For Immediate Release: July 28, 2008
Contact: Seamus Kraft/Michael Brown (202) 482-3809
COMMERCE OFFICIAL KICKS-OFF NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE
MANUFACTURING TOURS
Tours Begins at Sunnen Products Company
ST. LOUIS – U.S. Commerce Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services William G.
Sutton today kicked off the Sustainable Manufacturing American Regional Tours (SMART) at
Sunnen Products Company, a machining systems manufacturer in St. Louis, Mo. SMART seeks
to work with U.S. businesses to share successful and easily-adopted sustainable manufacturing
practices that reduce natural resource use and energy consumption while enhancing profitability.
“The United States is a global leader in sustainable manufacturing, improving our
competitiveness in the global market,” said Sutton. “The SMART project seeks to showcase
ways U.S. manufacturers can attract new clients and customers, become good corporate citizens,
and boost their bottom lines through sustainable production practices.”
Businesses are sustainably manufacturing in order to profitably produce goods while minimizing
their environmental impact, natural resource use, and energy consumption. The focus on
sustainability helps companies comply with domestic and international regulations related to the
environment and health while at the same time improving their products, services, and image.
U.S. manufacturers and the Department of Commerce are working together to make America
more globally competitive for generations to come. Sunnen exemplifies a company that employs
both environmentally and economically sound manufacturing practices and gains significant
competitive advantages.
Sunnen Products Company is a family owned business that has adopted sound and profitable
sustainable manufacturing practices. Sunnen has reduced lighting costs by 30 percent by relamping
the company’s 486,000 square-foot manufacturing headquarters and cut natural resource
consumption by reclaiming and reusing scrap aluminum, brass, and steel from their own
manufacturing processes.
For more information on SMART and sustainable manufacturing, please visit www.trade.gov/competitiveness/sustainablemanufacturing.
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