Storm Water Containment

Chattanooga, TN

In January 2007, the Wrigley, Chattanooga factory partnered with the City of Chattanooga (Hamilton County) storm water division and a local vendor to participate in a compost filtration program. The compost filtration is as effective as traditional erosion and sediment control BMP's and often is more effective. The filtration retains a high volume of storm water, sediment, and other pollutants, from entering and contaminating storm water surface waters. As a result of this program, other manufacturing companies have gotten involved and have achieved a reduction in the pollution entering the city's water sources.

Drought Response

Gainesville, GA

The Gainesville factory has recently deployed a water conservation plan in response to the North East Georgia drought. The plan is targeted at securing the supply of water and managing the demand. The factory has targeted a 10% reduction in consumptive use of raw water. To date the factory has completed several projects related to meeting the 10% reduction goal including replacement of all urinals with waterless technology, avoiding nearly 600,000 gallons annually, and replacing the cooling tower system with a water efficient technology, which will save nearly 1.8MM gallons annually. The final plan will save nearly 3.5MM gallons annually.

Water Conservation

Asquith, Australia

Wrigley's Asquith facility produces pellet gum and other pellet products, which require more water to manufacture than stick gum. To meet demand for pellet products and reduce water usage, this facility began participating in Sydney Water Corporation's "Every Drop Counts" program in 2004. The state-owned company provided Wrigley with an extensive water usage audit, which required the installation of meters and data-logging devices throughout the factory. In return, Wrigley committed to reducing water usage. Using insights gleaned from the audit, the facility installed automated filling stations for pellet coating pans, and implemented conservation practices in cooling tower operations and amenities. In the first year, the facility reduced its water usage 29 percent, while production increased 6.6 percent. Conservation efforts continue at Asquith: in 2007, water use was down an additional 16 percent compared to 2006 even though their production level remained relatively unchanged.

Waste Water Recycling

Taipei, Taiwan and Gainesville, GA

One result of our P2/E2 initiative is an innovative way to return non-potable water from our production process safely back into the environment. This water typically contains sugar and sweeteners from our production process, which cannot be released directly into the local municipal water reclamation district, but can be used as a key ingredient for local composting processors. This sugared water is being given to local farmers in Taipei, Taiwan and Gainesville, Georgia who use it as an excellent carbon source in their composting process. This results in a rich fertilizer, thereby completing a natural recycling process.