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Rainier’s 2010 Environmental
Management Update

It has been one year since we received certification for ISO 14001.  In April, we passed our first audit for our Environmental Management System.  We have made some exciting accomplishments in the past year but we still have a lot of work.

Highlights of the last year’s sustainablilty accomplishments:

  • Receiving ISO 14001 certification on Earth Day, 2009.
    We had a goal of reducing our solid waste by 10%; our actual reduction was 32%!  Waste and recycling containers are more present and better managed throughout our building.  We recycled over 176 tons of waste in 2009 – that saves us about $14,000 by not sending waste to the landfill!

  • We have raised awareness of hazardous waste issues.  Solvent based printers are being phased out.  Batteries and light bulbs are being properly recycled.  We are doing a much more thorough job of managing our MSDS database. 

  • The Department of Ecology issued Rainier a “Conditional No Exposure Certificate.”

  • We continually are improving product design to use more environmentally sustainable products, reducing the use of MDF in the wood shop and reducing the use of vinyl products in the graphics shop.

  • Product packaging is improving – we are using more bubble wrap and less foam. 

  • In November, the University of Washington Field Research & Consultation Group did a very thorough analysis of our plant to monitor noise and air quality.  They made a few minor recommendations but generally found our plant to be a friendly and safe work environment.

  • We initiated our vendor analysis program; all our vendors are required to provide us information in regards to their own environmental and safety programs.  We give preferencial treatment to vendors that are environmentally sensitive.

  • We developed a snappy new R4 logo that we are using to promote our accomplishments and highlight that Rainier is serious about sustainability.

These are just a few high points in our drive to respect and protect the environment. Looking forward, here are a few of our Goals for 2010:

  • Finalize our 2010 Environmental Plan

  • Continued improvements in recycling

  • Finding creative ways to reuse more of our waste.

  • Greater emphasis on product design to utilize more sustainable and recyclable products.

  • Better management of our utilities to lower both usage and cost.

  • Continued progress on our packaging materials to minimize plastics and foam.

  • Develop our CRM work order management system to reduce the enormous amount of paper we currently consume.

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