Portco Celebrates 90 Years: From Humble Beginnings to Sustainable Futures
Just a few of the flexible package solutions created by Portco for its clients. Image Courtesy: Portco.com
A lot can happen in 90 years. It all started back in 1934, five years after Black Tuesday marked the onset of the Great Depression—a time when the American Dream was tested like never before. Amidst this economic turmoil, Howard M. Wall Sr., undaunted by the daunting challenges of the era, founded a ping pong ball table factory. This humble beginning laid the groundwork for what would evolve into today's Portco. From its inception, Wall built the company on a foundation of continual innovation, community and environmental stewardship, and a commitment to sustainability, both in internal practices and in new product offerings. In its journey to find its niche, Portco even ventured into making hula hoops for a while before discovering its true calling: flexible packaging.
Today, Portco is proudly a third-generation family-owned company, with Macy Wall and Kent Wall at the helm, continuing the legacy of innovation and sustainability established by their grandfather. Their leadership not only honors the family's heritage but also drives the company forward, embracing new challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable packaging solutions.
This journey from a modest manufacturer to a leader in innovative packaging solutions encapsulates the resilience and foresight of our founders. Throughout the decades, Portco has consistently embraced innovation and change, leading in the development of effective flexible packaging that keeps food safe and often exceeds industry standards. Our commitment to adapting and pushing the boundaries of packaging technology remains strong.
One of the early ping pong tables produced at the original Portco factory, circa 1934: Image Credit: Portco.com
Ringing in a New Era with Our Three Sustainability Pillars
As we celebrate the milestone of 90 years of innovation and community involvement, we remain deeply committed to our guiding principles of sustainability, which are organized around three core pillars:
Environment: Our external initiatives focus on reducing environmental impact, from treating thousands of gallons of wastewater to minimizing hazardous waste and ensuring all paper suppliers are FSC certified. These efforts are complemented by significant investments in pollution prevention technologies, like our Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, which cuts VOC emissions by 99%.
Operations: Internally, we've made substantial strides in recycling, waste reduction, and energy conservation. Our recent projects include moving towards higher efficiency lighting systems and recycling more intensively within our facilities. Additionally, we're transitioning to paperless systems in several departments, significantly reducing our paper usage.
Community: At the heart of Portco is our commitment to our people—both within the company and in our wider community promoting the purpose of Creating Opportunities to Thrive Together. We've been recognized as a top workplace, reflecting our focus on employee education, diversity, and career development. Our community outreach through volunteer work and environmental education underscores our belief in giving back.
These pillars not only guide our current operations but also frame our future initiatives, ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront of what we do. As we look ahead, Portco is dedicated to continuing this legacy of responsibility and innovation.
Sustainability at the Forefront
As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainability with EarthGuard at the forefront. Developed during the pandemic, EarthGuard brings a host of eco-friendly packaging options and is an initiative that embodies our commitment to the environment and sustainable practices. EarthGuard has quickly become a cornerstone of our forward business strategy.
Our new EarthGuard line offers PFAS-free packaging along with additional benefits. Image Credit: Portco.com
Here’s a snapshot of the innovative products offered by EarthGuard, each designed with sustainability at its core:
PCR Solutions: Post-consumer recycled materials designed to reduce waste and support recycling initiatives.
Recycle Ready: Packaging options that are easily recyclable, promoting closed-loop recycling processes.
Compostable: Products that break down naturally, leaving no harmful residues, aligning with zero-waste goals.
Bio-assimilated: Upcoming innovations focusing on materials that degrade naturally without harming the environment.
Visit EarthGuard Solutions to discover more about our efforts and how we are leading the packaging industry toward a more sustainable tomorrow.
Here’s to another 90 years of excellence, innovation, and commitment to the environment! As we look to the future, we will steadfastly uphold our three sustainability pillars—Environment, Operations, and Community. This framework will guide our continued pursuit of innovation and responsible practices, reinforcing our dedication to environmental stewardship and enhancing the well-being of our community, customers, and workplace.
We invite our community and stakeholders to join us in shaping a sustainable future, ensuring that the legacy of Howard M. Wall and the foundational values of Portco to Create Opportunity to Thrive Together continue.
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