Zago Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Gail Friedberg serves as the Sustainability Leader for ZaGO Manufacturing. She is dedicated to increasing operation efficiency and reducing ZaGO's environmental footprint.

ZaGO is committed to reducing its waste stream through recycling. ZaGO currently recycles paper, plastic, and aluminum and sells scrap metal shavings. Oil that is used in the manufacturing process is collected from each machine and transferred to recycling drums in order to prevent seepage into the public water system.

ZaGO has begun to upgrade some of its light fixtures to energy efficient LED bulbs and is actively evaluating the remaining light fixtures for LED upgrades. From this we have saved an average of 50 kWh so far. kWh SAVED: 50

In 2014, ZaGO installed a 50 kilowatt Solar Array on the roof of their Newark Building. The Solar Array has significantly reduced ZaGO's power bills, through its utilization of net metering and SRECs credits. 000

Saved: $15,000

In 2014, ZaGO installed a 50 kilowatt Solar Array on the roof of their Newark Building. The Solar Array has significantly reduced ZaGO's power bills, through its utilization of net metering and SRECs credits. 000

ZaGO has a number of employees who carpool to work.

ZaGO utilizes low VOC paint for its interiors spaces.

In addition to its ZAGO Sustainability 360 program, which encourages the next generation of manufacturing talent and provides education opportunities for children and STEM students living in underserved communities, ZaGO participates in other community service initiatives. For the 2018 holiday season, the company hosted a Shop for a Cause event and gave each ZaGO team member $50 to purchase and donate clothing and other necessities to the Goodwill Rescue Mission, serving the homeless and poor in Newark. ZaGO also has participated in the American Cancer Society’s Santa Run in Brookdale Park Montclair, and in snack packing for the Center for Food Action (CFA) to ensure under privileged children in elementary schools would have food to eat over the weekends. Lastly, for the Hillside Food Bank, the company volunteered and packed boxes of food for donations to families in need.

In September 2019, ZAGO expanded its Sustainability 360 program with Cristo Rey Newark High School, offering internships to two high-potential students. The experience has been nothing but positive for ZAGO, the students and Cristo Rey. Also in September 2019, ZAGO hired its first employee through the Schools That Can Newark Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathways Program at West Side High School program and will be sending that student to NJIT for training through its Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics Training Programs offered in the NJIT Makerspace.