Overcoming negative perceptions has proved a major hurdle for Mullaloo-based Utopian Resources, distributor of the EcoSuper X range of environmentally friendly cleaner/degreasers.
Overcoming negative perceptions has proved a major hurdle for Mullaloo-based Utopian Resources, distributor of the EcoSuper X range of environmentally friendly cleaner/degreasers.
Utopian Resources co-founder, Julian Burns, said there was a significant level of doubt among the public about the efficiency of green cleaning products.
Founded six years ago by Mr Burns and business partner Colin Baker, Utopian Resources’ first hurdle was a general frame of mind.
“Six years ago our biggest challenge was to change people’s mindset; a lot of people weren’t really that concerned about it [environment issues]...and there was a general consensus that green cleaners did not work,” Mr Burns told WA Business News.
But he said regulations introduced in the mining industry regarding the type of products used in wash-down operations, as well as the public’s growing awareness of green issues in the past couple of years have enhanced Utopian Resources’ product presence in a competitive market.
Manufactured and developed by east coast-based company, Charmnote, the EcoSuper X product range was developed for marine oil spills and cleaning up hazardous waste, but Mr Burns said the products could be adapted to many different industries, including mining and hospitality.
“The mining industry is a huge market for us,” he said.
“They [the mining companies] have watchdogs constantly looking at them, especially for the wash-down operations, as a lot of the sites are located in environmentally sensitive areas.”
According to Mr Burns, the product is also very successful in the marine industry as it can be safely discharged into the water.
Utopian Resources counts Barminco Mining Contractors, Barrick Gold and Mermaid Marine among the users of the ecological degreaser.
Mr Burns said that, although the company had been focusing on the commercial market until now, it was ready to change strategy and tackle the domestic sector.
The first step would be though an online presence and the opportunity to do online sales of the products.
“We are currently discussing with several e-tailers to showcase and sell our product online on general web sites for ecologically sound products,” Mr Burns told WA Business News.
To support the new focus of the company, Mr Burns is about to appoint an additional employee, who will be dedicated to provide a structure to the online presence and the demand that it will generate.
Mr Burns said the colloid formulation used in the EcoSuper X range resulted in super concentrates that, when combined with water in various dilutions would: emulsify fats, grease, lipids, oils, proteins and sugars; attack and cleave long chain hydrocarbon molecules; encapsulate odours; and rapidly biodegrade waste into a food source for the naturally beneficial bacteria within the environment.
Having recently employed Ben McAvoy as sales manager, the company moved into its Mullaloo premises last year and currently runs a warehouse in Wangara as well as a depot in Karratha.
