Representatives from L’Oreal will speak about the company’s efforts to curb energy usage and reduce waste at a “Putting Green to Work lunch” scheduled during the national Pollution Prevention Week.
Pollution Prevention Week (P2 Week) is the third week of September, September 17 – 23, 2012 and highlights the sustainability and pollution prevention efforts of individuals, businesses, environmental groups and others. The 2012 P2 Week theme is “Safer Chemicals for a Safer World.” To learn more visit http://www.p2.org/.
The lunch will take place Sept. 20 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock.
The L’Oreal, USA, cosmetics manufacturing facility in North Little Rock was a finalist for the department’s ENVY award in 2011 for its participation in theHome Energy Affordability Loan program, which resulted in increased energy efficiency not only at the company’s plant, but at the homes of company employees as well. The program, a part of William J. Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Climate Initiative- Arkansas, involves a zero-interest revolving loan fund to finance industrial energy efficiency improvements, and participating industries establish an internal loan fund to finance improvements on the private homes of company employees.
Since then the company has launched a training program to teach employees how to reduce their environmental footprints. In October 2011, the company completed a solar demonstration project in partnership with North Little Rock Electric, the Arkansas Energy Office and the University of Arkansas.
From 2005 to 2011, the North Little Rock plant reduced its carbon emissions by 80 percent, water per unit by 43 percent, and waste per unit by 37 percent.
ADEQ, in partnership with Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, created the “Putting Green to Work” lunches featuring speakers from businesses that have excelled at energy conservation and other sustainable practices. The series aims to help industry leaders learn from each other how to save energy, prevent pollution and conserve resources, all while helping their bottom lines.
The series, an effort of the department’s Business Assistance Program, is an outgrowth of the agency’s annual Environmental Stewardship Award. Dubbed, the ENVY award, the honor is given annually to individuals, businesses or groups for exceptional efforts to protect or enhance the environment.
Admission is free, but registration is required for the event, as seating is limited. Attendees bring their own lunch. To register, contact Audree Miller at (501) 682-0015 or e-mail miller@adeq.state.ar.us by 4 p.m. Sept. 18.
Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions was established in 1995 as a program of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership to provide manufacturing extension services to Arkansas manufacturers. More information can be found at http://www.mfgsolutions.org/index.asp.
ADEQ’s Business Assistance Program assists businesses with permitting and compliance issues as well as pollution prevention efforts, small business loans and more. For more information, visit http://adeqweb/poa/sba/businessasst.htm.
