Environmental Management
Assuring compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, security (EHSS), and product safety laws and regulations is inherent in the company’s operating management. It is a critical piece of our commitment to sustain the quality of our planet for future generations.
Benjamin Moore has a robust EHSS management system and internal policies and procedures that enable us to prevent and detect noncompliance with state, federal, and local regulations. We actively strive to reduce the adverse impacts of our activities, products, and services on the environment.
The EHSS leadership team, which consists of corporate, manufacturing, and distribution facilities representatives, drives our positive safety culture. This group oversees compliance, performance, and EHSS issues affecting Benjamin Moore. It is responsible for overall governance, setting standards and priorities aligned with the business goals, driving consistency between functional areas, and providing resource recommendations.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The reality of climate change requires companies to pivot with new regulations, changing weather patterns, and the desire to be responsible corporate citizens. As such, Benjamin Moore teams continuously pursue opportunities to reduce our environmental impact. In 2023, the 978-kW solar energy system added to our Clifton, NJ, distribution center provided over 80% of the facility’s electricity for the year.
Moving toward greater energy efficiency, we continued to replace conventional light fixtures with LED bulbs throughout our distribution center in Pomona, CA.
Our research and development facility has hosted a 1.7-megawatt solar array for Constellation Energy Resources since 2010. The solar array generates more than 2.4 million kWh of electricity annually and provides about 70% of the facility’s yearly electricity needs. Benjamin Moore purchases the electricity the system generates under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
Benjamin Moore has realized an average 2% increase in overall load efficiency since implementing the Ortec system in 2020. This increase in load utilization has resulted in approximately 200 fewer trucks needed to transport the same amount of product each year.
The company continues to replace older equipment, which increases fuel efficiency by 6-9% per tractor replaced.
Where possible, our trucking partners utilize biodiesel to deliver our products.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Benjamin Moore is continually exploring new ways to reduce waste. Wash water minimizes the amount of water needed in the manufacturing process. In 2023, we redirected almost 3 million gallons of wash water and wash solvent into low-grade products, keeping it out of the waste stream. Additionally, we recycled more than 725,000 gallons of paint that would otherwise become waste.
Our distribution centers ship hundreds of thousands of gallons of paint per day. We have implemented many recycling programs to help decrease waste, including recycling systems for wooden pallets, corrugated cardboard, shrink wrap, tin cans, and in some locations, colorant cans from the tinting process.
CONSERVATION
Our research and development center in Flanders, NJ, and our manufacturing facility and distribution center in Pell City, AL, have earned a Conservation Certification® from Wildlife Habitat Council® (WHC), a nonprofit group dedicated to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat. Employee volunteers at these locations manage 67 acres, providing habitat for native birds and pollinators and removing invasive species. Benjamin Moore has participated in this program since 1996.
At our manufacturing location in Pell City, the Fishing Creek Wetlands Habitat serves as an outdoor classroom for middle school and high school students receiving a formal conservation education focused on topics linked to curriculum and state STEM requirements. Themes include water quality monitoring, wetlands species identification and inventory, planting, and native food sources.