FTA environmental awards recognize four companies

The Flexographic Technical Association has recognized four companies through its 9th Annual Environmental Excellence Award program.

Lauterbach Group, Waukesha, Wisconsin, a label printer with 50 employees, has undergone a number of environmentally-focused initiatives to win the Process Improvement category. The company’s Lauterbach Productivity System focuses on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle through a process improvement program that has full employee participation.

Coating Excellence International LLC of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, a manufacturer of wide web printed flexible packaging products, won for Technical Innovation for its SuperTube woven bag, which is 100 percent recyclable in pre and post-consumer environments.

AllpakTrojan of Renton, WA, earned an honorable mention in the Process Improvement category. Its facility incorporates and promotes healthy, ecologically sustainable business practices in four areas of the workplace, covering the product and equipment, efficiency and protection, employees and jobs, and commitments and relationships.

Creative Labels, a narrow web flexographic printer in Gilroy, California was awarded an honorable mention for Technical Innovation. Creative Labels chose to reduce its carbon footprint by undertaking two major projects. The first was to review its lighting, especially in the production area. Installations and upgrades replaced high wattage lights with more energy efficient lighting which would be brighter. The company also installed a solar electric system which was designed to achieve maximum possible energy cost savings benefits while minimizing expenses. The system generates clean electricity that reduces atmospheric emissions.

'The commitment to sustainability exhibited by all of the nominees is a testament to the value of these awards in promoting environmental stewardship. It is encouraging to see broader application and incorporation of green technologies throughout organizations and the industry as a whole. They are certainly raising the bar for future nominees,' commented Judge David Lanska, Stork Cellramic.

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