Scholars Venture Inside Meliora Headquarters

On Friday, February 23rd, Baumhart Scholars Class of 2024 took a field trip to Meliora Cleaning Products, a certified B-Corporation, women-owned social enterprise in the West Side of Chicago. Delving into the heart of corporate transparency and sustainability, the journey provided an up-close look at the company's commitment to ethical practices and environmental consciousness. 

Unveiling Corporate Responsibility 

Meliora Cleaning Products, renowned for its dedication to disclosing every ingredient in its formulations, opened its doors to the Baumhart Scholars, allowing them to witness firsthand the company's commitment to corporate responsibility. Kate Jakubas, Quinlan Baumhart Professor, founder and COO, shared her inspiration behind the brand's inception: 

"It all started when I was studying for a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering. I wanted to ensure the safety of household cleaning products for both my family and the environment. The lack of ingredient transparency motivated me to create a company rooted in simplicity and honesty." 

Baumhart Scholar, Dalia Almanza (third from left), expressed her awe at the experience and its impact on their understanding of sustainable business practices:  

"My visit to Meliora shifted my perspective on how companies, regardless of size, can achieve success and make a meaningful impact. Observing their clean products and efficient operations firsthand made me truly grateful for the opportunity to visit. Meliora excels in balancing efficient business operations with cleanliness while focusing on waste reduction. This commitment extends beyond their products, fostering sustainable practices throughout their entire operation. Most importantly, this visit provided a tangible example of how the operational concepts we explored in class can be applied to create efficient, sustainable systems that drive positive change." 

The scholars explored Meliora's own factory located on the West Side of Chicago, where the entire production process is meticulously handled. The visit underscored the company's efforts to minimize environmental impact and eliminate unnecessary waste at every stage. “What we’re focused on now," Jakubas says, "is demonstrating that products can be made with low-impact ingredients as well as packaging, and sharing those best practices with other companies as well as legislators as they look to make changes to how products are manufactured, sold, and regulated.”

The Baumhart Scholars' trip to Meliora Cleaning Products' headquarters stands as a testament to the cohort’s unwavering dedication to ethical business practices. As the Class of 2024 gains invaluable insights into corporate responsibility, Meliora's journey serves as a beacon for businesses striving to make a positive impact on both society and the environment.