Bosch celebrates ongoing environmental practices

• Bosch Packaging

Pres Lawhon (right), president of Bosch Packaging Technology in North America, and DNR deputy secretary Matt Moroney sign the Green Tier contract.

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Bosch Packaging Technology Inc. in New Richmond became one of four companies in Wisconsin to receive Tier 2 status in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sponsored Green Tier program on Tuesday.

The Green Tier program has two tiers. Tier 1 is designed to encourage innovation, collaboration and environmental goal setting among businesses. Tier 2 requires more participation and places greater emphasis on environmental performance contracts.

According to DNR Deputy Secretary Matt Moroney, New Richmond is the Green Tier capitol of Wisconsin.

“We have three companies in New Richmond that are Green Tier participants,” Moroney said. “I think that is a credit to the citizens here and this great community and their commitment to the environment.”

Pres Lawhon, president of Bosch Packaging Technology in North America, said it is an honor to receive the Tier 2 status

“Achieving Green Tier 2 status in the state of Wisconsin is a testament to our respect for the environment,” Lawhon said. “As you drove on site today perhaps you saw our Green Tier flag. We fly it proudly and are equally as proud to sign the Green Tier contract and all that it represents.”

Bosch achieved Green Tier status with their environmental efforts, including implementing recycling waste streams for 99 percent of it’s manufacturing processes, eliminating paint-related hazardous waste, achieving a 12 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions since 2007 and reducing energy and water usage.

“We humbly join three companies that have gone before us and hope that awareness of this program grows, other companies with enthusiastically follow,” Lawhon said.

The DNR presented Bosch with a plaque and both Lawhon and Moroney signed the environmental performance contract during a ceremony Tuesday morning.

“You are leading the way in showing that as a team you can deliver superior products while having superior environmental performance,” Moroney said.

Bosch will plant a sugar maple tree, the Wisconsin state tree, in recognition of their achievement and in effort to continue improving the environment.

Bosch also presented the New Richmond School District and the City of New Richmond with cash awards to help support environmental and technology products.

The New Richmond School District received $15,000 to support The Weather Bug project, a weather station that helps students learn about meteorology and the science of weather and data collection.

The City of New Richmond was awarded $10,000 for the City Stock Purchase Program, which allows residents and businesses to invest in the city for special projects.

The funds are to be directed toward an environmental or technical project or the New Richmond Friday Memorial Library.

“These groups are acting responsibly, fostering relationships and building for a better tomorrow,” Lawhon said.

Many from the state and community came out to celebrate Bosch’s achievement, including State Rep. John Murtha, State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, New Richmond Mayor Fred Horne, Regional Director of the DNR Dan Baumann and many others.

According to their website, Bosch offers a range of packaging equipment such as wrappers, bag closing, vertical form fill and seal, carton and tray forming and closing, feeding and robotic pick machines

The 150,000-square-foot New Richmond facility employs more than 200 associates. The Shell Lake facility has 35 employees and also received Tier 2 status.

“Programs like Green Tier are vital to us today and will be appreciated by our children even more tomorrow,” Lawhon said.

Tags: new richmond, communities, business