Link-Belt receives Environment Award

Link-Belt received the Environmental Award at the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) annual conference, held in Texas, USA, in April.

SC&RA instituted the award in 2011 to recognise a member company that has made outstanding contributions to environmental protection.

The 2012 award was made for its long-term commitment to the environment. The company has collected extensive data, integrated widespread employee involvement, and established a formal environmental management system, SC&RA said.

Link-Belt was awarded ISO 14001 certification in October 2011 and has been following environmentally friendly processes since the 1980s, when it began painting its cranes with low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint. More recently, the company adopted low hazardous air pollutants (HAP) paint.

It joined the EPA Wastewise programme, placed a recycling receptacle at every workspace, added low wattage lights that automatically turn on when needed, and painted the factory walls and ceiling white to better disseminate the light.

In addition, the manufacturer has established a goal to become a zero landfill facility. In 2011 Link-Belt recycled 88% of all industrial refuse it produced. It has committed to lowering energy consumption and its carbon footprint from natural gas and electricity by 2% a year.