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25th Anniversary Leaders

Companies Reduce Toxics, Save Money

 

The Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program recognized companies and small business groups as TURA 25th Anniversary Leaders for making substantial improvements in reducing toxic chemical use, creating healthier work environments and saving money. The TURA 25th Anniversary Leaders include:

Allston Collision Center, Allston
Small business goes green

  • Third generation family-owned business uses water-based paints, reducing the need for solvents.
  • Reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by more than 1,200 lbs. annually.
  • Recycles paint thinner for reuse, reducing waste and worker exposure to harmful chemicals.

Analog Devices, Inc., Wilmington
Saving 90 million gallons of water, gaining recognition

  • Reduced energy use by more than 16 million KWH per year through conservation initiatives.
  • Reduced water consumption by nearly 90 million gallons per year through water use conservation projects.
  • Reduced the use of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid for resin regeneration in deionized water production processes.

ChemGenes Corporation, Wilmington, MA
Solvent reduction increases cash flow

  • Reduced the use of chloroform by more than 55 percent and hexane by more than 35 percent.
  • Improved manufacturing efficiency, saving $215,000 in chemical purchases, regulatory fees and disposal costs.
  • Reduced solid waste from 25,000 to 8,000 lbs. per year.

Columbia Manufacturing Inc., Westfield, MA
Saving millions of dollars per year, expanding production

  • Recovered and reused 98 percent of the nickel and chromic acid plating chemistry from a modern, efficient plating line.
  • Eliminated the use of 147,000 gallons per day of process water and no longer generates 130,000 gallons per day of wastewater from the new plating processes.
  • Saving $3 million in water and sewer fees, $3.85 million in nickel purchases and $800,000 in chromium purchases.

Franklin Paint Company, Franklin, MA
Reduced toxics, improved product quality

  • Eliminated use of xylene and methanol.
  • Reduced use of three other chemicals below reporting thresholds while increasing paint production.
  • Reduced use of lead by more than 100,000 pounds, chromium compounds by 100,000 pounds, and toluene by 500,000 pounds.

Independent Plating Inc., Worcester, MA
Protecting worker health, saving money by reducing toxics

  • Reduced the use of toxic chemicals by more than 500,000 pounds, including:
    • Cyanide compounds by 95 percent
    • Hexavalent chromium compounds by 88 percent
    • Hydrofluoric acid by 100 percent
  • Reduced the use of acids, bases and other reportable metal compounds.

Ophir Optics LLC, North Andover, MA
Employee culture of continuous improvement

  • Reduced volatile organic compounds by 70 percent, saving $15,000 per year.
  • Reduced the quantity of hazardous waste shipped by two-thirds, saving $60,000 annually in associated costs.
  • Achieved $1 million in efficiency improvements by implementing a standardized workflow in manufacturing.

Shawmut Corporation, West Bridgewater, MA
Completely eliminated the use of TCE

  • Saved approximately $1 million per year by implementing better process controls in solvent-based adhesive lamination.
  • Eliminated the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) in 2013, which resulted in an additional $750,000 in annual savings.
  • Saved 95 percent annually on hazardous waste disposal costs.

Stainless Steel Coatings, Lancaster, MA
Stands out among suppliers, customers, community

  • Reduced the use of xylene by 57 percent and eliminated the use of hexavalent chromium.
  • Saved more than $15,000 per year in reduced waste disposal costs.
  • Reduced hazardous waste generation by 52 percent.

Professional Wet Cleaning Workgroup
Eliminating a carcinogen from dry cleaning

  • Massachusetts dry cleaners that have switched from using the solvent perchloroethylene (perc) to professional wet cleaning.
  • Share best practices on the wet cleaning process and ideas to save money and attract customers.
  • Role models for dry cleaners who are still using perc, a toxic chemical designated a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Brazilian Women’s Group Vida Verde Cooperative, Brighton
Green cleaning cooperative protects worker health

  • Trained more than 1,000 Brazilian housecleaners across the state on how to make their own cleaning products using safer ingredients.
  • Partnered with the Brazilian community media to communicate the health effects associated with prolonged exposure to toxic cleaning products.
  • Reached thousands of Brazilians who work in the cleaning industry through radio broadcasts, helping cleaners avoid toxics such as ammonia, bleach, hydrofluoric acid and formaldehyde.