Sealy adopts green policies
Mattress maker reduces environmental impact
David Perry -- Furniture Today, February 23, 2009
TRINITY, N.C. — Sealy officials say they are doing their part to reduce the company's environmental impact, with new policies designed to reduce waste in manufacturing and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
The bedding leader said it is recycling raw materials and is improving driver policies and truck technologies to reduce waste and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Sealy began that effort as part of a green initiative launched by the company's asset management firm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., which has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund on the Green Portfolio Project, an initiative to demonstrate that environmental management can help drive business success, officials said.
The process has helped Sealy save $1.2 million in fuel costs and avoiding more than 3,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions by improving the efficiency of its fleet by almost 9%. In addition, Sealy saved over $4 million in material costs and avoided 650 tons of solid waste by reducing scrap per bed by 16% in 2008, officials said.
This year, the company plans to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy and fuel use by improving delivery routing, installing speed governors, reducing idling time and providing drivers with incentives to improve fuel economy. The company also plans to further reduce the solid waste it produces by improving recycling rates and manufacturing processes.
"As North America's No. 1 bedding manufacturer, it's imperative we take a strong leadership position in protecting and sustaining the environment," said Larry Rogers, Sealy president and CEO. "In light of the difficult environment for the mattress industry, we continue to make progress in the areas of our business we can control and the Green Portfolio Project further demonstrates Sealy's commitment to cost efficiency, as well as being environmentally responsible."
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