About Polar Zero

The Business and Governmental Environment
Polar Technology is a unique company in this category.  Many of the competitors are large organizations that do refrigerants as a part of the overall scope of their business model.  They are not as finely tuned-in to the environmental aspects of the business because their “machines” are bigger and their focus is diverted to covering massive capital costs.
Not only are they not as environmentally focused; they are not as singularly focused on the refrigerants side of their business.  In most cases, refrigerants are a by-product of their core business of chemical manufacturing, etc.

At the retail level, the business is distributor-driven.  Independent contractors do business with local distributors that carry the HVAC parts and supplies they need to work with their respective customers.  Most individuals are on a first-name basis…or, are at least easily recognizable when they enter the building.  Transactions are usually quick and the distributorships are usually rather cluttered.

This is not a market that tends to worry about the environment.  They live hand-to-mouth and a good day is one when the cash in their pockets is more at the end of the day than at the beginning of the day.

Additionally, environmental stewardship is becoming a “buzz” in legislative circles.  There are numerous pieces of legislation that specifically target this industry and set increasing minimum standards for environmental compliance.  While the industry is the “poster child” for issues of compliance (or non-compliance), in fact, it is one of the smaller contributors of environmental endangerment.

Ideally, the program will raise the profile of the industry with the EPA and government in general.  If the industry can become engaged in this process, perhaps it will lead others within the industry and throughout all industry to increase their stewardship.

The Audience & Desired Outcomes
Primary Customers of Polar Technology: The distributors and/or wholesalers that have contracts with Polar Technology who have branch offices.  This audience already understands the business-side of the Polar relationship. 
We want this audience to adopt the stewardship program and push it through their network to encourage more participation at the branch level.  (More branch activity = more mixed gas to recover + more recycle cylinders in the market + more savings pushed down through the network + greater environmental impact.)
The Industry: This is a “pull” program to raise the awareness level of the industry of these issues in hopes that the entire industry will become leaders in environmental stewardship.
By increasing awareness throughout the industry, it is hoped that Polar’s customer base will increase as will the penetration of environmental stewardship. (More customers = more activity = more mixed gas to recover + more recycle cylinders in the market + more savings pushed down + greater environmental impact.)
Government: Use the program to showcase what the industry is doing to manage environmental stewardship in hopes that over-regulation and over-legislation will not become an issue and, hopefully prove that the industry can police itself.  (The desired outcome is reduced frivolous legislation and over-regulation.)
Environmental Protection Agency:  Use the program to work to continue to the relationship with the EPA in furthering the monitoring programs within the industry. (Compliance & Cooperation)