Johns Manville Receives “24-Karat Gold Challenge Award” from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Global building products manufacturer Johns Manville (JM) was recently honored with the “24-Karat Gold Challenge Award” by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for “above and beyond” efforts in creating and implementing a program that has made a measurable contribution to the environment, the economy and society. JM was nominated to receive the award by 97 “Gold Leader” peer companies within the Environmental Leadership Program.

The Environmental Leadership Program, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, recognizes organizations that go beyond compliance with environmental regulations and strive toward a goal of sustainability. Members work through three levels of partnership: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Program membership stands at 160 organizations, representing a variety of sectors from manufacturing and agriculture to schools and service providers.

Johns Manville was presented with the 24-Karat Gold Challenge Award at an annual awards dinner on Oct. 16 at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver.

Johns Manville won the award thanks to recent activities at the Johns Manville/Industrial Insulation Group manufacturing facility in Fruita, Colo. Staff reinvented, redesigned and reconstructed its manufacturing process, resulting in the elimination of approximately 863 tons annually of material from landfill waste by diverting that material into a new energy-conserving product stream. As a result, the facility eliminated 40 years of reliance on a 3-acre waste impoundment complex. Additionally, the product made from this reclaimed material is conservatively estimated to reduce end user CO2 emissions by over 270,000 tons of CO2 per year.

According to Fred Stephan, senior vice president of JM’s Insulation Systems business, a team of employees from Fruita and Denver proposed and implemented the changes and truly exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“The team really did an outstanding job,” said Stephan. “In the process of meeting our environmental requirements, they were able to make our manufacturing process more efficient and productive. Their hard work, as well as their perseverance, has been very impressive.”

JM earned Gold Leader status three years ago and has maintained it ever since due to its rigorous sustainability strategy; its pledge to reducing carbon footprint and waste; and its policies on employee health and safety.

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion and holds leadership positions in many of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 7,000 people and operates 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.