Moen: Enhancing its commitment to sustainability
Sustainability and environmental responsibility are increasingly important issues in today’s society. At Moen, “thinking green” is not a new concept -- in fact, it’s something the company has been doing for the last quarter-century.
“Moen continuously strives to develop innovative processes, programs and products that offer environmental benefit while improving performance,” said Dennis McKinney, director of environmental health and safety. “What began as a relentless pursuit of eliminating hazardous waste, reclaiming useable materials and recycling water has evolved into the development of high-quality, sustainable programs, processes and products that perform equal to, or better than, their traditional counterparts.”
Programs and processes
Beyond Moen’s dedication to sustainability in product design, the company also has a number of programs in place to save the Earth’s resources. The largest initiatives are around eliminating waste and recycling water.
“In 2006 alone, Moen recycled nearly 85% of our waste from the manufacturing process,” noted McKinney.
In addition, Moen’s waste reduction initiatives resulted in the following:
- In 2006, more than 74% of Moen’s raw materials (by volume) included some amount of recycled material; this was an increase from 72% in 2005.
- The total recycled material content of Moen’s products in 2006 was 49%, of which approximately 23% was post-consumer recycled material and 26% post-industrial recycled material -- close to the highest attainable rate for any consumer product.
Over the last 25 years, Moen has instituted a number of sustainability measures to further its commitment to the environment -- many of which began with strong reuse and recycling processes. In the future, Moen plans to review its energy consumption and office areas as part of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
A sampling of Moen’s recycling/sustainability milestones in 2006 includes:
- Recycling more than 16 million pounds of metal
- Recycling over 7 million pounds of cardboard
- Recycling more than 4 million pounds of solid waste
- Converting its office practices to include only recycled paper and soy-based inks for copies
Products
Moen’s Commercial Division has a strong portfolio of sustainable products -- from metering faucets to sensor-operated flush valves. They include:
- Metering faucets -- Designed to give today’s commercial consumer an affordable, eco-friendly lavatory option, Moen’s commercial metering faucets are available in a variety of styles and options including single mount, four-inch centerset and eight-inch widespread. All metering faucets feature a flow rate of .5 gallon per minute (.25 gallon per cycle), and heavy-duty all-metal chrome-plated construction. Metering faucets prevent run-on and provide safety, ease of operation and unparalleled water and energy savings.
- FreeHand Sensor-Operated Flush Valves -- These electronic valves provide energy savings by using an infrared sensor beam to activate a flush cycle when a user is in range, ensuring efficient water use and the ultimate in sanitary protection.
- FreeHand Sensor-Operated Faucets -- Featuring hands-free activation, these electronic faucets were designed with conservation and cleanliness in mind. A unique motion sensor starts and stops the flow of water only when a user is in range, automatically reducing gallons used, lowering sewage bills, limiting hot water consumption, saving energy and preventing the risk of accidental overflow. Hands-free operation eliminates the need to touch the faucet, greatly reducing the spread of germs.
“We are extremely proud of the steps Moen has taken to reaffirm our promise to be mindful of our environment, and we look forward to enhancing our research and development process in this area to further our commitment in the future,” McKinney concluded.
In addition to stylish and affordable faucets, Moen also offers residential and commercial sinks and a full range of tub and showering packages. Moen brands include ShowHouse by Moen, which offers high-end, luxury faucets and accessories; Creative Specialties International, offering complete suites of decorative bath accessories, including innovative bath safety products that are fashionable, not institutional; and the Cleveland Faucet Group®, which manufactures affordable, durable faucets for the multi-family housing market.
Moen is part of Fortune Brands Inc. For additional information, visit www.moen.com.