Global Contact Lens Production Site Recognized for Multiple Programs that Reflect Environmental and Business Commitments
PLEASANTON, CALIF., June 5, 2017 — The CooperVision high volume manufacturing facility responsible for producing more than a billion soft contact lenses each year has once again received top honors for programs and practices relating to its sustainability and occupational health and safety commitments.
The Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (PRMA) recognized the Juana Díaz site with 13 awards at its 2017 Environmental Health and Safety Summit – the most bestowed on any company this year. These included the prestigious Environmental Innovation Project of the Year Award, reserved for a project or technology yielding unique, measurable results.
CooperVision minimized raw materials usage, waste, and emissions by more than 60 percent, changing contact lens mold closure technology to use certain raw materials in their entirety. This represents annual savings in excess of $4.5 million. This is the second consecutive year that CooperVision has been given the award.
“Our commitment to being a responsible environmental steward while operating our sites in a manner that’s good for business – combined with a highly inventive spirit of our people – are meaningful contributors to our global success,” said Rolando Torres, senior vice president, Americas Manufacturing Operations at CooperVision. “We’re grateful for PRMA’s ongoing support and highest recognition, especially considering the programs from other well-respected multinational corporations that were in consideration.”
CooperVision was also honored with:
- A fifth consecutive President’s Award, given to the company with employee injury rates that are 50-74% below the national average.
- Four Energy and Water Conservation Awards, placing a spotlight on initiatives that reduce annual water consumption by more than 30 million gallons, that reduce annual energy consumption by approximately 2 million KWh, and that minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
- A second straight Recycling Platinum Award, which is presented to an organization that exemplifies best practice standards in alternate energy and sustainability. The Juana Diaz site recycles more than 90 percent of its manufacturing process materials, including 100 percent of its plastics.
In addition, the company won awards in overall environmental performance, environmental leadership, and waste/emission/chemical usage minimization. Other honorees included corporations such as Amgen, Baxter, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coca-Cola, Honeywell, Medtronic, Merck, Microsoft, Stryker, and Pfizer.
As with all its environmental, health and safety (EHS) advancements, the CooperVision operations team disseminates best practices to its other production sites worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Hungary, Costa Rica and the United States. The company’s EHS team is also active in sharing its knowledge with other manufacturers, advocating for the health and safety of all employees and residents of the communities in which it operates.
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About CooperVision
CooperVision, a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses. The Company produces a full array of monthly, two-week and daily disposable contact lenses, all featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision has a strong heritage of solving the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism and presbyopia; and offers the most complete collection of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.
About The Cooper Companies
The Cooper Companies, Inc. ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper is dedicated to being A Quality of Life Company™ with a focus on delivering shareholder value. Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on women’s health, fertility and diagnostics. Headquartered in Pleasanton, CA, Cooper has more than 10,000 employees with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Media Contact
Mike McDougall, McDougall Communications for CooperVision, Inc.
mike@mcdougallpr.com or +1-585-434-2150