Photo by Sherri Jenison

From foundry to laboratory, from lunchroom to boardroom, lean and green is an evolving ESCO approach founded on nearly 100 years of problem solving. ESCO incorporates three inter-related commitments in its approach to sustainable success: principled stewardship of the natural environment, generous participation in the communities where the company has facilities, and encouragement of a vital and diverse workforce and economy. As a result, ESCO’s philosophy and actions regarding sustainability go well beyond meeting minimum standards – they create a unique competitive advantage through a company-wide focus on continuous improvement.

Today, sustainability means more than environmental stewardship. Sustainability requires a broader understanding of how the link between green and lean practices enhances productivity, stimulates constant innovation and improvement, and creates long-term benefits for customers, employees, the economy and communities. That is why the people of ESCO have integrated both green and lean principles into how they innovate, produce and distribute products. As a result, ESCO has created and built upon a lean culture that dramatically reduces waste and actively involves employees in every level of continuous improvement.

One of the methods ESCO uses to evaluate the progress of sustainable initiatives is to monitor resource utilization through the annual QVS (Quality, Value, Speed) Assessment conducted at each manufacturing facility. The score card states:

Safety

Safety is a shared value at ESCO. Every employee wants to come to work healthy and leave in as good or better shape than when he or she arrived. ESCO invests in the facilities, equipment and training needed to create a positive and safe work environment. The ESCO safety record has been excellent through the years, yet safety is still a focus for continuous improvement efforts. Observation Based Safety programs are being implemented at all facilities to provide a structured process for employees to note and correct at-risk behaviors before they lead to injury. Investing in the well being of employees protects the company’s greatest asset – the people of ESCO.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development defines the seven principles of
eco-efficiency as:

• minimizing energy intensity
  
• minimizing the material intensity of goods and services extending product durability
• increasing efficiency of processes
• minimizing toxic dispersion
• promoting recycling
• maximizing the use of renewable resources

ESCO Corporation honors these principles and applies them to the development, production and distribution of ESCO products and solutions.

Learn more about eco-efficiency by visiting the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Website at www.wbcsd.org.

More about ESCO's commitment to sustainability

ESCO Employees Participate in Multnomah Channel Restoration Effort

Green Team Newsletter
Summer 2007 (1.5MB)
Fall 2007 (2.1MB)
Winter 2007-2008 (1.6MB)