C/S Receives Award for Its Sustainable Practices

Construction Specialties (C/S), a manufacturer of commercial architectural building products, has been chosen to receive its fifth consecutive Champion for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth. The award was presented at CleanMed 2013 in Boston, on April 25, 2013, and honors health-care suppliers that have not only taken steps to improve their organization’s green practices but have gone the extra mile to help their clients and associates expand their sustainable practices, as well.

For more than 10 years, C/S has been on a continual journey to improve sustainability in its products as well as its manufacturing practices. Many of C/S’s products have been Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold or Silver and several of its facilities in Pennsylvania are ISO 14001 certified. Also C/S has been an industry leader in eliminating chemicals of concern in the built environment. Last year it opened a new facility in Hughesville, Pa., that was LEED Silver certified.

“Practice Greenhealth and Construction Specialties, both working toward many of the same outcomes, have a strong bond connecting the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of our work. Our ‘what’ is people and our ‘why’ is that we can make a difference, that we can enhance people’s lives by making buildings better,” says Howard Williams, vice president and general manager of C/S. “This award is the reminder and recognition of a shared purpose and of another mile traveled on this journey. Thank you PGH for your work, for allowing us to be a part of it and for encouraging by recognition.”

Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health-care membership community, empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care. “Construction Specialties, a founding member of Practice Greenhealth, has consistently focused on reducing toxic chemicals in commerce, reducing waste at their facilities, and exceeding customer needs for sustainable, high-quality products. We’re very pleased to present Construction Specialties with the Champion for Change award for the fifth year in a row,” says Lara Sutherland, director of business membership at Practice Greenhealth.

The following 2012 sustainability efforts lead to C/S’ consideration for this award:

• C/S facilities recycled 51 to 75 percent of their total solid waste, used onsite composting and installed waterless and low-flow restroom fixtures throughout their facilities
• C/S created a database of all known materials used in its manufacturing process and compared its list to the SIN list, which is a priority watch list to replace chemicals of concern
• C/S successfully eliminated the use of aerosol WD-40, MEK and petroleum-based lubricants
• C/S continued to eliminate PVC and substituted EPDM and recycled rubber for certain PVC parts in its entrance flooring product line
• Ninety-six percent of C/S’s more than 30,000 annual shipments fell under EPA’s SmartWay program