FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—At the Broward County Board of County Commissioners meeting, and during the 2008 Emerald Award Trophy Ceremony, Valley Forge Fabrics was named “Environmental Business of the Year.” Altogether seven businesses were given Emerald Awards and individuals and one municipality/government agency were honored with 2008 NatureScape Emerald Awards for incorporating NatureScape Broward techniques into their landscaping.
The Emerald Award program recognizes businesses for their voluntary efforts in four areas: waste reduction, recycling, improved operating practices, and other green strategies that reduce pollution and waste. This year’s winning businesses are Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care, the Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Gardner Foreign Auto Parts, Green Children’s House, JM Lexus, Watson Pharmaceuticals and Valley Forge.
“Being acknowledged with a prestigious Emerald Award by Broward County was special enough, but being named Environmental Business of the year has significant meaning to us,” says Diana Dobin, senior vice president of Valley Forge. “We are located in Broward County, but our textiles are in hotel guestrooms all over the world. We have influenced the largest hotel chains with our sustainable fabric collection called FRESH. These hotels now have a way to not only incorporate recycled fabrics into their design schemes, but for the first time have the fabrics diverted from landfills at the end of their life’s use. Because we sell millions of yards of fabric each year, this change will have long-lasting positive effects on our environment.”
Kay Sommers of the Broward County Environmental Protection Department presented the trophies at the ceremony and said this about Valley Forge, “All of this year’s Emerald Award recipients are doing great things on their own to help protect and preserve our environment in Broward County. Valley Forge has taken it to an entirely different level. In addition to the recycled fabric collection that is made from plastic beverage bottles, they recycle other items such as cork, plastic, aluminum, glass, paper, crocs (shoes) and candy wrappers. Until I visited Valley Forge’s facility, I did not even know you could recycle candy wrappers!”
More information, including Emerald Award application procedures and guidelines, is available online at www.broward.org/environment. Also see Valley Forge.
