HICKORY COMPANY RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

By Jon Mayhew

HICKORY -- A Catawba County cable maker is one of nine in North Carolina to be named an "environmental steward" by the state department of environment and natural resources.

Corning Cable's Hickory cable facility is the first busines in Catawba County to recei ve the honor.

The award recognizes the facility's enviornmental performance, including a committment to continued reduction of its environmental impact, and demonstrated commitment to exceed compliance.

This is the second time a Corning facility has received this award; the Wilmington Optical Fiber Manufacturing Facility achieved Steward status in 2005.

"We are honored to be recognized as a 2008 'environmental steward,'" said Clark Kinlin, president and CEO of Corning Cable Systems. "Recognition for this award goes to our employees for their commitment to protecting our environment."

A 12-member advisory board cited several reasons for the honor including integrating environmental management into core business operations through processes for internal communication of environmental issues and driving environmental awareness through efficiency improvement and awards programs.

The company is also credited with reducing energy usage normalized to production by 22 percent and increasing plastic material recycling by 17 percent.

"It's obvious that Corning is a company striving to be a leader in the development of management systems for efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing," said DENR secretary William G. Ross Jr. "The company serves as an example that industry can be both successful in commerce and a steward of the environment in which it operates."

This is the second time in less than a year that the Hickory Cable Facility has been recognized by the state. In March 2008, the facility earned the Carolina Star certification from the state department of labor's Occupational Safety and Health division for safety excellence. In April 2008 the facility also became the first partner in Catawba County's Recycling and Waste Reduction Partnership Program.

Corning Cable Systems has adopted a green strategy to eliminate the use of hazardous substances in its products and manufacturing, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to recycle. The company is TL 9000 and ISO 9001 certified. The Hickory Cable Facility is also ISO 14001 certified to environmental standards.