Environmental Responsibility a Core Value at Just Born, Inc.

These are the categories of materials that Just Born, the Lehigh Valley's sweetest company, collected and recycled in a company-wide effort to raise the collective environmental consciousness and save energy resources as well.

In 2006, the company recycled enough paper to save 102 trees and corrugated to keep another 2,626 from being cut down.

Total recycling in all these categories saved 9,841 lbs. of air pollutants from clogging our lungs.

And all the sorting and collecting and re-using of resources reduced American usage of oil by 1,543 barrels.

The point is, companies can make a difference with effective recycling practices and departmental recycling processes contributing to the bigger picture related to sustainability.

Thom Glass could not have been hired by Just Born at a better time in its history. The Environmental, Safety and Health Manager joined the company in August 2004. Thom's role expanded into environmental programming at Just Born soon after he joined. “Our Green Team—a separate team from our Safety committee—set these goals: reduce waste, conserve energy, reduce landfill waste, recycle resources profitably and preserve the environment,” says Glass. “To achieve this, we incorporate recycling into our daily activities, educate and involve all of our associates, their families and the community to recycle and use recycled products whenever possible.”

The company's core values now include this philosophy statement: “We Believe we have a collective responsibility for our environment.”

With 30 volunteer employees on the Green Team, each working on one of the four sub-committees of Education & Events, Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction or Preservation of Environment, Just Born has been able to report the recycling rate has increased ten percent in 2007, to 86 percent. “Just Born and its green team easily have the premier recycling and environmental program in the City,” says Tom Marshall, Recycling Director, City of Bethlehem.

The company has also decided in 2007 to use natural gas as its fuel of choice, which will reduce Just Born's carbon footprint by about 75 percent.

“Some of the recycling saves the company money,” says Thom. “Other recycling services are expensed, such as batteries, where there is a charge to dispose of them properly. Overall, the most important part of the program is knowing we are taking action so that our families and the community have an even better environment than we do now. It's become a part of our culture.” The company works with the City of Bethlehem recycling center and takes its program to area schoolchildren.

Aluminum, mixed metals, corrugated and paper for instance, have become a funding source, with recyclers buying the waste. Non-conforming candies (i.e. rejects) are feed for area farmers. Sweetwater (used to rinse equipment) is captured and sold as feed for wastewater treatment plants or to become part of animal feed mix. “The important concept here is that we try to waste not, to find a reuse if possible,” comments Thom.

The company is beginning to get noticed for its sustainability efforts. Professional Recyclers of PA recognized Just Born for Outstanding Achievement in: Public Education, Commercial/Institutional Recycling and Reuse with its 2007 “PA Waste Watcher Award” to showcase the company's “recycling and waste reduction achievements as an example to others in the Commonwealth.”

Goals for FY 07-08 at Just Born include further reducing waste going to the landfill by 10 percent; reducing candy and sugar scrap each by 15 percent, and developing a framework for energy conservation at the Just Born facility, among others. Just Born believes, “Our work has Just begun!”

Recycling continues to be a process that conserves energy and raw materials, reduces dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs here in Pennsylvania and the nation. Those who watch have noted that Just Born's efforts are not going unnoticed.

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