FOSTORIA, OHIO, OCTOBER 6, 2020 – Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency recognized Charter Steel Fostoria’s exceptional sustainability and environmental stewardship activities in the agency’s 2020 Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Award program.
Charter Steel Fostoria’s efforts merited a Silver-Level Achievement in the state’s annual competition, a rigorous initiative in which businesses and organizations document environmental stewardship activities and are evaluated against a stringent 15-category criteria set. The E3 Award program aims to “reduce the impact of business or organizational activities on the environment beyond measures required by any permit or rule, producing a better environment, conserving natural resources and resulting in long-term economic benefits,” according to the agency’s Web site.
In its September award announcement the EPA noted the company’s particular efforts in “reducing the use of plywood and reducing solid waste generation by using durable matting; reusing shipping supplies and dunnage; and for a facility-wide energy efficiency program to conserve heat and use LED lighting.”
In its E3 application, Charter Steel also documented additional extensive environmental achievements supported through an intense site-wide, all-employee focus. These included:
- Water use reductions, including the reuse of reverse osmosis reject water and a project that takes treated industrial water and reuses it;
- Several energy efficiency projects, including automated gas meter installations, additional equipment and lighting changeouts, and employee awareness training; and
- Continuous improvement activities, a scrubber reduction project, and digitizing and automating processes for reporting and regulatory compliance.
At minimum all E3 applicants must comply with or exceed all EPA regulations and policies. This year, 19 organizations received EPA honors, which span Achievement, Silver, Gold and Platinum Levels.
Bob Venable, President – Charter Steel, noted the significance of this first-time Ohio EPA recognition. “This award speaks to all of the great work being performed plantwide. It is a true testament to Charter’s culture of environmental stewardship and continuous improvement. Every department contributed to this recognition,” he said.
The agency’s process typically includes a site visit by EPA officials, but given COVID-19 pandemic limitations, the application and additional inquiries were handled via a July conference call. Looking ahead, Charter Steel Fostoria is focused on achieving the Gold Award Level and the business’ Cleveland site will pursue an Ohio E3 application in the future.
Charter Steel, part of the Charter Manufacturing family of companies, is a U.S. steel producer, employing more than 1,100 employees in Ohio and Wisconsin. Charter Steel offers a full range of carbon and alloy steel bar, and rod and wire products to not only meet, but exceed customer expectations. With flexible manufacturing assets, managed inventory programs, customized shipping solutions and a dedicated technical services team, Charter Steels provides customers with the exact steel and engineered solutions they need, when they need it. The will to grow drives Charter Steel’s success, with dedicated employees committed to continuous improvement and an entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within the Charter family.