Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention Awards to Vallourec Star and Avantor Solon Manufacturing Center in Ohio, and GEOTEK in Minnesota. These companies were recognized for their efforts in reducing, eliminating, or preventing pollution at the source.
Vallourec Star, based in Youngstown, Ohio, has implemented the ChemSafe program to manage chemical use by prioritizing safer and more environmentally friendly chemicals. The company achieved a 44.4% substitution rate of high-risk chemicals with safer alternatives in 2022 and surpassed its 2023 goal by reaching over a 90% substitution rate. Joe Mook, Vallourec Star Environmental Manager, stated, “Vallourec has always defined itself by operating with a ‘do the right thing’ mindset. Our choice to prioritize safer, lower-risk chemicals aligns with our core values of continually improving safety in the workplace while taking environmentally sustainable actions.”
Avantor Solon Manufacturing Center in Solon, Ohio, undertook an LED light conversion project as part of a corporate initiative to reduce carbon emissions. The facility installed motion detectors for automatic lighting control and replaced HVAC equipment with more efficient units. These measures helped reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15%, achieving Avantor’s 2025 goal two years ahead of schedule. Paul Serrin, Senior Manufacturing Director of Solon, remarked, “The U.S. EPA’s recognition demonstrates how hard our team at the Solon Site has worked to cut greenhouse gas emissions.”
GEOTEK in Stewartville, Minnesota invested in solvent recovery systems over three years to recover and reuse acetone and lacquer thinner from coating waste. This led to a 71% reduction in hazardous coating waste between 2022 and 2023 and a further reduction of acetone recovery solvent waste by 22%. Additionally, GEOTEK reduced disposal costs associated with hazardous coating waste by 70%. Emma Westphal, GEOTEK Environmental Health and Safety Manager said, “Reducing our solvent waste is a top priority for the entire team.”
Collectively, these awardees reduced approximately 962 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e), around 10,320 pounds of solvent waste, business costs by approximately $139,100 annually, and one facility achieved over a 90% safer chemical substitution rate.
The EPA Region 5 Pollution Prevention Award program is an annual voluntary non-monetary award program aimed at encouraging pollution prevention practices among businesses.
Nominations for the 2025 Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition Awards will open next spring.
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