An Italian manufacturer biodegradable films for packaging is joining a group of Japanese suppliers at an industrial park in Griffin that has carved out a niche among environmentally responsible manufacturers.
Ecopol is investing $38 million to establish its first North American facility in Spalding County, a move the company says will result in 130 new jobs.
Based in Pistoia, Italy, a city of 90,000 in what the company calls the “heart of Tuscany,” Ecopol makes water-soluble films known as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) that is used for packaging detergents, chemical treatments for water, cosmetics, agrochemicals and other products. Its hot-water soluble bags are used in hospitals for infection control.
The 10-year-old company started production at its new Italian factory in October 2020 and selected Georgia after an extensive analysis of prospective sites around the Southeast U.S.
The Lakes at Green Valley, the state’s first “eco-industrial” park, has proven popular among international firms, especially from Japan, Many have gravitated toward the 570-acre development’s eco-friendly construction requirements and relative preservation of the natural environment.
“We are very happy to welcome another international company to our park whose product and processes align with that vision,” said Chuck Copeland, chair of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority, in a statement.
Ecopol joins more than 90 other Italian firms in Georgia, many of which have joined the recently revamped Georgia chapter of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast. Gwinnett County has the largest concentration of Italian companies in the state, but the most recent opened in 2020 in Columbus.
Georgia’s exports to Italy grew by 18 percent to $557 million in 2021, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Ecopol will be hiring in positions in production, maintenance, management and administration, according to the company.
Read more: How Georgia’s First Eco-Industrial Park Became a Magnet for Japanese Investment
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