Even in these difficult and uncertain times I hear regularly about new manufacturing plants opening, existing ones expanding, and plants operating 24 hours a day. I love those conversations.
I had one of them recently while touring the EcoStar manufacturing facilities in upstate New York. The Staroba family opened their doors to show me how the “magic” happens — how they produce an injection-molded roofing tile that is environmentally friendly, extremely durable and aesthetically pleasing. Each tile is produced using a mixture of up to 80 percent recycled content. One of the most interesting ingredients in that mixture is post-industrial diaper scraps. Similar to the dough left over after holes are cut in doughnuts, excess material was left behind after diaper manufacturers cut out the leg holes that keep our little ones more comfortable. Now EcoStar uses that material to manufacture shingles, making sure that not only babies but their houses stay dry.