The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently recognized EMC Corporation as a 2009 Environmental Steward.

The state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative, designed to promote and encourage superior environmental performance by North Carolina’s regulated community, began in 2002.

An “Environmental Steward” is an organization that has demonstrated environmental leadership through its commitment to exemplary environmental performance beyond what is required by regulation. As an Environmental Steward, the organization commits to reporting annually on its environmental performance. The award recognizes the Apex facility’s superior environmental performance, commitment to continued reduction of its environmental impact and demonstrated commitment to exceed compliance.

EMC received its award during an April 15 ceremony at the Apex facility.

“The EMC Apex facility has demonstrated that it can promote the protection of the environment and maintain or increase business,” said DENR Secretary Dee Freeman.

“EMC is committed to the conservation of natural resources and serves as an example of strong leadership for efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing.”

A 12-member advisory board appointed by Secretary Freeman provides program direction and implementation and recommended the EMC Corporation facility be selected as an Environmental Steward. “It is an honor for EMC Apex to be recognized by the state of North Carolina as a leader in environmental excellence,” said Bob Hawkins, vice president of EMC Corporation’s North Carolina operations.

“We understand the growing importance of environmental sustainability and as a result, we are committed to reducing our impact both in the local community and throughout our supply chain.

Advisory board membership consists of individuals from industry, industry trade groups, environmental and citizen nongovernmental organizations, government, academia and small business.

Reasons cited by the advisory board in its selection of EMC Corporation include:

Integration of environmental management into core business operations through multiple processes for internal communication of environmental issues, and driving environmental awareness through efficiency improvement and employee ownership of environmental projects;

-Its practice of operating well below permitted limits and implementing management techniques beyond those required by regulation;

-Reduction in electrical usage by 30 percent over a three-year period;

-Reduction in paper usage by 43 percent from 2008 to 2009; and

-Increased recycling by 345 percent over a three-year period.

“The EMC Apex culture has long been based on the elimination of waste in our operations, so it was a natural progression to incorporate that philosophy into our Environmental Program,” said Hawkins. “Our participation in the NCDENR Environmental Stewardship Initiative has helped us to drive those efforts to the next level.”

The ESI program has two additional levels of participation and recognition: Environmental Partner and Environmental Rising Steward. The Environmental Partner level is designed for adoption by a broad range of organizations that are interested in beginning the process of developing a systematic approach to improving their environmental performance. Partners must demonstrate a commitment to maintain compliance, commit to establishing an environmental management system and set environmental performance goals. The Environmental Rising Steward level is recommended to organizations that have a mature EMS in place and have set site-specific measurable environmental performance goals. For more detailed information or to apply for the program, please visit the Environmental Stewardship Initiative Web site at http://www.p2pays.org/esi or contact Lisa Shanklin or Angela Barger with the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance at (919) 715-6500 or esi@ncdenr.gov.