Entrepreneur Ecologic Brands opens Manteca, CA manufacturing operation

Jan Klevan, San Joaquin Partnership

7-18-13

    It was ironic that the makers of America's first molded paper bottle would move into a former heavy-use plastics plant, but the bright smiles on the faces of Ecologic Brands' CEO and employees proved it was the perfect ending to a journey that started with a "seed of inspiration".

  Founder and CEO Julie Corbett (right) celebrated the grand opening of EcolCEO Corbett at lecternogic Brands' new facility today by relating the history of the 58,800 square foot building in Manteca Industrial Park.  

   She said the building had housed a plastic auto parts manufacturer - a supplier to the New United Motors Manufacturing (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, CA. When NUMMI shut down three years ago, so did the manufacturer, laying off 200 employees.   Ecologic sign

  "We have moved into a building and replaced plastics," said Corbett. "We are generating 59 percent less solid waste and that's what Ecologic means for this region and the environment."

   Ecologic Brands is based in Oakland, Corbett's 2008 brainchild after her realization of the amount of plastic jugs and cartons her family discarded on a regular basis.

   The company recycles old cardboard and newspapers into a molded paper bottle integrated with a thin inner pouch, made with 70% less plastic than traditional plastic bottles. Both the bottle and pouch are recyclable. Ecologic product uses

    Ecologic has hired 30 new employees and will be producing 60 million bottles a year in Manteca. The bottles are used around the world and employees today were readying a shipment for Australia. Customers include Body Logic, Mountain Green, Full Circle and Safeway's private label "Bright Green". In true partnership, Ecologic has just contracted with Safeway to supply them with used cardboard.  

   This morning at the event that included many of the employees' families, Corbett credited her family, talented stCorbett with freinds & familyaff, strategic partners and investors, as well as customers who "believe in being environmentally sensitive, putting faith in a product not yet proven and willing to put it on their shelves".

   COO Andrew Falcon (pictured below) said Manteca is a good location strategically; it's close to the Oakland Corporate offices and has fantastic transportation infrastructure including freight lines and the the Port of Stockton.

   "This facility allows us to reduce costs and establish an effective supply chain," said Falcon.

   Both Corbett and Falcon thanked the City of Manteca's Economic Development and Community Development Departments. The San Joaquin Partnership assisted in site location, incentive analysis and permit assistance. Tyson Vallenari, a broker with CBRE represented Ecologic Brands and Jim Martin, a broker with Lee & Associates represented the building owner.