Avery Dennison and Label World receive TLMI Environmental Awards

At the recent annual meeting of the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), Avery Dennison and Label World each received TLMI Environmental Leadership Awards.

The award recognizes TLMI member companies that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to progressive environmental practices across a range of areas including solid waste reduction, recycling, waste or energy recovery, the implementation of new ‘clean’ technology and/or processes, and the implementation of an education program.

Calvin Frost, CEO of Channeled Resources Group and TLMI Environmental Committee chair, commented: ‘This is our ninth year in presenting these awards and recognizing leaders of environmental awareness in our industry. Without a doubt, this activity further reinforces TLMI’s position on sustainability. We will continue to change the culture of our industry, and this year’s winners should be honored. Thirteen companies submitted entries and from this group just two were chosen.’

The award for Innovative Technologies was given to Avery Dennison for creating an internal environmental process, Enterprise Lean Sigma, to reduce waste, energy, material and time usage. The integration of this program led to increased productivity, quality and profits. Avery Dennison developed an energy Kaizen process, reduced fuel consumption and substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions while focusing on thinner materials and product designs that helped reduce waste and enable recycling.

‘Our focus on sustainability comes from our company values and has long been part of our approach to business,’ said Darrell Hughes, Avery Dennison’s vice-president and general manager, Label & Packaging Materials – North America. ‘It drives us to work collaboratively to create value for our customers by developing solutions that enable us all to be more sustainable and competitive.’

The award for process improvement in environmental leadership was given to Label World, a company that has made sustainability a core element of their business strategy. Label World’s new initiatives include the diversion of all waste from landfills to energy generation in 2009, the use of renewable energy credits to offset 100 percent of electricity and natural gas consumption, a range of internal initiatives to reduce waste and energy consumption and the collaboration with key customers to divert over 2 billion square inches of liner material from landfill to recycling.

John McDermott, president of Label World, said: ‘We began our journey toward sustainability just a few years ago as a result of my engagement with TLMI and the encouragement of key people like environmental chairman Cal Frost and association president Frank Sablone. Now we are seeing the results in terms of more motivated associates and new customer opportunities for whom sustainability is a corporate commitment. LIFE has been a key driver in our transformation.’

Calvin Frost concluded: ‘The decision for these leadership awards has always been made by an independent panel of judges comprised of industry peers who recognize and grade the specificity of the submitted applications. Once again, this year’s entries demonstrated a commitment of time and research. An enormous effort is required and I would like to congratulate this year’s winners, and all of the companies who submitted entries for their contributions.’

Pictured l-r: Art Yerecic, TLMI chairman; Don Nolan, group VP, Label & Packaging Materials, Avery Dennison; Darrell Hughes, VP and GM, Label & Packaging Materials North America, Avery Dennison; Calvin Frost, TLMI Environmental Committee chairman

Former CEO of WS Packaging named TLMI Converter of the Year

TLMI names Pat Hague as Supplier of the Year

Click here for more stories about TLMI on L&L.com.

Click here for more stories about Avery Dennison on L&L.com.