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GREEN IS THE SCENE AT MCCORMICK DISTILLING Everyone has seen the TV commercials featuring tough-talking corporate executives who turn into dancing, singing "green" devotees after hearing about the millions of dollars in energy savings. In Weston, MO, known for its 'amber waves of grain' and landmark historic status, McCormick Distilling Company is turning eco-friendly commercial dreams into an everyday reality.
The mission officially began in November 2007 when the company first assembled its "Green Group" to improve environmental performance, increase operating efficiencies and energy savings, and heighten employee awareness and conservation. But, in reality, it started before that when McCormick Distilling, home to the oldest continuously operating distillery west of the Mississippi, realized the importance of good business practices, corporate responsibility, recycling, and protecting the environment.
"A few years ago, we realized that behaving in an environmentally responsible way and caring for the environment was an important issue for our country, our employees and business partners," said Ed Pechar, chairman of McCormick Distilling Company. "So, we began taking steps and started a companywide initiative toward sustainability and supporting the environment."
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
McCormick Distilling is committed to its mission of bettering the environment and is actively engaged in a number of activities to help secure the future of our ecosystem. Its Green Group is comprised of senior executives, employees from each department and union workers, all committed to bettering the company's environmental and sustainable practices.
The first step was a total facility energy audit and simple, easy-to-do initiatives such as using energy efficient light bulbs throughout the facility, thermostat setting policies, sealing window openings, and reducing the energy used in IT and computer operations. As an example, the upgraded, energy efficient lighting system throughout the plant, warehouse and offices, is 70 percent complete and ceiling fans that control heat have cut energy use in half.
In 2007, 167 tons of materials were recycled from the company's day-to-day operations in Weston, which included PET, glass, packaging components, metals, electronics and paper. In addition, an onsite recycling coop and drop off center was established at the facility for employees' home recycling efforts. At present, 88 percent of the company's employees participate in this recycling effort.
Efforts to reduce paper consumption include document imaging, electronic invoicing, electronic order confirmation, desk-side recycling bins, double-sided printing, outbound email with an environmental notification to consider the environment before printing, and reduction of printed corporate, sales and marketing materials. Efforts are now underway to opt out of wanted junk mail.
Recycling bulletin boards are posted with up-to-date information regarding the company's recycling efforts, green initiatives, FAQ's and the company's internal recycling newsletter. CFL bulbs were distributed to all employees last year to promote eco-friendly living practices at home. In addition, employees receive a $50 gift certificate for ideas used in the program as added incentive.
The company's other green initiatives range from using eco-friendly cleaning supplies to reconfiguring all of the company's printers and fax machines to automatically print double-sided documents to reusing plastic wrapping bags discarded from previously received shipments to developing an Intranet web site devoted to green practices.
Green Power
McCormick Distilling has forged partnerships on a national scale with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to minimize its impact on the environment and Renewable Choice Energy to offset 100 percent of its energy. On a local level, the company is a member of the Greater Kansas City Climate Protection Program and sponsors the City of Weston's recycling center.
Green power initiatives include purchase of renewable energy certificates to offset electricity and natural gas consumption, purchase of bio-diesel fuel for onsite maintenance and trucking, use of hybrid trucks by its distributors to transport products across the country, and working with the EPA and local utility companies to install water pumps that operate at variable speeds to reduce and reuse water at the plant.
"Renewable Choice Energy is excited to partner with McCormick Distilling to help change its environmental footprint in a real and comprehensive way," said Quayle Hodek, chief executive officer of Renewable Choice Energy. "McCormick Distilling's commitment demonstrates their environmental leadership in the spirits industry and will inspire others to follow in their footsteps."
According to the EPA, "McCormick Distilling Company has distinguished itself from the rest of the spirit industry through its commitment to bettering the environment.
Employees purchasing supplies on behalf of the company are advised to purchase good & services from suppliers and vendors who are environmentally friendly, including office supplies, CFL light bulbs, cleaning products, electronics with "energy star" rating, monthly planners, writing tablets that use 100 percent recycled paper, soy-based inks and cover 30 percent post-consumer fiber, packaging materials and cups.
To date, the company estimates that they saved 4,099 fully grown trees; approximately 1.7 million gallons of water; 2,181 barrels of oil in the U.S.; roughly 1.0 million kilowatts of electricity; 796 cubic yards of landfill space; and more than 14,000 pounds of air pollution due to its onsite cardboard and office paper recycling efforts.
The World's First Eco-Luxury Vodka
Last year, the company successfully launched 360 Vodka, the world's first eco-luxury vodka, around this philosophy of eco-awareness and corporate responsibility.
Using only locally-grown American grains from Kansas and Missouri northwestern Kansas and southwestern Missouri, every bushel is fully utilized and nothing goes to waste. Using a unique, state-of-the-art production process, 360 Vodka is distilled four times using the column distillation process, and then filtered five times using a proprietary filter system that removes virtually all impurities and ensures its distinctive smooth, silky finish. Its strikingly clean bottle, which has a hand-blown appearance, is made from 85 percent recycled glass.
All of the shipping and packaging materials used for 360 Vodka are 100 percent chlorine-free recycled paper using water- and soy-based inks. In fact, the company estimates that they've saved more than 193 fully-grown trees, nearly 82 gallons of water, more than 9,200 pounds of solid waste and 18,000 pounds in greenhouse gasses in the production of 360 Vodka alone. McCormick Distilling also includes eco-friendly tips on sell sheets and labels, which are updated regularly based on research by Environmental Defense and other members of the Paper Task Force.
In addition, McCormick Distilling established a "360 Close the Loop" campaign through which the company donates $1 to recognized environmental organizations for every bottle closure returned to the company in pre-paid postage envelope.
"Every aspect of 360 Vodka is environmentally friendly," said Mr. Pechar. "From distilling to packaging and labeling to sales and marketing, we leave a minimal footprint on our planet. Not only is 360 Vodka an environmentally-friendly product, it's a great tasting vodka. We use only the finest locally-grown American grain in the distillation process to ensure a silky smooth finish. Our proprietary filter system takes out virtually all impurities. The end result is vodka that is second to none in the industry."
In addition to the company's partnership with the EPA and Renewable Choice Energy, its 360 Vodka brand supports a number of eco-friendly organizations such as the Sierra Club, Project Greenhouse, and Coastal Conservation Association, and sponsors the Sundance Film Festival, Environmental Film Festival and Going Green Expos.
In fact, McCormick Distilling has even taken its green commitment to the advertising and fashion worlds. The company first created eco-friendly, bio-degradable billboards promoting 360 Vodka, then took it a step further by converting the billboard materials into special bags and fashion accessories that are being re-used to carry groceries, wine and personal items.
A Journey, Not a Destination
Even with the number of improvements made at the distillery and commercial success of 360 Vodka, the executives and employees of McCormick Distilling are fully cognizant of the commitment required to continually evolve it practices and lead the industry.
"We are trying - one step at a time - to put an environmental stamp on the rest of our products," said Mr. Pechar. "We're constantly looking for better resins, better recycled glasses, labels, and recycled stock to use in our products. Through this process, we've discovered that there's a lot you can do if you commit yourself to doing it."
Moving forward, the company is exploring a number of plant improvements such as rapid, on-demand, self-starting controls; programmable thermostats; electrical upgrades; logistics scheduling; and purchasing new equipment such as boilers, water pumps and air compressors that save energy.
The distilled spirits leader is now incorporating the 360 Vodka success and bottling, packaging, labeling and sales & marketing techniques into other products in its broad portfolio, which include McCormick Vodka, Tequila Rose, Tarantula Azul, and Wiser's Deluxe Canadian Whiskey.
"We're working with our suppliers and vendors to provide sustainable, supply-chain solutions to our needs," added Mr. Pechar. "We're using post-consumer resins in our bottles and packaging as well as soy-based inks and recycled paper in our labeling."
"The success of McCormick's 360 Vodka, the first premium spirit to combine superior quality with environmental responsibility, reaffirms its pledge to be the leading environmentally-conscious distillery in the U.S.," added the EPA.
To further its environmental efforts, the company changed its operations to a four-day work week (Monday-Thursday, 7:00 am-5:00 pm) and closed the plant on Friday as well as an employee car pool program to save energy. To date, 29 percent of its employees car pool to work, which has saved an estimated 8,615 gallons of gasoline per year.
And, McCormick Distilling is creating its own 'green' forest and has set a goal of planting 360 indigenous trees, equal to 720,000 pounds of absorbed CO2 in the trees' lifetime. The company is working with the Missouri Department of Conservation and its business partners in developing 40 acres of land around the distillery as part of this 'Forest 360' campaign to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming.
360 Vodka
GREEN SCENE - With the success of 360 Vodka, McCormick Distilling is putting an environmental stamp on all of its products and constantly looking for recyclable and cost-consumer resins and recycled label stock. Here, bottles of 360 Vodka roll down the assembly line at the Weston, MO-based distillery prior to final packaging and distribution
CRYSTAL CLEAR - Using only locally-grown American grains from Kansas and Missouri, 360 Vodka is distilled four times using a column distillation process, and then filtered five times using a proprietary filter system that removes virtually all impurities and ensures its distinctive smooth, silky finish. Its strikingly clean bottle, which has a hand-blown appearance, is made from 85 percent recycled glass.
GREEN POWER - To improve its environmental performance and engage its workforce, McCormick Distilling assembled a "Green Group" dedicated to changing the company's culture and green living practices. Here, employees affix swing-tops and apply finishing touches to bottles of 360 Vodka at the company's headquarters in Weston, MO.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE - In 2007, 167 tons of materials were recycled from McCormick Distilling's day-to-day operations in Weston, which included PET, glass, packaging components, metals, electronics and paper. To date, the company estimates that they saved 4,099 fully grown trees; approximately 1.7 million gallons of water; 2,181 barrels of oil in the U.S.; roughly 1.0 million kilowatts of electricity; 796 cubic yards of landfill space; and more than 14,000 pounds of air pollution due to its onsite cardboard and office paper recycling efforts.
A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION - As a result of its initial success, McCormick Distilling is exploring other plant improvements such as rapid, on-demand, self-starting controls; programmable thermostats; electrical upgrades; logistics scheduling; and purchasing new equipment such as boilers, water pumps and air compressors that save energy.
http://www.mccormickdistilling.com/content/green.php
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1 1/4 oz 360 Vodka 