IBM Burlington receives multiple environmental honors

17 Jul 2003 -- IBM Burlington's environmental leadership and achievements were recently recognized with an EPA Environmental Merit Award and three Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards.

IBM's manufacturing facility in Burlington, Vermont, was one of 35 New England facilities recognized with an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for accomplishments achieved through the National Environmental Performance Track program.

IBM Burlington was highlighted for reducing its energy use by about 7 percent each year for the past 12 years and saving enough electricity to power more than 2,700 homes for one year in 2002. The Burlington site also received an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. EPA in 2001 for its sustained environmental performance.

The National Environmental Performance Track is a voluntary program with more than 300 member facilities that was created to reward and recognize outstanding environmental performance exceeding current compliance standards. Members must demonstrate a proven record of regulatory compliance, an implemented and operational Environmental Management System, public outreach and performance reporting, and an overall commitment to continual environmental improvement. For more information, visit the National Environmental Performance Track Web site (link resides outside of ibm.com).

IBM Burlington also was recognized for environmental excellence and pollution prevention by Vermont's Governor Jim Douglas and by Elizabeth McLain, secretary of the state's Agency of Natural Resources. The awards were presented in Montpelier at the State House on May 29, 2003.

The awards honor the foresight and actions taken by Vermonters who contribute to the protection of Vermont's environment, the safety of its citizens and the health of its economy.

IBM Burlington received the following three awards:

• Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Pollution Prevention - for optimization of the backside grind and polish process in semiconductor manufacturing. The process was redesigned to reduce chemical use and associated wastewater treatment, and capital requirements for facility systems. It also has preferable workplace safety characteristics.
• Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Pollution Prevention - for aggressively pursuing energy conservation with exceptional results. In 2000 and 2001, IBM Burlington saved 123,000 megawatt hours and reduced energy related pollutants by an estimated 27,591 pounds. Economic savings during this time frame was approximately $9 million.
• Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Environmental Stewardship and Resource Protection - for water use reductions in the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) step of semiconductor fabrication. The CMP team at IBM Burlington was able to reduce CMP water use by 7.5 percent through process changes and equipment modifications and replacements. This resulted in a savings of 118 million gallons and $1,300,000 per year.

"Those honored today have chosen to see the world of possibilities and achieved excellence in pursuit of a preferred future," said Governor Douglas in presenting the awards. "We can learn from their experience and share the joy of their achievement."