Summer Classics launches Green Initiative
Efforts include recycling program, recyclable packaging, internal and supplier manufacturing practices
-- Casual Living, 4/25/2008 6:31:00 AM
Summer Classics has launched of the first stage of its Green Initiative, which employs environmentally friendly business practices throughout the company.
Summer Classics’ Green Initiative is the result of eight months of planning and infrastructure implementation. The initiative is spearheaded by the company’s Green Team, which consists of eight associates from its customer service, quality control, finance, operations, public relations, product design and contract divisions.
“The culture of Summer Classics is one that admires the outdoors and values nature,” said Bew White, president and founder of Summer Classics. “The continuing mission of our Green Team is to investigate and evaluate ways Summer Classics can become a better corporate steward of the environment.”
Notably, one of the Green Team’s first objectives was to have certain profitable recycling initiatives pay for the more costly ones, in order to insure a complete program. The Green Team partnered with the University of Alabama to learn how to begin and maintain a holistic, company wide recycling program. After much research, a strategic partnership has been made with American Recycling of Alabama. An employee-recycling center has been set up in the distribution center and cushion plant in Montevallo, where materials are separated and sent off for recycle.
Summer Classics will collect cardboard, paper, plastics, resins, glass, aluminum cans, wrought and cast aluminum, batteries, cushion foam and fiber and fluorescent bulbs for recycle, as well as ink, toner, eyeglasses and cell phones for donation to charitable organizations. The cardboard and paper is made into Coronet towels and tissues by SCA. Every ton of paper recycled equals approximately 22 trees that are saved. In all Summer Classics retail stores, box cardboard and paper is recycled.
The company also implemented additional measures to use environmentally friendly products and conserve energy usage. Summer Classics, Summer Classics contract and Summer Classics retail stores have converted all of its cardboard, paper, and most office supplies to at least 30% post-consumer recycled material. It has stopped purchasing any Styrofoam office supplies, which when burned give off chlorine gas. Programmable thermostats and skylights have been installed to lower energy use. Carpooling groups are encouraged to reduce energy consumption.
“Summer Classics has been developing lines like the Resort Collections, which offer a longer-lasting and better-looking alternative to “sling” or stretched fabric products, which have a reputation for high breakage,” White said. “Our Ocean collections are developed for the harshest salt and UV environments like Arizona and Florida and are guaranteed not to have any noticeable fading or cracking for five years.”
Going forward, the Green Team will meet quarterly to investigate ways Summer Classics can be a better steward of the environment. New topics on the agenda include recycling initiatives in the community and local universities, new internal operating logistics to lower their energy usage, and implementing new technologies like replacing current restroom paper towel dispensers with the ExtremeAir hand dryer which uses 80% less electricity than conventional dryers.
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