San Rafael, CA 94901, US
Consumer Products
www.pulpworksinc.com
PulpWorks, Inc. (PulpWorks) was founded in response to a plastic pollution crisis. The company designs and manufactures environmentally friendly packaging for the consumer packaged goods industry. PulpWorks’ packaging is comprised of 100% recycled pulp and paper. The packaging contains no plastics or adhesives of any kind and can be discarded in curbside compost or recycling bins.
The company filed a patent for a package design that will enable its customers (Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Revlon) to replace their plastic (PVC) blister packaging with PulpWorks’ planet friendly alternative, the “PW-Pack”.
PVC is a major presence in landfills in the USA and around the globe. Over 7 billion pounds per year are dumped with estimates that 70% of that is derived from discarded blister packaging. The oceans, too, have become dumping grounds for discarded plastic packaging with the north Pacific Ocean containing an island of floating plastic twice the size of Texas.
The PW-Pack has numerous advantages over the PVC blister pack beyond the environmental ones. There is no premium to the customer for “going green” from a cost standpoint as the PW-Pack is priced competitively with the traditional PVC blister pack.
It is safe and easier to open than the traditional blister pack. Hospital emergency rooms see more than 60,000 cases per year due to injuries incurred while opening blister packs.
The PW-Pack can be designed, branded and molded into different shapes and sizes, and, because it is not connected to petroleum price fluctuations, it provides long term price stability for the buyer.
Converting to the PW-Pack can be seamless, presenting no additional mechanical or logistical issues for the customer. Its nesting and stacking capabilities can reduce transportation costs.
The PW-Pack is an economical, feasible, and scalable alternative to the PVC blister pack.
PulpWorks’ flagship product, the patent-pending “PW-Pack”, is an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic (PVC) blister pack. The PW-Pack is comprised of two pieces of compostable, biodegradable and recyclable material – molded pulp and cardboard – that are connected without benefit of adhesives, tape, or staples to create a single package that highlights the salable article nestled securely in a cavity in the molded pulp component.
PulpWorks’ molded pulp boxes are environmentally friendly alternatives to folding cartons and/or corrugated containers. The flexibility of design for these packages provides numerous branding and marketing opportunities for the customer. Unlike traditional cartons and containers, the interiors, too, of pulp boxes can be designed and shaped to further highlight the contents. The footwear and software industries are primary markets for PulpWorks given their long-established use of virgin paperboard and their desire to establish a greener reputation.
Paul Tasner is a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in all facets of supply chain management. He has held leadership positions in procurement, manufacturing, and logistics in ventures ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. His career focus has been on supply chain sustainability, strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management. His company affiliations include: The Clorox Company, Clif Bars, California Closets, Method Products, and Hepagen Vaccines. In 2008, Mr. Tasner founded and continues to lead the San Francisco Bay Area Green Supply Chain Forum – the first such assembly of supply chain executives anywhere. Mr. Tasner has authored many papers and presentations on supply chain sustainability and currently lectures on this timely topic in the MBA Program at San Francisco State University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boston University.
Elena Olivari’s background is in Green Architecture and design. She has practiced in the architectural profession for 20 years in the United States and internationally, including Hong Kong and Italy. She has completed projects of diverse complexity and scale and has overseen them from start to finish building a strong relationship with clients, consultants and general contractors. Notable examples of Ms. Olivari’s work include the following: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort (Phoenix, AZ), Four Season’s Hotel (San Francisco, CA), Royal Garden Resort (Hainan Island, China), California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco, CA), Darwin Hall Renovation, Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, CA), Mixed Use Development (Chongqing, China), RCTC Metrolink Parking Structure (Riverside, CA), Watson’s Food and Beverage Company (Guangzhou, China), and One Market Plaza Renovation (San Francisco, CA). Ms. Olivari has promoted a sustainable approach consistent with PulpWorks’ goals.
A veteran product designer and developer, Tricia Wright works with clients to distill their needs and guide them through the product development process, realizing the fullest potential of an idea.
Ms. Wright has been recognized for her innovative designs – from high tech to toys. While designing wearable technologies at Paul Allen’s research firm, she developed concepts that were awarded multiple patents. As a strategic thinker and designer at Wild Planet Toys, Ms. Wright used her creative vision to win numerous consumer and industry awards including Toy of the Year.
Knowing that nearly 80% of a product’s environmental footprint is determined during the design stage, Ms. Wright established Process 376, a salon for local designers to share green product ideas. She is passionate about using fewer resources, which increases profits and is good for the environment.