Becoming an entrepreneur was not part of Sandrine’s career plans, but it is precisely her atypical background and leadership that enabled her to set up EcoloPharm.

In 2000, while teaching and completing her master’s degree in political science at Université de Montréal, Sandrine is called upon to help her parents with the supervision of the operations of their company – Plastilec, which specializes in plastic injection.

After a year and a half, Sandrine is fully in charge of operations of the plant with 20 employees on three shifts. She realizes that she has become indispensable.

“In a family business, you think you’re giving a helping hand, but it’s the whole body that goes through the gears and you get stuck.”

She then quits teaching to focus on business. Four years later, the subsidiary Plastimed, which manufactures pharmaceutical vials as a subcontractor, is added. Sandrine then takes over the general management of both companies in 2008.

Gaining confidence

Meanwhile, Sandrine completes three certificates in business administration, operations management and materials processing, to ensure that she has the right skills to understand the chain of operations.

She quickly realizes that finance has a direct correlation with sustainable development. It serves to demonstrate that optimizing operations leads to financial gains.

“I often say that sustainable development is industrial optimization on another level.”

Sandrine has to surround herself with the right people to make informed choices. Very early on, she sets up an advisory committee to question the way things are done.

At the time, as a woman in the manufacturing industry, Sandrine believes that she does not have the credibility to represent EcoloPharm in front of clients.

I was better off staying in my factory and sending men to deal with market development.

She therefore brings in a male business partner in 2011 to ensure her company’s visibility in the market and sets up a share transfer plan two years later.

Just six months later, all of her competitors make the transition from a polystyrene to a polypropylene vial. Sandrine understands that this change is not technically difficult to accomplish, but no one had dared to cross that line before her.

Why change something that nobody questions?

Someone had to come in and disrupt the market. EcoloPharm did it.

Eco-industrialization also comes with a very high level of robotization. “We were forerunners in this field.” EcoloPharm stands out in terms of robotization, automation and data control. All possible handling is therefore reduced to a minimum.

The design of the products generally requires 35% less plastic material than the competition. Also, the material is selected from local sources of supply, thus reducing transportation costs.

Furthermore, the plastic material is moulded at lower temperatures, resulting in lower electricity consumption. And temporary packaging between each production step is eliminated from the process thanks to the reworked design and robotization.

Sandrine wants entrepreneurs to be aware of the importance of seeing the chain of operations as a whole. By changing just one production step, it is impossible to achieve sustainable development.

Entrepreneurs have not necessarily tied everything together.

The positive one

Christina is goal-oriented and maintains a positive mindset that enables her to complete projects and achieve success. Responsible for business relations with major accounts in Canada, she is able to develop strategies to improve customer approach and engagement.

“I feel that the voice of our clients is a clear echo of where the market is going.”

Christina has had an atypical career path before becoming a proud ambassador passionate about the mission of EcoloPharm. She first studied English literature before moving into medical aesthetics in a dermatology clinic. Over time, she began to manage the medical aesthetic side of the clinic. For seven years she ran her own clinic and moved abroad. On her return, she was recruited by EcoloPharm.

The devoted one

Involved, passionate and energetic. These are three words that describe Sebastien’s personality. In all areas of his life, this mechanical engineer gives 100% when something is close to his heart.

“I find it important to complete the various projects we embark on, however challenging or crazy they may seem.”

Sébastien prides himself on always staying on top of new technologies to ensure that operations and products are as efficient as possible. With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in the design and analysis of mechanical components, he has worked as a consultant on a variety of mandates ranging from securing manufacturing machines to designing tooling for the railway industry, as well as project management.

As a chartered professional accountant (CPA) and certified management accountant (CMA), Mathieu is a resourceful person and a quick learner.

“I am able to ask the right questions in order to better plan our projects, identify our risks and anticipate potential contingencies.”

He rose through the ranks at Deloitte Montreal to the position of Director of Risk Advisory for companies. In search of a job that is more in line with his environmental concerns, he makes the jump to EcoloPharm in 2017.

In addition to overseeing all finances, Mathieu leads several projects of optimization of tasks and processes, business intelligence, internal control improvement and information technology improvement.

The visionary

Claude is results-oriented and does not keep her head in the clouds for long. Her strength? Putting ideas into action.

“In an SME, when you turn the boat, it turns for real.”

With a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Université de Sherbrooke, Claude began her career in accounting before branching out into recruitment. A team player, she is known for her versatility and involvement.