State environmental officials Wednesday recognized Uchiyama Manufacturing America LLC, in Goldsboro for its outstanding environmental performance.
Michael S. Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, presented company officials with a plaque recognizing the facility as a 2017 Environmental Steward. Uchiyama became one of only 27 facilities in North Carolina to earn the coveted designation for a commitment to superior environmental performance.
“Environmental stewards like Uchiyama join an elite number of organizations across North Carolina that strive for and achieve environmental excellence,” Regan said. “Uchiyama’s commitment to setting and obtaining high environmental standards highlights its dedication to the state and exemplifies its role as an environmental leader.”
To become an environmental steward, organizations and businesses like Uchiyama must demonstrate environmental leadership through a commitment to exemplary environmental performance beyond what is required by regulations. Recommendations for stewards are provided to the DEQ secretary following a rigorous review of environmental performance by DEQ staff and an external advisory board. Stewards represent the highest of three levels of recognition for environmental performance in the state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Taizo Uchiyama, chief executive officer of Uchiyama Manufacturing America (UMA) LLC. “It is truly an achievement of our excellent UMA team members. We are proud to be an environmentally-conscious corporate citizen in Wayne County and in the state of North Carolina. UMA will continuously strive to maintain our commitment.”
Uchiyama, a company that makes gaskets and seals for the automotive industry, was recommended for the recognition because the facility has reduced its energy use by 20 percent and reduced the amount of production waste by more than 50 percent since 2014. It also has a strong history of environmental compliance and works with the local community to provide environmental information and leadership.
DEQ’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative promotes and encourages superior environmental performance by North Carolina organizations. This voluntary program was established in 2002 to stimulate the development and implementation of programs that use pollution prevention and innovative approaches to meet and exceed regulatory requirements. The ESI program encourages organizations to reduce impacts on the environment beyond what is required by a permit or rule. As a result, members of the program are able to conserve natural resources and reduce their costs.
For more information, visit the Environmental Stewardship Initiative’s website, www.ncesi.org, or contact Angela Barger or Davy Conners, co-managers of the Environmental Stewardship Initiative, at 877-623-6748 or esi@ncdenr.gov.
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