Georgia Companies Honored for Environmental Achievements

Summary: P²AD Partnership Program Recognizes Seven Companies with Awards

ATLANTA (October 12, 2006) – Seven Georgia companies took home awards for environmental achievement at this year’s P²AD Partnership Program Awards held Oct. 2 at the Emory Conference Center. The program is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD).

The Partner of the Year award went to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Marietta. This award is given annually to a member of the P²AD Partnership Program who demonstrates overall excellence in environmental performance, community outreach, employee involvement and sustainability activities. Among its many accomplishments, Lockheed Martin has reduced its generation of solid and hazardous wastes, its use of water, and its emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Lockheed Martin also was named the Mentor of the Year, recognizing its efforts to help other companies in Georgia understand the benefits of continual environmental improvement. Lockheed Martin, which also received this award in 2005, continues to invest significant time and effort in educating other companies about the advantages of waste reduction, and in promoting the benefits of participation in the P²AD Partnership Program.

InterfaceFLOR Commercial received the Sustainability Award, which recognizes extraordinary achievement made by a Partner to reduce the environmental footprint of its facility, to sustain natural or cultural resources in its community, or to ensure the environmental impact of its products or services is minimized throughout the life cycle. The carpet manufacturing facility in LaGrange uses a life cycle assessment model to calculate global warming impacts from its products and evaluate changes to the manufacturing process.

The Innovation Award went to Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc. (GPRI) of Vienna. GPRI manufactures adhesive resins and wood chemicals. This award recognizes achievements in finding innovative solutions to environmental challenges. GPRI worked with one of its customers to create a new resin that allowed the customer to reduce its emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 75 percent per year.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. took home the Continual Improvement Award. The Newnan facility manufactures personal watercraft, ATVs, and golf carts. This award recognizes significant progress toward continual environmental improvement. Yamaha exceeded its goals for reductions in its emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), generation of solid and hazardous waste, and use of energy.

The Rising Environmental Steward Award was presented to Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus. This award recognizes a Partner in the Yellow Level of the program who showed the greatest progress toward continual environmental improvement in 2005. GSW’s progress in one year included conducting an environmental assessment of 19 areas on the campus, developing a Green Campus Initiative Web site, attending training on environmental management systems and developing environmental awareness training for recycling and hazardous waste management.

General Motors’ Doraville Assembly received the Outreach and Employee Involvement Award. This award recognizes service by a program Partner to enhance their community, revitalize neighborhoods, conserve or beautify public spaces and improve employee well-being. Some of GM’s many outreach efforts included stream cleanups, school tours of the facility, and working with local nonprofits to educate students about water quality. The facility also provides volunteers in support of programs encouraging students to excel or explore careers in engineering, science, technology and math.

Earth Tech, Inc. was named Advocate of the Year for its efforts to promote and support the Partnership Program. The consulting, construction and engineering company, located in Roswell, held events to teach elementary school children about water quality and conservation. Earth Tech also promoted the program to several military facilities and helped with their applications.

The P²AD Partnership Program is a voluntary environmental leadership initiative open to any organization or business in Georgia. It includes four Partnership levels to fit the goals and efforts of various organizations that want to strengthen their environmental stewardship and, at the same time, improve their bottom line.

“Our goal for this program is to support and reward the efforts of our members as they become true environmental leaders,” said Bob Donaghue, director of P²AD. “Environmental stewardship makes good business sense, and through our program, our Partners gain valuable opportunities to mentor others, improve the quality of life in their own communities, and ultimately work side by side with policy makers to enhance the environmental quality of all Georgia communities.”

The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD) is a non-regulatory division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Since 1993, P²AD has provided free, confidential environmental technical assistance in the areas of pollution prevention, resource conservation, waste reduction, by-product reuse and recycling. In 2004, the P²AD Partnership Program was established to foster environmental leadership and recognize superior environmental performance. For more information about P²AD and the P²AD Partnership Program, visit www.p2ad.org.