The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently selected the furniture and wall system manufacturer with the 2008 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Packaging Reduction. KI was recognized for its multi-faceted program that eliminated 6.29 million pounds of industrial waste and raw materials as a result of product redesign and recycling activities in 2007.
As part of its effort, KI focused on the reduction of material contents in products, waste prevention in its manufacturing processes, material diversion from landfills, and the purchase of recycled content components. KI’s waste prevention program saved the company more than $500,000 in costs last year.
“We are proud to be recognized with this prestigious honor from the EPA,” said Beth Seymour, vice president of manufacturing. “Our packaging reduction program and similar initiatives are important to our customers who themselves emphasize good stewardship of the environment and want to do business with companies who share that commitment.”
WasteWise is a free, voluntary EPA program through which organizations eliminate municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes. WasteWise created the Gold Achievement Award in 2005 to recognize its partners’ achievements in areas such as climate change, green buildings, product stewardship, and beneficial use of secondary materials.
To read TFM‘s coverage of packaging reduction, read “Reducing Waste, Coming And Going” from the February 2008 issue.
