Sussex, WI-based Lauterbach Group received the TLMI Environmental Leadership Awards at the recent 2015 TLMI Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. The award recognizes TLMI member companies that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to progressive environmental practices across a range of areas including solid waste reduction, recycling, waste or energy recovery, the implementation of new ‘clean’ technology and/or processes, and the implementation of an education program.

“The judges made only one Environmental Leadership Award this year. It was made to a converter,” said Calvin Frost, TLMI Environmental Committee chair, in presenting the award to Lauterbach Group. “This company is lean and mean. Their application followed the requirements of the application perfectly.”

During the last several years and in particular in 2014, Lauterbach Group has:

– Focused on role development for personal development
– Focused on education, job training and career-development
– Focused on health and wellness throughout the organization
– Offered internships internally for advancement and growth and externally for education
– Monitored purchases with recycled content, reusable energy and green technologies as requirements
– Reduced water and energy consumption with documented and measurable tracking, as well as waste and plate spoilage

Lauterbach Group is L.I.F.E., FSC, SFI, LEED, Green Tier and Green Master Certified. “Their entire operation and culture embraces what the judges require for an Environmental Leadership Award. Please join me in congratulating, the Lauterbach Group,” said Frost.

In 2014, Label & Narrow Web selected Lauterbach Group as one of its Companies to Watch.

Additionally, at the Annual Meeting, New Kensington, PA-based Yerecic Label and Philadelphia, PA-based The Dow Chemical Company were awarded certificates of achievement.

Frost said, “The judges for the 2015 Environmental Awards have added an additional award for supplier and converter applicants that recognize their exemplary commitments to TLMI’s sustainability initiatives for waste reduction, tangible and replicable practices, and unique sustainability initiatives. From year to year they may decide there are no applications worthy of this recognition. However, this year is not the case.

“I am pleased to recognize a supplier for their Unique Sustainability Initiative. The judges believed their project enhances our industry and drives Green Awareness and Environmental Education. This company used their expertise to leverage relationships that enabled them to launch a “recycle –to feedstock” project that they call Energy Bag Pilot. Essentially this project closes the loop on non-recyclable substrates and creates a high value synthetic oil. Please join me in recognizing The Dow Chemical Company.”

The judges also decided that Yerecic Label was deserving of recognition for Documentation of Relevant and Replicable Sustainability Practices. Said Frost, “This company continues to be active in all aspects of the TLMI organization. Currently they chair one of the most important Environmental Health & Safety Committee activities, Recycling. This company has measured their in-house waste stream. They have developed an energy application as an alternative to landfills. Since inception this company has diverted 2000 tons from the landfill. Since 2011, this company has purchased 20% renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas. They have also replaced quartz halogen lighting with T-5 efficiency lighting. Using DuPont’s Cyrel System they have eliminated 1000 gallons of hazardous waste annually. Eliminated, mind you. It is with great pleasure that the Environmental Awards Committee recognizes Yerecic Label.”