Corrugated boxes are a lightweight, efficient and eco-friendly way to move products. However, a lot can go wrong when you’re moving large amounts of cargo in corrugated boxes. Items can shift, boxes can fall apart, and people can be injured. Corner protectors can help you avoid these issues. Here are a few reasons why you should be using corner protection when moving cargo.  

Protect the Cargo

While corrugated boxes can hold a lot of weight, they can also sustain damage from a lot of different sources. By using corner protectors when moving corrugated boxes, you can keep the boxes from bending or shifting, which will do the same for the items inside. This makes transporting large amounts of items easier and more efficient. 

Keep the Packaging Intact

When corrugated boxes bump into each other, they can bend and even tear. Corner protectors prevent some of this movement. They can also help you prevent damage from water, debris or pests finding their way into the boxes. Keeping your boxes intact while transporting them is essential for getting them to where they need to go. 

Reduce Co-Worker Injury

Keeping boxes together makes moving cargo safer, especially for co-workers who need to carry them from one place to another. Boxes that aren’t held together properly can collapse, causing the items to fall on a co-worker tasked with transporting them. Items can also fall or fly out through unseen holes, creating hazards for co-workers and anyone in their path. 

Move Items More Efficiently

One of the most important benefits of protecting the cargo you’re transporting is how much more efficient it makes your business. You can save the money you would have spent having to replace, inspect and repackage items. Additionally, you can improve customer satisfaction by delivering intact goods in a timely manner. It’s a win-win for your business! 

Using corner protection for your packaging protects your cargo and allows for safe, efficient transportation of goods. If you’re looking for packaging solutions for your business, give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

For most of the year, students, teachers, faculty and staff roam school hallways, creating a buzzing atmosphere and leaving plenty behind to clean. However, for nearly three months, there are far fewer people in the building. Some days, it might just be the janitorial staff. Here’s what your cleaning staff should do to keep the school clean during summer break.  

Double Check Trash Cans

It only takes one person throwing an apple core into an abandoned trash can to cause an ant or fly infestation that goes unseen. When your cleaning staff enters the school to do routine cleanings, make sure they check the trash cans to ensure nothing has been left behind. All trash needs to be appropriately disposed of to keep the school clean. 

Wash and Sanitize Furniture

Desks, tables, chairs and other school furniture go through a lot throughout the school year. Even the cleanest student can have a dirty desk after a year of leaning, writing, painting and coloring on the desk. Summer is the perfect time to give these items a thorough cleaning. 

Clean Building Fixtures

Throughout the school year, there’s a lot of cleaning to be done. Cleaning building fixtures like windows, door knobs and light switches can fall to the wayside when there are more immediate messes. Summer cleaning should include these often-neglected areas so they’ll be fresh and clean when the school year starts. 

Keep Cleaning the Floors

Cleaning floors should be easier over the summer break, but the task shouldn’t be ignored. Even a few people walking up and down the halls can track in dirt and other debris. The smallest bit of dirt, food or water can attract pests into the school, creating a host of issues. 

Continue Disinfecting Bathrooms

You probably won’t be cleaning bathrooms as frequently during the summer, but it’s still an important task. Make sure your cleaning staff continues to disinfect the bathrooms even when they’re not being used. During the summer, they can collect dust and mold, which helps bacteria spread. 

Keeping schools clean over the summer leads to a better environment for students, teachers and faculty when they return to campus. Need help finding the right equipment to keep your school clean over the summer? Give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

Running a business that does ecommerce involves many moving parts. Ecommerce requires online marketing, technical knowledge and customer service. On top of all of that, you need to figure out how to get your product to customers. This can be a headache, especially if you’re operating out of a space that barely fits your products. That’s where outsourcing fulfillment comes in handy. Here’s how allowing another company to handle fulfillment can help your business operate and grow. 

Saving on Overhead Costs

As your business grows, you will no longer be able to handle fulfillment with the staff you have. This could mean hiring more people to keep up with this important task. It can also mean outsourcing fulfillment to a company that charges you a flat rate to get your products to your customers. 

Completing Orders Faster

Fulfillment centers thrive on efficiency. They have processes in place to make fulfilling every order as quick and accurate as possible. Some companies even have multiple fulfillment centers, which means they may be shipping from locations closer to your customers. Customers benefit from a faster turnaround, which can lead to referrals and repeat business. 

Higher Storage Capacity

Your building only has so much space. Whether you’re operating out of an office, a storefront or your own home, your ecommerce business will more than likely outgrow that space. When this happens, it’s time to consider outsourcing fulfillment services. 

Expert Order Management

When you first set out to start an ecommerce business, it probably wasn’t because you had a knack for order management. With fulfillment centers, orders are what they do, day in and day out. The representatives at these businesses will be able to provide you with expert advice and insights, as well as professional service. 

Reduced Shipping Costs

Another cost associated with order fulfillment is shipping. When you’re shipping products on your own, shipping costs can really eat away at your profits or deter customers from ordering from your company. Fulfillment companies ship large amounts for multiple companies, which gives them an advantage in terms of shipping rates. Those savings are passed on to the companies that utilize their services and, ultimately, their customers. 

Working with a fulfillment company is a great choice for an ecommerce brand. Pollock Orora can connect you with one of these businesses if you need help finding the perfect one. Call us at 972-263-2126 or reach out online to learn more about Pollock Orora’s fulfillment and kitting services.

In today’s world, there’s no reason not to use touchless bathroom equipment in a commercial facility. With the COVID-19 pandemic still at the forefront of our minds, having an option that’s more sanitary and more budget-friendly is a clear win-win. Manual equipment may have less of an upfront cost, but touchless equipment is worth the investment. Here’s why touchless equipment is essential in commercial bathrooms. 

Improved Hygiene

Until you really think about it, you never quite realize how many things you touch throughout the day. Touchless equipment in the bathroom leads to improved hygiene everywhere in a commercial building. Avoiding shared surfaces means fewer touchpoints and opportunities for germs to spread from person to person, to doorknob, to keyboard, and so on.

Reduced Maintenance

For business owners, another major benefit of touchless commercial bathroom equipment is that it has fewer moving parts. The fewer parts a piece of equipment has, the less likely it is to break down. For touchless dispensers, since everything is automated, there’s almost zero room for human error causing a clog, break or malfunction. 

More Convenience

While the time each person saves by not having to manually flush a toilet or turn on a sink seems negligible, people notice the convenience. It’s generally a more pleasant experience using touchless equipment over manual equipment, especially in commercial bathrooms. For many businesses, like restaurants and cafes, the bathroom experience is an integral part of the customer journey. 

Increased Accessibility

Moving through life is more difficult for some, especially elderly people and those with disabilities. Automatic dispensers make their lives easier by not requiring them to reach, press, or otherwise manipulate equipment. Not only will they have a more sanitary bathroom experience; they’ll also have less of a struggle to get what they need. 

Better for Your Budget

Maintaining and restocking manual dispensers can be costly. With more room for human error, there’s a higher chance of having to replace paper or soap that wasn’t even used. There’s also more cleaning up of messes caused by manual dispensers, which means more work for the bathroom cleaning staff. Overall, touchless bathroom equipment is a solid long-term investment. 

Investing in touchless equipment for your commercial bathroom has clear benefits for you and anyone who uses your facilities. If you’re ready to go touchless, give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

The first week of May is Occupational Safety and Health Week, and there’s no better time to focus on the safety practices at your place of business. Workplace injury is one of the most common unnecessary expenses for businesses, in terms of both medical costs and downtime. Here are some ways you can make your business a little safer:

Offer Extensive Training

For co-workers to be safe at work, they need to know how to do their jobs safely. When dealing with equipment, crowds of people, or any other potential hazards, co-workers need to be fully informed of potential risks and how to avoid or handle them. This starts at the top with engaging and informative training procedures. Trainers need to know every aspect of workplace safety and pass that knowledge down to the new co-workers. Training should be prioritized, as the best way to keep co-workers safe is by keeping them informed. 

Post Safety Procedures

Another way to inform co-workers of safety procedures is posting them in highly visible areas. Safety procedures relating to a specific piece of equipment should be posted near the area where the equipment is used. While training can help employees operate equipment safely, it never hurts to have a reminder posted nearby. Seeing safety procedures posted around the workplace keeps safety top of mind for co-workers at every level. 

Provide Protective Gear

Some jobs require protective gear to be done safely. This gear needs to be available to co-workers whenever they perform a task that requires it. Much like any other equipment, employees need to know how to use protective gear for it to keep them safe. This can be covered in training and in hands-on instruction with co-workers. Depending on the complexity of the gear, having someone nearby to assist may be the best option to ensure a secure fit and optimal protection. 

Maintain All Equipment

Whether or not co-workers directly interact with the equipment in your facilities, all of the equipment needs to be properly maintained to keep co-workers safe. Faulty equipment can lead to electrical hazards, uncomfortable conditions and several other issues. Make sure that all equipment in the workplace is maintained according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, possibly more often depending on the age and how much it’s used. 

Assess Safety Practices

Are your current safety practices working? How long have those policies been in place? If you’re struggling with co-workers refusing to follow safety procedures, more thorough training may be necessary. If the current policies are being fully utilized, but they’re not keeping co-workers or guests safe, it may be time to update the policies. Policies can also be updated for unforeseen circumstances, like storms or disease outbreaks. 

At the end of the day, workplace safety is all about having the right processes in place and following them whenever possible. With a culture focused on safety, we offer the highest standard of safety products to keep your coworkers safe every day.  Contact Pollock Orora to place your order today. 

Whether your commercial bathroom is in a high-traffic restaurant, a school or an office building, keeping it clean needs to be on the daily to-do list. For most businesses, this involves cleaning the entire floor at least once a week. This is one of those jobs that only gets harder and less safe when it’s done halfway. Here are some of our tips for cleaning a commercial bathroom floor the right way. 

Use the Right Equipment for Your Business

Start by getting the best mop for your budget. If you’re pinching pennies but still want a top quality product, consider buying a refurbished model. Keep in mind that microfiber mops tend to work better than conventional cloth, absorbing more and using less cleaning product than the alternative. 

You also want to make sure to buy an easy-to-use cleaning trolley with ample storage space for all your cleaning supplies. The easier it is for your cleaning co-workers to do their jobs, the better they’ll do. 

Establish Clear Guidelines and Schedules

When you create a schedule for your cleaning co-workers, make sure floor care is part of the cleaning routine. Set up clear guidelines for what a clean floor should look like and how much time you expect each co-worker to spend on the task. 

Clean from Back to Front 

This is a basic rule of cleaning in general, but cleaning back to front has real benefits. It helps your co-worker avoid cross contamination, making the job easier and more efficient. Nothing will hold up a cleaning task like having to redo it. 

Remove the Dry Dirt First

Just like you would do at home, make sure your co-workers sweep before they mop. One of the best products to use is a microfiber dust mop, which will pick up a significant amount of dirt and leave less cleaning for the mop to do. Skipping this step can lead to mud streaks across the floor, which defeats the purpose of the exercise. 

Display Signage After Cleaning

As much as you may wish they would, co-workers can’t always avoid the bathroom after it’s been cleaned. Putting up signage after cleaning may deter co-workers from entering, therefore keeping the bathroom floor cleaner for longer. Or, if they really need to go, they will be safer if they enter and encounter a wet floor. 

When it comes to commercial cleaning, bathroom floors should be high on the priority list. If you need help creating a commercial cleaning plan or finding the best commercial cleaning products, give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

So, you want to do your part to make your businesses greener, but you’re not sure where to start. There seem to be so many buzzwords, acronyms and other terms to learn, and it can be hard to keep up. Pollock Orora offers green solutions to businesses, so we can help you learn about some of the most important “green” terminology. Here are ten terms you should know: 

Sustainability

Let’s start with the basics: what is sustainability? Sustainability, in this context, is the practice of consuming and producing responsibly to create a world in which humans and nature can coexist. On a business level, this can be done by cutting back on the amount of products needed to keep the business running. 

Carbon Footprint

One of the most common terms you’ll hear around sustainability is “carbon footprint.” Simply put, a carbon footprint is how much carbon dioxide an individual or organization releases into the atmosphere over the course of their lifetime. Some of the top contributors to carbon footprints are electricity, agriculture and transportation. 

Zero Waste

While zero waste may not be attainable for most people and businesses, it is a great goal to have in terms of sustainability. In essence, zero waste means creating absolutely no waste. The closer you are to zero waste, the more sustainable your business will be. 

Degradable

Degradable simply means that a product can decompose naturally with the help of bacteria or other living organisms. Biodegradable means that products can break down completely into substances found in nature. Photodegradable means that a product can be broken down using UV light.  

Source Reduction

Industrial products are often created in ways that harm the environment. Source reduction is strategically reducing the amount of materials, especially hazardous ones, used to create a product. 

Stewardship

You may have heard the term “stewardship” used in the context of religion, and the environmental definition is similar. It means responsibly managing and caring for the environment.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Chances are, if you own a business, you’re at least somewhat familiar with LEED. This is a green building certification system that uses third-party verification that a building or neighborhood meets certain criteria for sustainability. One of the main factors is its use of EPP (Environmentally Preferable Products).

SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) 

As a company that moves a lot of paper and packaging materials, Pollock Orora is no stranger to SFI. This certification system promotes long-term forest health and the responsible use and management of forests. We always buy SFI-certified products when possible. 

Now that you know some of the most common “green” terminology, you’re ready to bring your business into the modern age of sustainability. Need some help getting started with green solutions? Give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

For most facilities, vacuuming is all that’s needed on a day-to-day basis to maintain carpets. However, every once in a while, the carpet needs to be deep cleaned. Otherwise, the fibers will deteriorate, and the carpet will need to be replaced before it’s supposed to reach the end of its life. Here are the steps for cleaning the carpets in your facility:

Vacuum First

Yes, you need to have someone vacuuming in your facility every day. However, it’s especially important to vacuum as part of the deep cleaning process. Starting with carpet cleaner means missing the larger dirt particles a vacuum cleaner would pick up. To keep your carpet clean between deep cleanings, be sure to have high traffic areas vacuumed daily, medium traffic areas vacuumed twice a week and light-traffic areas vacuumed weekly. Use a commercial vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration to ensure the best clean. 

Apply Carpet Cleaner

Use a sprayer to apply an alkaline carpet cleaner to the carpet. Using alkaline cleaner is beneficial because it is the best at getting rid of dirt and debris, which are typically acidic and can take a toll on fabric surfaces like carpet. 

Allow the Cleaner to Dwell

Let the carpet cleaner sit on the carpet for the recommended dwell time, typically between 5-10 minutes, to give it time to do the work of cleaning the carpet.

Rinse the Carpet

Rinse the carpet using extraction rinse, an acidic product that thoroughly rinses carpet by neutralizing the dirt and soap combination. This product can be added to the tank of a carpet extractor. Use the extractor with the rinse, and make sure you extract as much of the dirt and soap as possible. Otherwise, the soap will continue attracting dirt.

Allow the Carpet to Dry

Just as important as ensuring you remove all the soap from the carpet is allowing the carpet to dry before replacing furniture or allowing people to walk across the carpet. Wet carpet will breed mold and bacteria, which will defeat the whole purpose of the sanitizing process.

Cleaning carpets efficiently starts with having the right equipment. Order top-quality new or refurbished cleaning equipment through Pollock Orora, and check out our line of Radiance cleaning products for floor care and more. Ready to make an order, or have questions for our team? Give us a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

When you work in food production, much of your job revolves around keeping food safe for consumption. This means using the best packaging items for you and your budget and using it properly. Here’s how Pollock Orora solves food production for businesses:

Initial Consultation

With every client, we start with a consultation. It’s important to know who you are and what your business is all about. During the consultation, we determine your company’s strengths and weaknesses. Our experts provide a thorough analysis that will give you a solid idea of where you are and where you can go from here. From there, we help you create the perfect system for your business needs. 

Designing a New Process

The next step is planning. Our team will work with you to design a new process that will maximize your facility, get your co-workers on board, and ensure maximum output of food product. By following the processes we help create, you can keep your business running smoothly while keeping your food supplies safe. 

Implementing the Best Technology

Through our strategic suppliers, we provide the latest equipment, automation technology and software systems for food production businesses. You will be able to track your supply levels, ordering and budget to be confident you always have the supplies you need. With the help of the latest in food processing technology, your business will run more efficiently, giving you more time to focus on growing your business and building strong client relationships. 

Installation and Training

Having all this new technology is great, but it’s not worth much if you don’t know how to install or use it. Our team will install the new systems we bring to your company and prepare your team to use them. This includes implementation of automation software, which can make your business run far more efficiently. 

Maintenance

Our service department will work with you to create a maintenance schedule for each piece of equipment we help you implement. Keeping your equipment maintained is important for keeping your business up and running with minimal downtime. 

We’ll focus on getting your food production business in tip-top shape so you can focus on building and nurturing your client base. If you’re ready to get your food production SOLVED, give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

The bigger your business, the more inventory you need to manage. Keeping track of inventory on its own can be a full-time job. Recent updates in technology have taken this manual task and automated it with features like automatic inventory reordering. Even if your inventory team has decades of experience, there’s always room for human error. Here’s why we recommend automatic reordering for inventory management:

Improves Efficiency by Eliminating Manual Ordering Process

Manually ordering items may not seem like it takes a lot of time, especially when the co-worker in charge of it has mastered the skill. However, automatic reordering makes the process more efficient by removing the need for manual ordering. The inventory management team will be able to focus on other parts of the job with the time they would have otherwise spent on this repetitive task. 

Keeps Businesses Fully Stocked without Overstocking

When there’s a co-worker in charge of ordering products, it’s typically easier to stay overstocked than have the exact amount of product needed on hand at any given time. There’s always a chance of under stocking, especially during busier times. An automatic reordering system doesn’t have to ask anyone if it’s time to reorder. As inventory runs low, the system will automatically put in the new order so there’s always just enough product in stock. 

Saves Money by Reducing Risk of Rush Fees 

Rush delivery fees may not seem like much, especially if you’re used to paying them. However, there’s no need to pay rush fees when it comes to reordering products. An automatic reordering system won’t forget to put in an order or miss a deadline. It will put in the order at the right time, often finding discounts that you may not have found on your own. 

Simplifies Inventory Tracking and Management

Used properly, an automatic reordering system will simplify the inventory tracking process. With products being ordered automatically as they run low, there’s little risk of losing track of which products have been ordered and which ones haven’t. It’s also easier to manage inventory when the step of manually ordering has been removed from the process. 

Gives Businesses More Time to Focus on Customers

The ultimate goal of automating reordering systems is to free up time for businesses to focus on what’s important. For most businesses, that’s the client or the customer. Co-workers can spend the time that would have been spent reordering the same product that’s ordered every month creating great customer experiences. This benefits the customer and co-worker alike. 

Inventory management doesn’t need to be a fully manual process. With automatic reordering, take some of the work off of your inventory team. Ready to get started? Give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.

Managing a facility is a job that impacts a ton of people. From clients and customers to co-workers, all kinds of people use your facility every day. Keeping a clean appearance isn’t enough to make your facility healthy. You need to focus on making your building one that people can use day in and day out without worrying about getting sick. With World Health Day coming up, we have some tips for creating a healthier environment in your commercial building: 

Implement a Green Cleaning Program

Traditional industrial cleaners expertly eliminate bacteria, but they can also pose risks to the co-workers using them and anyone else who enters the facility at cleaning time. Consider adopting a green cleaning solution, using products that are safer for the environment and for the people who enter your facility every day. 

Use Professional Pest Control Services

For a business, professional pest control should be a no-brainer. However, you may want to cut corners if you only see bugs in the building every so often. Unfortunately, DIY solutions tend to spread nasty chemicals and be ineffective, which can cause the infestation to grow and spread. Preventative pest control is the best thing you can do for your business.

Maintain HVAC Systems

Most of the air quality issues that buildings face are due to HVAC systems aging and not being properly maintained. Make sure all of the HVAC systems within your building are maintained on schedule to keep the facility healthy. This includes changing out air filters, cleaning vents and keeping up with professional maintenance. 

Keep Up with Insulation and Ventilation

There’s real value in keeping the building a consistent temperature, from the comfort of building dwellers to saving money on power. Locking the thermostats may not be a popular option, but there are other ways to keep the temperature consistent and comfortable. Make sure the insulation is in working condition and that the vents in each room are unblocked and open for maximum ventilation and airflow. 

Use Plants to Assist with Air Quality

Plants may feel like just another element of a building to maintain, but keeping living plants within the building can actively improve the air quality. The peace lily, for example, purifies the air around it by removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia and more from the air. As long as the plants are maintained, they can make it easier to breathe indoors. 

When you keep your facility healthy, it benefits co-workers, customers and clients while helping you stay compliant with building standards. It’s also a great way to celebrate World Health Day. Want more tips on healthy facilities management? Give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online. 

Receiving a certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) means that the design, construction, and operation of a building meets or exceeds certain sustainability criteria. This is becoming the new standard for construction projects and operating businesses as people become more aware of the threats we face due to climate change. These certifications bring us one step closer to a climate neutral world. 

Top 5 LEED Certified States in 2022

Last year was a great year for LEED certified buildings and communities. Last year alone, the top 10 states and the District of Columbia certified 1,225 LEED-certified projects and more than 353 million square feet under LEED. Here’s how the top 5 states fared:

1. Massachusetts led the way with 3.76 certified gross square footage per capita and 96 green building projects.
2. Illinois was not far behind, with 3.48 certified gross square footage per capita and 91 green building projects.
3. New York continued to be a leader in green initiatives, with 3.17 certified gross square footage per capita and 142 green building projects.
4. California had 2.44 certified gross square footage per capita and 78 green building projects.
5. Maryland rounded out the top 5 with 2.39 certified gross square footage per capita and 80 green building projects.

How Other States Compared

Seeing these initiatives nationwide shows that construction is moving in a positive direction toward a more sustainable future. The other states in the top 10 in LEED certification in 2023 were Georgia, Colorado, Virginia, Texas and Oregon. We look forward to seeing these states continue to compete for some of the top spots in the country in terms of sustainability. 

Green Cleaning with Pollock Orora

Pollock Orora collaborates with businesses nationwide to help them meet LEED requirements through green cleaning training and by offering products that help businesses earn LEED O+M credits. Our LEED experts guide businesses through this process to help make them more sustainable. We’re here to make SOLVED happen for businesses that need help getting it done. 

If you’re looking to make your business more eco-friendly with a green cleaning program, give Pollock Orora a call at 972-263-2126 or reach out online.