Millipore Speaks at Sustainability Events

EPA Climate Leaders Partners Meeting, Chicago, IL

Millipore’s Director of Sustainability, David Newman, attended and spoke at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders Partners Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois from October 6–8. Millipore joined theEPA’s Climate Leaders Program in April 2007. The program includes approximately 250 multinational companies who have voluntarily committed to aggressive reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions, and are now delivering on those promises. These companies include customers, such as Baxter, Novartis and Genzyme.

David spoke at an afternoon breakout session on Monday to discuss Millipore’s efforts to reduce the amount of electricity used in both manufacturing and logistics centers. By sharing details of this program, David made it possible for other manufacturing plants interested in reducing their carbon footprint to use it as a model.

"Climate Leaders is a great example of government experts and industry working together openly to share practices, and reward companies being proactive in the area of climate change," says David. "Participating in the Climate Leaders program — which is free — now also gives our targets and measurements credibility, because they have been approved by the EPA."

The energy reduction programs are part of Millipore’s overall global sustainability effort aimed at reducing the company’s environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent over five years.

Climate Leaders Partners Meetings are held annually to provide Partners of EPA’s Climate Leaders program with peer exchange, recognition, program information, and updates on pressing climate change issues.

To learn more about Millipore’s involvement in the EPA’s Climate leaders program, click here.

Fourth Annual AltWheels Fleet Day, Framingham, MA and Green Fleet Conference, Chicago, IL

Tom Hartner, Millipore’s Global Procurement Manager, recently attended two events to discuss the company’s move toward increasing the number of hybrid vehicles used in the North American fleet (company-owned cars used by employees in sales and service positions).

As part of Millipore's sustainability initiative, Tom has headed a program to transition toward using fuel efficient vehicles. So far in 2008, when Millipore drivers were offered a choice between a hybrid or a traditional gas-powered car, 53% chose a hybrid vehicle. Millipore's North American fleet is now 25% hybrid as opposed to 0% a year ago. This program will save an estimated 95,000 gallons of gas as use drops from 395,000 gallons in 2007 to an estimated 300,000 gallons in 2009. The CO2 emitted will drop by 1,900,000 pounds from 2007 to 2009.

"Our green fleet initiative makes Millipore a leader in the industry," says Tom. "Companies are having a very tough time 'going green' but we've managed it, which is why we were invited to participate in these events."

On September 29, Tom participated in the Fourth Annual AltWheels Fleet Day in Framingham, Massachusetts, a day-long gathering for leaders in corporate fleet management. Tom took part in two panel discussions. The first panel was called "Real World Alternative Fleet Experience: What have Fleets Done. Best Tips for Saving Dollars in a $4/gallon and higher world." Also participating in the discussion were representatives from United Technologies, National Grid, Wheels, Keene NH, Massport, UPS and Staples. The second panel was called "Fleet Challenges and Solutions: Light and Medium Duty Fleet Options & Experiences" and Tom was featured along with panelists from Penske, Environmental Defense Fund, and Carrier/UTC.

From September 15–16, Tom attended the Green Fleet Conference in Chicago, IL. There, Tom participated in a breakout session called "Effective Strategies to Cut Spiraling Fuel Costs While Reducing Emissions." Panelists discussed a variety of proactive steps and policies for building an environmentally conscious fleet.