After 65 years in the industry, international family-owned supplements manufacturer Factors Group Australia, a Certified B Corporation®, that is, a business that meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, has doubled down on its commitment to sustainability by switching to solar.
From its Australian headquarters in Rydalmere, Western Sydney, Canadian-based Factors Group specialises in the research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of high-quality nutritional supplements. With a mission to provide holistic health solutions made from traceable raw materials, the business achieved B Corp Certification™ in 2019.
Remedying Rising Costs
Like many Australian businesses, Factors Group felt the pressure of rising electricity costs and needed a way to future-proof the business. Even after receiving industry recognition for its ‘seed-to-shelf' approach as the 2021 Manufacturer of the Year by Complementary Medicines Australia, Director Tyson March felt there was still more to be done.
“A changing wellness landscape in Australia has led to a push for greater transparency around business supply chains, operations, and raw materials,” Tyson explained.
Guided by an ethos of ethical manufacturing, Factors Group’s goal was to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions at all of its locations.
“Even though at Factors Group Australia we’re certified carbon neutral, there’s always more to be done on the path to a greener industry, so we wanted to take the next step. When looking for renewable energy solutions, Solahart emerged as the clear choice.”
Powering Sustainable Wellness
After an initial consultation, Solahart Sydney got to work to find the best solar solution to help Factors Group. With aged electrical infrastructure, it was important to develop a cost-effective way of connecting the switchboard without a complete upgrade.
With this challenge in mind, the Solahart team installed a 99.75kW PV system including 210 x Solahart SunCell® Plus 475W solar panels, a 15kW three-phase GoodWe Inverter, and a 100kW SolarEdge three-phase Inverter. A SolarEdge Energy Management Unit would also allow Factors Group to maximise savings by revealing the times that generated the most energy.
Rory Chenoweth, Commercial Manager at Solahart Sydney, said: “The SolarEdge Energy Management Unit is a helpful tool for businesses wanting to monitor their energy consumption. Factors Group will have full visibility of each panel’s performance, which will help them track the savings they’re making in real time.”
A Holistic Success
Following the installation, Factors Group is already seeing the benefits of solar technology.
“We’re thrilled with our new Solahart system. The ability to monitor our power usage will be a game-changer as we continue to lead the way in sustainability for the Australian complementary medicine industry,” Tyson said.
“Thanks to Solahart Sydney, we estimate that we’ll be able to offset our annual carbon footprint by 28 per cent, which equates to about 124.4 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“We also expect to save approximately $33,400 per year, meaning we’ll make a return on our investment in just over two and a half years. And the integration with our existing infrastructure, which reduces waste, is the cherry on top,” Tyson concluded.
