State environmental officials today recognized Firestone Fibers and Textiles’ Gastonia Plant 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 – one of only 27 facilities in North Carolina to earn the coveted designation for a commitment to superior environmental performance.
“Firestone Fibers and Textiles’ commitment to setting and obtaining high environmental standards exemplifies its role as a business and environmental leader,” said Regan. “Firestone’s Gastonia Plant joins an elite number of North Carolina businesses and organizations that have voluntarily made lasting changes that positively impact their communities and the environment, while improving the bottom line.”
To become an environmental steward, organizations and businesses like Firestone Fibers and Textiles, or FSFT, must demonstrate environmental leadership through a commitment to exemplary environmental performance beyond what is required by regulations. Stewards represent the highest of three levels of recognition for environmental performance in the state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative.
Recommendations for stewards are provided to the department’s secretary following a rigorous review of environmental performance by DEQ staff and an external advisory board.
FSFT Gastonia Plant, which manufactures polyester and nylon fabric for tires and other industrial applications, joined the ESI program in 2006 at the rising steward level. It was recommended for the steward-level recognition because the facility has achieved and maintained zero-waste-to-landfill since July 2014, meaning that any materials not used during its production process are recycled or used for energy. It also has goals to reduce energy and water usage by installing LED lights and low-flow toilets throughout the facility, and installing meters on machinery that monitor natural gas usage so the company can devise ways to reduce its energy use. It also has a strong history of environmental compliance and works with the local community to provide environmental information and leadership.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality,” said Doug Jinks, FSFT Corporate senior environmental specialist, environmental affairs. “This recognition is a shining example of the hard work and dedication FSFT teammates display every day on the job. Environment, health and safety are always top priority at Bridgestone and at Firestone Fibers and Textiles in Gastonia, but our commitment to our teammates goes far beyond the workplace. The Gastonia community is so important to us, and we have worked hard to give back in meaningful ways – namely through our commitments to being an outstanding corporate citizen, a premier place to work and our dedication to the environment.”
For information about the Environmental Stewardship Initiative, please visit the program’s website at www.ncesi.org, or contact Angela Barger or Davy Conners, ESI co-managers, at 877-623-6748 or esi@ncdenr.gov.