Bulk Boxes, Totes, and Plastic Hoppers - Going Green!
Posted by Jim Kulbeth on Fri, Feb 05, 2010
"Going Green" can be an expensive undertaking, especially for a small business, and when this transition is not monetarily feasible you have to think outside the box to improve your environmental performance. We are currently employing activities that include waste minimization and recycling as well as modifying our products to be utilized in completely new markets.
In 2008, the price of oil skyrocketed and so did the price of plastic. As a result of this we were forced to rethink our business model. We've been buying back used bulk bins, refurbishing them and reselling back into the same markets from which they came to be used again. However, we found that a great deal of the used containers that we were buying were no longer suitable for the 
job for which they were designed, and could not cost effectively be repaired.
Typically in this situation these containers would be sent to the re-grinders to be reprocessed, or they would become plastic refuse.
What we have done to extend the life of these otherwise unusable containers, is to retrofit them with hoppers and sell them as cost effective and long-lasting grain and feed hoppers for horses and other livestock. We have also retrofitted them with slow feeder tops, and they're being used as hay feeders. Our new customers are happy that the "new" containers will withstand a significant amount of abuse from animals, and we've put the refurbished containers back into their original markert where they can be used another 5-10 years.
These are some of the new and ever-changing innovations from Universal Package Systems showing our dedication to the customer and environment.
Universal Package Systems: Custom Solutions for Packaging, Custom Solutions for the Environment.