Environment – Operations Focus

Areas of Focus

Our commitment to environmental stewardship is both Customer-Focused and Operations-Focused. This commitment is being realized through our 5 year sustainability plan, which began in 2009.

 

Operationally, we have set our goals in three primary target areas:

 

• Energy reduction
• Waste reduction
• Water-use reduction

 

 

 

Energy Reduction

GOAL:  Remain energy neutral, including offsetting business growth with energy reductions.

STATUS:  With 2 of 5 years completed, our energy use has decreased 2.8%.

 

 

 

We are well on track to achieve our 5 year goals. In the first two years of this dedicated effort, we have reduced our energy use by 2,329,369 kWh. More details on our Energy Reduction initiatives...

 

 

Waste Reduction

GOAL:  Over 5 years, 50% waste reduction by volume and achieve zero production floor waste at 10 facilities.

STATUS:  With 2 of 5 years completed, we have already achieved a 45% reduction in total waste.

 

 

 

Our operations team has attacked this goal with vigor. In just two years, we have nearly reached our total 5 year goal, eliminating nearly 50% of waste through new packaging and recycling efforts. More details on our Waste Reduction initiatives...

 

 

Water-Use Reduction

GOAL:  Reduce water consumption using new and emerging technologies.

STATUS:  With 2 of 5 years completed, significant reductions in water use have already been gained.

 

 

 

All across the country, Ring plants have undergone a number of transitions in order to reduce the amount of water used in all operations. To date, we have:

 

• Installed a system of closed management of irrigation systems
• Replaced water-cooled chillers at 8 plants with air-cooled chillers
• Completed landscaping with native vegetation at 7 plants
• Installed waterless urinals at 4 plants
• Installed reduced flow toilets at 7 plants

 

More details on our Water-Use Reduction initiatives...