PriceSmart's US$3.7 million sustainable solutions plant in TT, represents a bold move by the company to include the manufacture and distribution of environmentally-friendly products throughout its existing distribution network.
This is how Brud Drachman, PriceSmart's executive vice-president (environmental responsibility, construction and facilities) sees the new plant at the Point Lisas Business Park in Couva.
During its launch on Tuesday, Drachman said, "PriceSmart has a commitment to doing better for our world. We have a commitment to our members. we have a commitment to our employees and to the community at large."
While traditionally being a business that distributes imported products through its operations in different parts of the world, through the establishment of this plant, PriceSmart is adding a different element to its operations.
"We have never done manufacturing before. This is the very first (plant)."
He described the US$3.7 million plant as "a manufacturing facility that utilises bio-resin, certifies OK Home Compostable, that we we convert through a process of extrusion and thermal forming into products that can be sold at PriceSmart and used in the packaging of food.
One of the main items to be sold out of the plant into PriceSmart and other users, Drachman continued, are meat trays.
"Traditionally those are made from styrofoam. Styrofoam as we all know is one of the biggest contaminants in the environment today."
Drachman said, "Our product is compostable. What I mean by that is, you put it in your yard and in 200 days or less it will compost to its original organic form."
The plant also used recycled PET.
This is a recycled plastic used in various applications from reusable carry bags to roof insulation.
Drachman said, "Ours is one generation. That is one cycle of recycling. That is used for the transparent products that we use like the top (covers) of cakes."
He showed a pair of cakes (one with a TT flag design on top, the other with a US flag on top) that were encased in recycled PET.
Products from the plant will be used in PriceSmart's five clubs in TT in the first instance.
"We're going to do it initially to service PriceSmart's own needs."
PriceSmart has 50 locations, four in TT and 46 overseas.
As an example, Drachman said products in the bakeries in TT's clubs will be placed in these environmentally friendly plastics as opposed to ordinary non biodegradable plastics.
"We are talking about exporting from Trinidad, all the products I talked about."
Once all of the processes at the plant and its products are perfected, Drachman said, "We are going to look for third parties and we are having a lot of interest already to produce for exports, things like meat trays."
He said it took ten months to get the 30,000 sq foot plant operational. Approximately 50 workers constructed the plant which currently employs 15 workers.
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