boulogne sur Mer, France.

Ecover will break ground for its Chicago facility in November of this year and hopes to be operational by the beginning of 2015. The company is going to seek LEED certification for the building.

 "The opportunity to build our first manufacturing plant in Chicago marks a milestone in Method's journey of aligning our interests as a business with the interests of society and the environment," said Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method. "The Pullman neighborhood of Chicago not only has a rich industrial heritage that serves as a fitting backdrop to an inspiring new model for urban renewal and sustainable manufacturing, there is a strong spirit and work ethic among this community. As a native of the Great Lakes region, I'm particularly grateful to be returning to the Midwest to help create manufacturing jobs and green-collar jobs in Chicago that will help build strong, prosperous communities."