American & Efird (A&E), Mount Holly, N.C., recently announced that its dye house in Dongmei, China, has received recognition for its participation in the Nike Materials Sustainability Index (MSI).
“Nike MSI is one of the most prestigious sustainability programs with exceptionally high standards, and we are incredibly honored to receive this award,” says John Eapen, A&E’s vice president of environmental, health and safety/sustainability. “While others have backed away from environmental efforts, we have broadened our environmental responsibility, the results of which have reinforced our global commitment to creating a better world through responsible corporate actions, an environmentally protective stance and numerous contributions to the communities in which we operate.”
A&E, a supplier to Nike, is part of an estimated 10% of footwear suppliers worldwide to participate in Nike MSI. The company received perfect scores in both the Nike Water Program and Water Conservation. The Nike Water Program requires suppliers to submit treated wastewater to an independent, certified environmental laboratory and upload the results to the Nike MSI water website. The results must meet Nike and local discharge standards.
A&E’s Dongmei plant’s treatment system surpasses required regulatory limits and recycles more than 50% of the treated wastewater. The company invested more than $2 million for this treatment plant.
In its 2011-2012 sustainability report, A&E announced it made a 16.8% improvement worldwide in water conservation and saved more than 557 million gallons of water during the past six years.
For more information, visit amefird.com. — L.M.
