Addison company rewards employees for Earth Day

Every day is about being green at Addison-based Earth Friendly Products, so the company on Thursday found a different way to celebrate the 40th annual Earth Day.

Employees throughout the firm, including 55 at its Addison headquarters, were surprised with an extra week's pay for helping manufacture green household cleaning products year-round.

Jeaneatte Udischas, an administrative assistant with the company for nine years, said the perk was a surprise because such bonuses usually are reserved for traditional holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

"They always find ways to make us feel like we're well appreciated," Udischas said. "We all pitch in with environmental efforts here and at home, since many of us have been here for a long time."

Earth Day was particularly special for Earth Friendly Products, said Vice President Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, because the company recently moved its DuPage County site from Wood Dale to Addison - growing from 28,000 square feet to 105,000 square feet and creating a plant that is eco-friendly from roof to floor.

"Consumer demand has grown for green products ... and we're fortunate enough to be doing so well in this economy," Vlahakis-Hanks said "But it's the larger family that makes this a successful business."

Although the company's Addison site already is operational, its grand opening is June 7. On that day, it officially will become the largest commercial solar-powered facility in Illinois, with 312 solar-powered panels adorning the roof.

Company officials said the Addison headquarters follows in the tradition of its sites throughout the country, including locations in California and New Jersey, but takes measures even further.

Earth Friendly Products uses recycled materials from bottles and shipping materials products are shipped in, and all employees recycle on the job.

Udischas jokes that the habit is unbreakable.

"My kids used to educate me about recycling, now I'm the one reminding them," she said.

In addition to its solar roof, the Addison site also includes bamboo flooring and recycled doors.

Vlahakis-Hanks said the initiatives are getting Earth Friendly Products close to one of its main goals for the Addison location.

"We aim to have 0 percent waste," she said, "and we're already 95 percent (waste-free)."