Sustainability has become a buzzword, but at Geotech, it has always been a responsibility. It's a core part of our company and has been since our founder Jerry Popiel developed the Geopump Peristaltic Pump with the USGS to comply with the EPA Clean Water Act of 1972. Today, we continue to build on that legacy by refining our processes, reducing waste, and finding new ways to minimize our environmental impact.
To explore what sustainability means in practice, we sat down with our Safety Coordinator, Continual Improvement Lead, and Engineer, Garrett Reilly, to discuss how Geotech is working toward greater environmental responsibility.
As Garrett puts it, “We make products that help monitor and clean up the Earth, so we should be responsible to help keep the Earth in a good condition and help contribute to sustainable practices.” This begins with conducting a thorough assessment of our environmental impacts, both within our facility and beyond. “We are in a unique position where we develop [and manufacture] products that support the environment, which gives us even more control over our processes, and allows our efforts to reach farther than the walls of our facility.”
One of our key strategies is applying Lean principles to eliminate waste and maximize value. “Coincidentally, elimination of physical waste or energy reduces the taxation of natural resources on our planet,” Garrett explains. This mindset extends beyond manufacturing into every aspect of our operations, from reducing water and electricity usage to optimizing packaging and shipping processes.
Environmental awareness begins at the individual level and extends throughout our company. We provide waste collection stations for a wide variety of materials in our offices and manufacturing facility, and we educate employees on the importance of quality and continual improvement. This philosophy isn’t just about work, it’s also about mental well-being and the idea to “Strive for Better, Not for Perfect.”
We also take sustainability beyond our own walls by encouraging our suppliers to obtain more sustainable materials and working internally to reduce waste output with a diversion of necessary resources to recycling and reuse. Our trade-in program helps recycle end-of-life products, while our Paperless Invoicing option allows clients to reduce unnecessary paper use. Additionally, we offer Used Equipment Specials and PFAS-free equipment to help minimize environmental impact.
In a world like ours, everything counts. What can you do? As Garrett says, “Approach changes with the spirit of continual improvement. Not everything will change immediately, but each little change adds up.”
Want to learn more about how you can participate in these initiatives? Reach out to a team member today!