Chicago: Gotham Greens' 4th rooftop greenhouse is a fact
Method Products is a manufacturer of planet-friendly household, fabric, and personal care products. “This is a huge day for us and for sustainable manufacturing. The South Side Soapbox—a transformative facility in a neighborhood with exceptional history—is bringing a new standard of manufacturing to the world,” said Drew Fraser, global CEO of Method. “Business can and should be a powerful force for good, and our factory represents the intersection of sustainability, innovation, flexibility and partnership.”
Gotham Greens partnered with Method to create the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse farm at the Soapbox. Designed, built and operated by Gotham Greens, the 75,000 square foot, state-of-the-art greenhouse facility will produce more than one million pounds of fresh, sustainably grown, pesticide-free produce annually for the local Chicago retail and restaurant market.
“Our unique partnership with Method aligns perfectly with our goals of providing urban residents with a reliable, year-round supply of premium-quality, local produce grown under the highest standards of food safety and environmental sustainability while providing innovative economic development opportunities in urban communities,” said Viraj Puri, Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO.
The Soapbox exemplifies Method’s commitment have a positive impact on the communities it operates in. The facility will provide nearly 100 green manufacturing jobs for community members by the end of 2015 and has no fence around its 22-acre factory site, providing public access to green space. Three and a half acres of the 22 acre factory site has been developed while the remaining land is being restored as a natural habitat for wildlife. Method is also investing in farm management practices that will recharge water supplies in equal or greater amounts to the quantity of water used in the factory.
Method will also leverage the Soapbox as a learning opportunity for the community and plans to conduct public tours to educate on renewable energy, hydroponic farming and green manufacturing.