BI Nutraceuticals, a global full-service manufacturer and supplier of plant-based ingredients, has reached a water savings milestone for its botanical milling facility in Reno, NV. The company reported conservation of 10 million gallons of water a year since the opening of its 150,000 square foot facility in 2015.

Upon strategizing a move for its botanical milling, BI recognized the scarcity of water in its chosen desert location. Water plays a significant role in the manufacturing of botanicals. As a result, the operations team became deeply entrenched in the development of an innovative water conservation system. “Establishing our new facility presented unique challenges for our team,” said Justin Scarberry, BI’s general manager. “With water access and usage rights being restricted, we had to re-engineer many of our production processes. Because of the new processes, we’ve been able to save over 10 million gallons of water per year; enough to supply 384 homes annually in the rapidly expanding Reno/Sparks Metropolitan area.”

In searching for an innovative approach for water conservation, BI’s turned their attention to the sterilization process.

BI’s Protexx HP Green Steam system utilizes a steam process to quickly kill the microorganisms in ingredients requiring very little water. After applying steam, the ingredient must be cooled to maintain its integrity. As an additional measure to conserve water, BI implemented a protocol, which quickly cools down the ingredient after the heat application. Instead of releasing the water after use, it’s recycled. The heating and cooling processes combined have made a remarkable difference in the method and quality of water usage for BI.

BI’s commitment to the conservation of the environment extends beyond water to address other operational systems, from sowing seed, sustainable cultivation processes, wildcrafting, and harvesting to production. 

Conservation has been a top priority for BI’s business. Among its other quality measures, BI said its stewardship of natural resources is what sets it apart from the industry.