ARMSTONG WINS TOP WASTE WISE AWARD

Armstrong World Industries was awarded the top award, Gold Certification, in Sustainability Victoria’s Waste Wise Program on Monday 10^th September 2007 at 10 am at the company’s manufacturing plant in Braeside, Melbourne.

The company has won a solid portfolio of environmental awards over recent years, including:

• The Keep Australia Beautiful – Sustainable Cities Business Zero Waste Award 2007, in recognition of Armstrong’s continued overall improved efforts for landfill reduction and with one plant achieving a positive landfill impact – used or diverted more material from landfill than was sent.
•  The Keep Australia Beautiful – Sustainable Cities Litter and Waste Management Award 2006 in recognition of the 465 tonnes of post consumer and post industrial waste the company saved from landfill that year,
• Was a finalist in both the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Challenge Plus awards and in the 2005 savewater! Awards.
• The company has been a member of the Green Building Council of Australia since March 2004.

Both Armstrong’s manufacturing plants at Braeside and Thomastown in Victoria are accredited as WasteWisefacilities by Sustainability Victoria – a State Government agency providing information and assistanceon waste reduction initiatives.

The Waste Wise program originally recognised companies that showed strong environmental commitment such as landfill reduction, but has moved to an holistic approach.  Now the consideration is on all environmental impacts, with a strong focus on Greenhouse Gas and water reductions.

Waste Wise certification is three- tiered: Bronze, Silver and Gold.  Bronze is awarded to companies which are developing emerging systems that demonstrate some awareness and have some programs in place;  Silver is awarded to companies implementing systems that have strong environmental practices integrated into many of their functions and can show commitment to continuous improvement; Gold  is awarded to organisations with established systems based on sound environmental practices and that also show supply chain management proactive practices directly related to corporate strategy, 3rd party accreditation and advanced abatement programs.

“While we are proud of our efforts in helping to protect the Australian environment, we are continuing with our major research and development program which examines other post consumer recycled waste products,” said Mr. Mike Jenkins, Armstrong’s Vice President-South Asia.  “We look forward to announcing a number of new initiatives in the near future.”

ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES

• 2006 and 2007 Winner Keep Australia Beautiful – Sustainable Cities Litter and Business Zero Waste Award
• Finalist Keep Australia Beautiful – Sustainable Cities Product Innovation Award 2006
• Finalist of the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Challenge Plus Award 2005
• Finalist in 2005 Save water! Awards
• Member of Waterwise
• Member of the Green Building Council of Australia