Batavia awards VWR International for green initiatives

BATAVIA - VWR International LLC was recently awarded the Platinum Green Business Certification by Mayor Jeff Schielke and the Batavia Environmental Commission.

Facilities Manager Ken Yates and Environmental, Health, Safety & Security Director Susan Punter attended a recent village board meeting to receive the award for VWR, which has a regional distribution center at 800 E. Fabyan Parkway.

"This award given to them is significant in that this is by far the largest facility in Batavia to achieve the Platinum Award, which is the highest ranking award given by the Batavia Environmental Commission," said Byron Ritchason, city wastewater superintendent and commission member.

Yates and the VWR Batavia team have worked hard over the last few years to achieve Platinum level status, incorporating an energy efficient lighting retrofit, which resulted in a 49-percent reduction in overall electrical current draw for lighting. They have also achieved zero-landfill status through recycling and waste to energy conversion practices.

According to Yates, Batavia is the first VWR facility to achieve zero-landfill status.

Additional sustainable practices they have implemented include the installation of low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient window treatments, and the use of green seal consumable products and high-volume, low-speed fans.

Besides their local achievements, they have implemented internal efficiency projects around the world to reduce their impact. VWR is currently working to drive sustainable business practices throughout its supply chain by working together with suppliers and customers to seek and implement innovative ways to achieve their mutual sustainability objectives.