KI Attains Green Master Level Status

GREEN BAY, Wis. (November 10) - The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has named KI a GREEN MASTER LEVEL within its Green Masters Program. Recognizing sustainable actions by businesses from across the state of Wisconsin, the Green Masters program works to identify businesses that have taken at least one action within each of the nine pillars of sustainability. Participants in the program receive recognition for their sustainability accomplishments and develop ideas for future sustainability actions.

KI has made a comprehensive effort to incorporate sustainable practices and policies into its manufacturing responsibilities and continuously works toward incorporating the largest percentage of recycled content into its products and packaging. The company also continually identifies and reduces the use of chemicals of high concern and selects safer alternatives.

"While sustainable practices have always been a part of the KI heritage, we have sharpened our environmental focus and set more aggressive goals for the corporation," said Brian Krenke, Chief Executive Officer, KI. "Today, we have clear sustainability objectives and metrics in place to ensure that we 'walk the talk.' As we look to the future, we see countless opportunities to continue to do more by impacting the environment less. It's all part of our 'Green Behind the Red' initiative.

"The Green Masters Program is an objective, points-based recognition, assessment and certification program that enables Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies working towards sustainability. The program has established three levels of participation: Green Apprentice, Green Professional, and Green Master. KI joined the program as a Green Master in 2009. Each year at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference, the current top 20 percent of companies that applied during the calendar year are identified and recognized as the Green Masters level companies.

KI has implemented a Design for the Environment (DfE) program that sets guidelines for the engineering in material selection and chemistry and in manufacturing for increased energy reduction, which ultimately provides more environmentally friendly products. The company challenged all its manufacturing facilities to reduce consumption of energy, water, chemicals and CO2 emissions and are on track to reach its 25% reduction goals by 2021.

https://www.wisconsinsustainability.com/greenmasters

"The Green Masters Program is a tool for businesses to assess and grow their sustainability programs, to benchmark against their industry and to receive a third part certification recognizing their achievements in sustainability," says WSBC's managing director, Jessy Servi Ortiz.