News Releases from Region 03

EPA, NASCAR recognize Danville manufacturer for sustainability achievements

PHILADELPHIA (August 15, 2016) -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Intertape Polymer Group, of Danville, Va., is the winner of a competition created in partnership with NASCAR that encourages Virginia manufacturers to reduce their environmental footprint.

The competition, known as the Virginia NASCAR Green E3 Challenge (Energy-Economy-Environment), invited manufacturers throughout Virginia to demonstrate measurable changes that they have implemented to improve the sustainability of their facilities.

“The Virginia NASCAR E3 Green Challenge is important because it showcases advancements manufacturers made to improve sustainability,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “The Intertape Polymer Group and other competitors are increasing productivity, reducing their use of energy and materials, and lessening their environmental impact.”

The winner, Intertape Polymer Group -- a manufacturer of tapes and adhesive products – showcased multiple sustainability efforts that included reducing carbon emissions by 2,000 metric tons over the past two years and saving $352,000 in energy costs.

“NASCAR has been aligned with the EPA for years around their E3 program in an effort to make local businesses operate more sustainably,” said Catherine Kummer, Senior Director of NASCAR Green Innovation and STEM Platforms. “Since the inception of NASCAR Green in 2008, we have been collaborating with organizations that care deeply about reducing our sport’s environmental impact and we continue to see measurable progress year after year.”

The E3 program, supported by EPA and five other federal agencies, provides funding and technical support to help manufacturers make changes that will help them save money while also becoming more sustainable.  In Virginia, the Manufacturing Technology Center and GENEDGE Alliance manufacturing extension partnerships conduct assessments and provide training to the participating manufacturers.

NASCAR challenged manufacturers throughout Virginia to participate in the E3 Challenge. Today’s winner was announced and recognized during a ceremony at the Richmond International Raceway Complex.

For more information on the E3 NASCAR Challenge, visit: https://www.epa.gov/e3 and http://green.nascar.com/ .

# # #