Area Company Earns High Marks in Green Building Responsibility Kalamazoo, Mich. (July 20, 2010) -- Fabri-Kal is pleased to announce that their Kalamazoo, Mich., manufacturing plant has been awarded LEED® Silver certification. Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system ensures that LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger region. Committed to their community and ongoing efforts to be an environmentally responsible manufacturer, Fabri-Kal insisted on meeting the LEED certification requirements.
Fabri-Kal’s Kalamazoo-based plant purchased in 2008 was formerly a vacant Brownfield site and has been upgraded over the last two years into a state-of-the-art design and manufacturing facility. Fabri-Kal’s renovation of the 400,000 square foot vacant plant helped revitalize what was formerly a neglected, unproductive use of space for the Kalamazoo community.
Fabri-Kal worked hand-in-hand with Kalamazoo-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm, Eckert Wordell, to ensure total LEED compliance at their Kalamazoo manufacturing facility. Among the unique credits included in Fabri-Kal’s certification, they were given top marks for water efficient landscaping, water use reduction, as well as the use of lowemitting materials like sealants, paints and adhesives. Additionally, they have been applauded for their building reuse, maintaining 99.16% of the previous building’s wall, floor and roof elements. Jason Navotny, Senior Associate at Eckert Wordell worked closely on the project: “Becoming LEED-certified took a major commitment from Fabri-Kal. They sourced many of their materials locally, therefore reducing carbon emissions of shipping, and optimized the building’s energy efficiency by installing new HVAC units and windows that reduce energy costs. With fewer than five LEED-certified buildings in the Kalamazoo area, Fabri-Kal should be very proud of the environmentally responsible steps they have taken to positively impact the community and planet.”
According to USGBC, building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge. “The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The work of innovative building projects such as Fabri-Kal’s manufacturing plant is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”
In addition to Fabri-Kal’s commitment to green building initiatives, they continue to develop their category of green packaging solutions, such as their Greenware® line of products. Currently manufactured at Fabri-Kal’s Kalamazoo plant, Greenware cold drinks cups and containers are made from Ingeo™ biopolymer, a PLA resin derived entirely from plants. The plant sources are domestically grown and annually renewable. Greenware® products are 100% compostable in actively managed municipal or industrial facilities, where available. A facility may not be available in your area.
Furthermore, Fabri-Kal stands by their promise to deliver the facts about their products. Through their “No Greenwashing Pledge” Fabri-Kal vows to deliver the facts about Greenware® products and strives to correct any misinformation that may be circulating about green packaging solutions. Learn more about Fabri-Kal’s "
No Greenwashing Pledge." In honor of their continued environmentally responsible efforts, Fabri-Kal has received the LEED Plaque, which is awarded to projects that have earned certification from the Green Building Certification Institute. To learn more about Fabri-Kal’s LEED-certified manufacturing facility or any of their products, please visit their website, www.f-k.com or contact Emily Ewing at (269) 385-8044 or EEWING@f-k.com.
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About Fabri-KalFabri-Kal is a leading provider of plastic foodservice and custom thermoformed packaging solutions. As one of the largest thermoformers in North America, Fabri-Kal’s customer base includes thousands of foodservice operators and dozens of consumer product manufacturers. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Mich., and in continuous operation since 1950, Fabri-Kal employs more than 800 people in five manufacturing, printing and warehousing facilities throughout the United States. More information about Fabri-Kal may be found at the company’s website,
www.f-k.com.
About Eckert WordellEckert Wordell is dedicated to providing their clients with the most comprehensive design services available. From preliminary planning to post-project evaluations, Eckert Wordell takes pride in providing solutions for every aspect of a project and creating an enjoyable process for the client. Their team of highly experienced architects, engineers, interior designers, information technologists, and support staff provide comprehensive design services. For more information, please visit the company’s website,
www.eckert-wordell.com.
About U.S. Green Building CouncilThe Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
About LEEDThe U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce Greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.