Incoming! Biotech Company Donates Lab Supplies

It was all part of a bigger picture – the indoctrination of the “5S” Japanese solution for organizing and maintaining efficient workflow.  When translated to English, it means to sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain. 

Nitto Denko Corporation, a Japanese company with a location in Oceanside, implemented 5S companywide, and as a result, donated 10 palettes of lab supplies and several scientific instruments to Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE) for repurposing. 

Having surplus to donate does not translate to being wasteful; it does build awareness of more effective use of assets and streamlines the ordering process. 

“We discovered we had some lab equipment that was literally collecting dust,” said Environmental, Health and Safety Manager, Jim Hinely, who was the lead on executing the 5S program.  People have a tendency to hold onto things with the just-in-case-I-need-it mentality. 

Hinely implemented 5S over several months with the support of facilities manager, Adrian Reth. After an internal disposition process, items were tagged for donation.  Local schools and start-ups have been targeted to receive the items.

 “The 5S program is an excellent example of corporate stewardship of sustainability and environmental excellence,” said SSE executive director Sue Prelozni.

Nitto Denko arranged to deliver the items to the warehouse; SSE engaged their friends at the US Army to help unload the ‘incoming’ deluge.  “This was the third time the volunteers from the Oceanside recruiting center helped us,” said Prelozni.  In a matter of hours, the items were delivered and sorted in the warehouse.

The lab supplies will be dispersed at the next BYOB – Bring Your Own Box event – January 21. Science teachers, professors and researchers have been invited to bring empty boxes and fill them with supplies.  To learn more about the event, contact SSE at info@sustainablesurplus.org