Last week, the American Forest & Paper Association presented its 2010 Environmental & Energy Achievement Award to Glens Falls, NY’s Finch Paper, for “instituting an ‘Energy Efficiency Initiative’ that used a focus on best practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 percent and transform how employees at all levels think and work with regard to energy utilization.” The award was presented to Roger Dziengeleski, Finch Paper’s Vice President of Continuous Improvement & External Operations. Finch’s “Energy Efficiency Initiative,” implemented at their Glens Falls facility, comprised a mill-wide energy management system which engaged employees at all levels to transform how they thought and worked with regard to energy use. The project resulted in a 14 percent decrease in the mill’s greenhouse gas emissions as well as cost-saving energy reductions without significant capital expense. “Finch has demonstrated that a market-driven, employee-oriented approach to sustainability can produce significant improvements without the high cost of top-down, one-size-fits-all government mandates,” said AF&PA President & CEO Donna Harman in an association press release. “Continuous improvement is a high priority at Finch,” said Finch’s Dziengeleski, “and it is very motivating for our team to enjoy the validation the Award brings. We are changing behaviors and mindsets for the benefit of the community, our employees, customers, and the world. It's wonderful.” AF&PA also presented an Environmental & Energy Achievement Award to MWV Corporation, a provider of global packaging solutions, for using advanced technology to cut ash discharge by 75 percent. Implemented at its mill in Evadale, TX, the cost-effective process controlled and reduced chlorides and potassium from ash while retaining sodium, allowing the mill to use lower-cost alternative waste materials and increase its self-generated electricity, reducing the amount of ash by 75 percent. AF&PA presents the annual Environmental & Energy Achievement Award to member companies that contribute significantly to advances in the practical application of new and improved environmental and energy technology. Applications for the Environmental & Energy Achievement Award were reviewed by a panel of judges, which included representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Resources for the Future, and retired industry executives. Each entrant was judged on their project’s ability to reduce energy use and improve environmental footprints.