Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce: Innovation in Manufacturing and Engineering
Melaleuca Awarded for Innovation in Manufacturing and Engineering
Melaleuca was recently recognized for its outstanding innovation in manufacturing and engineering when it received the 2018 Business of Distinction Award from the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce.
Based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Melaleuca has been researching, developing and manufacturing better-for-your-health, safer-for-your-home consumable products for over 30 years and has established itself as a leader in innovation during that time. Today, Melaleuca is a $2 billion global enterprise that produces more than 500 health and wellness products from nutritional supplements and cosmetics to eco-friendly cleaners and personal care items.
In total, Melaleuca manufactures more than 127 million individual products each year. In order to make and ship that amount of product, the company has invested in nearly 900,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution space in the United States alone.
Melaleuca’s domestic operations play a significant role in the company’s worldwide operations, producing quality consumable goods to help meet the needs of millions of customers in 19 countries across the globe. Its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the U.S. provide jobs to roughly 850 skilled individuals.
Among Melaleuca’s manufacturing innovations is its commitment to environmental wellness. For more than three decades, the company’s proprietary cleaning products have been produced with natural, non-toxic biodegradable ingredients that don’t harm you or the environment. Melaleuca’s EcoSense cleaners, for example, use safe ingredients like citric acid, vinegar, and natural enzymes as opposed to chlorine bleach, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals.
Melaleuca is also the market leader in concentrated formulas, resulting in less plastic for packaging, less fuel for shipping, and less waste generated. Since it opened its doors in 1985, Melaleuca has saved 229 million pounds of plastic, 42 million gallons of gasoline, and 48 million pounds of greenhouse gas.
Another of Melaleuca’s innovations is its just-in-time manufacturing, an inventory strategy that reduces waste and increases efficiency. Because Melaleuca’s customers shop on a monthly basis, the company only manufactures products as needed month to month. By forecasting exactly what it needs to meet customer demands, Melaleuca ensures its customer get the freshest products possible, as opposed to inventory that spends months sitting on a shelf or tucked away in a warehouse.
The 2018 Business of Distinction Award is the latest of numerous honors Melaleuca has received over the decades for its innovative, energy-efficient and eco-friendly manufacturing and operational practices.