National Independent Sanitary Supply Companies (NISSCO) recognizes the sustainability efforts of von Drehle Corporation by awarding the company its 2012 Preferred Supplier Sustainability Award.  The presentation will be made by Mark Bozich, president of NISSCO to Steve von Drehle, president of von Drehle Corporation at the ISSA Show in the von Drehle Corporation booth on Wednesday, October 17 at 11 a.m.

The von Drehle Corporation has demonstrated environmental stewardship since 1974 in all aspects of its manufacturing process. The majority of von Drehle Corporation's paper products either meet or exceed EPA guidelines for post-consumer content.  Each parent roll produced at the company's Cordova, NC mill is made from 100 percent recycled paper fiber, enabling the company to annually divert thousands of tons of waste from landfills.

The company's new de-inking facility uses approximately 90 percent less water than the industry average, saving nearly 400 million gallons of water each year.  Instead of disposing of the by-product created in the de-inking process (fiber ash) in landfills, von Drehle developed a program that recycles it into local farmland soil, thus improving soil texture and its ability to hold moisture, while providing additional nutrients to the soil.  This program saves approximately 2,500 dump trucks of fiber ash each year from being dumped into landfills.

"In July of this year, we received Green Seal re-certification for  the majority of our towel and tissue products," points out Steve von Drehle, president of von Drehle Corporation. "This new GS-1 Green Seal standard has stricter and more comprehensive guidelines for environmental, health and social requirements, so we are proud to earn this additional certification illustrating our environmental commitment."

Additional environmental stewardship practiced by von Drehle Corporation includes its reduction of lighting energy consumption by over $100,000 each year, reduction of  its stock roll consumption by 25% and conversion of its back-up fuel source from diesel fuel to propane for a cleaner alternative with an unlimited shelf life.

"I have had the opportunity to visit von Drehle a few times and recently its Newton, NC converting plant was the host location for one of our NISSCO Distributor Roundtable Meetings," notes Mark Bozich, president of NISSCO.  "We were treated to a tour of the plant and were surprised to see such a large manufacturing facility with waste products that were virtually non-existent. 

"Far too many manufacturing facilities that I visit have a never-ending stream of waste products from both production and employee consumption," Bozich continues. "On the other hand, von Drehle Corporation, has trouble filling a dumpster every two weeks! That's impressive."

The commitment of von Drehle Corporation to the community goes beyond its  environmental contributions.  It is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) owned entity, which elevates each employee and the community as a whole.  "The von Drehle Corporation demonstrates how to set the benchmark for how you can do good AND do good business," Bozich adds.