(ROCHESTER, NY, December 27, 2011) – Eastman Business Park has released its most recent sustainability report, highlighting improvements the industrial complex made in 2010 during its ongoing transition from a chemical to a clean technology facility.
The EBP Sustainability Report showcases efforts aimed at resource conservation, pollution prevention and workforce safety – components of sustainability’s so-called "Triple Bottom Line” that have resulted in cleaner, safer, more energy-efficient operations at the Park, stated Michael Alt, Director of Eastman Business Park (www.eastmanbusinesspark.com).
“Our goal at Eastman Business Park is to produce goods using less energy, to reduce waste, minimize emissions, consume fewer natural resources, and safeguard workers and the community,” Alt said. “Everyone at the park contributes toward this effort.”
Eastman Business Park occupies over 1,200 acres along a four-mile stretch through the City of Rochester and Town of Greece. It has over 100 manufacturing buildings, and its own power plant, water, sewer and wastewater treatment facilities.
The home of Eastman Kodak Company’s (www.kodak.com) imaging and research operations, the facility has undergone a transformation in recent years, resulting from efforts to attract clean technology and advanced energy companies in need of the park’s resources, facilities, equipment and scientific talent.
Today over 30 different companies employing more than 4,000 people are located at EBP. And more are on the way – thanks in part to a new technology accelerator Kodak helped establish with the formation of the Innovation and Materials Science Institute, a non-profit consortium of business, science and academia.
The goal of IMSI (http://www.imsibiz.com/) is to assist middle-stage companies involved in clean technology and clean energy to fulfill their R&D, piloting, scale-up and manufacturing needs – to help reduce costs and minimize risk, Alt said.
“These clean technology companies have a keen eye toward sustainability,” Alt said. “They are seeking partners in the pursuit of their own sustainability goals – and often seek us out for our health, safety and environmental services and expertise – because sustainability is viewed as a long-term performance indicator.”
Results of the park’s recycling/reuse, waste minimization, clean air/water, and energy conservation efforts last year are impressive.
For example, through new processes, equipment, reformulated products and energy efficiency gains, the park was able to reduce power plant air emissions by 22%, and SARA-reportable emission by 11%. Since 1987, emissions of methylene chloride have dropped by 99%, the report said.
The park’s tri-generation power plant assisted in that effort, reducing energy usage by 5% -- the result of corrective actions identified by energy audit teams that eliminated plant inefficiencies in a variety of areas.
In addition, several hundred million pounds of chemicals, ash, plastic, paper, wood and metal were recycled, remanufactured, reused or resold – including 52 million pounds of solvents.
Eastman Business Park’s Sustainability Report, as well as Kodak’s Global Sustainability Report, are available at (http://www.kodak.com/go/sustainability).
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Michael Alt
Director, Eastman Business Park
(w) 585 477-1556
michael.alt@kodak.com