Earth Day is near and appropriately, the Chamber recognizes that there are many outstanding businesses in our community working hard to protect the environment and preserve our quality of life.
Do you know of a business that deserves recognition for surface water protection or restoration achievements? How about a deserving business that has achieved exemplary results in reducing waste dumped into area streams? Who has the best air quality results?
The Chamber is accepting applications or nominations of businesses that deserve recognition for their exemplary environmental protection or restoration efforts. The selected nominee will receive a business environmental award to be presented.
Nominations or applications will be accepted no later than April 1.
Please submit your nomination(s).
The Award will be presented by sponsor Taylor-Thomason Insurance on April 11 at the Chamber's Luncheon.
You may register here.
For more information about nomination criteria or to participate in the Chamber’s Earth Day event sponsored by Taylor-Thomason Insurance, contact Gary Brackett or at 253.682.1720.
Consider in your application or nomination the full spectrum of your environmental stewardship efforts in addition to just highlighting one or a few exemplary efforts. Here, as examples for you is a very brief synopsis of the spectrum of environmental stewardship efforts by the 2013 and 2012 Tahoma Business Environmental Award Recipients:
2013 Tahoma Business Environmental Award Recipient Targa Sound Terminal
Targa Sound Terminal focuses on safe, responsible, reliable and efficient logistics. Their goal is to be the best bulk liquid and petroleum logistic service provider in the Pacific Northwest.
With roots in the 1960s, their small team pursued a vision that propelled their growth to 46 employees locally. Today, Targa continues to supply energy to the Pacific Northwest. Their vision is essential to keeping our port competitive, creating family-wage jobs and maintaining a commitment to Tacoma’s clean and efficient future.
In 2007, they became the first wholesale truck rack in Washington State to provide renewable biodiesel blends. Their dock was the first to provide low-emission ultra-low sulfur diesel to local tugs and fishing vessels. In 2011 they began supporting local farmers by supplying Washington grown and produced canola biodiesel. In 2012, they started blending EPA emission control area fuel for Port of Tacoma businesses.
Targa Sound Terminal currently handles petroleum, petroleum products and renewable fuels. They are committed to using the best environmental control technology available to make their operation the best in the state. They have a history of being a good neighbor and are committed to the Tacoma community.
2012 Tahoma Business Environmental Award Recipient Richlite Company
Richlite Company pioneered the paper-composite surface industry at its manufacturing facility in Tacoma, beginning in 1943. Richlite is made of paper. It starts out as pulp, is turned into paper and is transformed
again into a dense, durable and attractive material that can be tooled like wood.
It’s a product base that ranges from cutting boards to countertops, exterior wall cladding to flooring, guitar parts and outdoor furniture – and event as outdoor skate ramp surfacing. It’s used for nearly any commercial or residential surface or design accent.
Richlite has always strived to produce a quality product – locally – while leaving a smaller footprint on the environment. In doing so, Richlite uses only sustainably-derived resources, pursues environmentally-sound manufacturing and business practices and works with partners who share in their initiatives to maintain a healthy planet.
Richlite employs sustainable organizational practices. The paper includes Forest Stewardship Certified paper that comes from managed forests, is 100% recycled from post consumer waste or is 50% recycled cardboard.
Richlite patented a manufacturing process (WE ((waste-t0-energy)) Technology) where its saturation equipment captures energy from the manufacturing process and recycles it back into the heating system.
And, Richlite began tracking greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, set and exceeded a five-year goal with a total of 32% decrease of CO2 emissions.
Richlite:
- the first business in Tacoma to obtrain its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Environmental Product Declaration;
- one of the first businesses in Tacoma to receive a BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tacoma) award;
- qualifies or LEED points in six categories;
- Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification;
- Rainforest Alliance Certification.
Richlite’s community environmental leadership includes:
- a member of Tacoma’s Green Ribbon Climate action Task Force;
- a members of the Sustainable Tacoma Commission;
- on the Steering Committee with our Chamber’s Environmental Business Alliance;
- a member of the Seattle Metro Chamber’s Sustainability Committee;
- and, a member of the Seattle Climate Partnership.
Tahoma Business Environmental Award Recipients
1 2003 Kay Parks/Dan Meyer Auto Rebuild
2 2004 Simpson
3 2005 McFarland Cascade
4 2006 Port of Tacoma
5 2007 Totem Ocean Trailer Express
6 2008 PLU
7 2009 Carlile Transportation Systems
8 2010 Walsh Construction
9 2011 Waste Connections, Inc.
10 2012 Richlite Company
11 2013 Targa Sound Terminal
_3-17-14.png)
