Stanley Black & Decker will be recognized Wednesday as the first facility of its type in North Carolina to be honored for its commitment to superior environmental performance.
As part of Governor Pat McCrory’s initiative to celebrate excellent environmental performance, top state environmental officials will be in central North Carolina Wednesday to recognize Stanley Black & Decker – Kannapolis as an Environmental Steward.
Stanley Black & Decker is a unique Steward because the company has put in place mechanisms to contain any runoff, reduce emissions and taken other measures to avoid activities at the facility that would require an environmental permit.
“Stanley Black & Decker is a unique model for companies that do business in North Carolina who recognize that protecting the environment is the right thing to do and benefits your bottom line,” said Donald R. van der Vaart, secretary of the state environmental agency. “This recognition is meaningful when you consider Stanley Black & Decker has achieved so much because of its firm commitment to environmental protection.”
Van der Vaart will join other state, local and company officials for the Environmental Steward ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the company’s facility at 1000 Stanley Drive, Concord.
Stanley Black & Decker is a world leading provider of tools and storage, commercial electronic security and engineered fastening systems. The facility joins 21 others in North Carolina that have achieved Steward status, the highest level awarded by the state program that promotes and encourages superior environmental performance. Environmental Stewards must annually report on their environmental performance.
Van der Vaart said the governor has been a strong proponent of recognizing North Carolina businesses that are always exploring new ways to protect the environment.
“Since early on in his administration, Governor McCrory has emphasized the importance of environmentally responsible businesses like Stanley Black & Decker,” van der Vaart said. “We want the best of both worlds for North Carolina. We want to generate jobs and economic opportunities while also protecting the quality of life that continues to make the Tar Heel State so attractive to so many people.”
An advisory board with members from industry, government and environmental organizations recommended recognizing the Stanley Black & Decker facility. The recommendation was based on the facility’s achieving several environmental benchmarks, including the facility’s goal to eventually send no waste to the landfill and its commitment to reducing water usage. The company has already reduced waste disposal by more than 90 percent since 2010, thanks to projects such as shredding cardboard boxes on-site so they can be reused to package tools and other Stanley products. It has also reduced water usage by cutting down on irrigation at the facility, and has plans to remodel its bathrooms with low-flow toilets and sinks, said Christy Pryga, EHS manager for the Kannapolis facility.
“We are very proud of this recognition, and grateful for the state’s help in achieving such a milestone and acknowledging us for it,” Pryga said. “Stanley Black & Decker has a very aggressive approach to environmental protection and is committed to making sure we do everything we can to reduce our environmental footprint.”
To learn more about the Environmental Stewardship Initiative, go to www.ncesi.org.