Louisiana Pacific

Resources & Publications

Brochure on EMS: Your Business Advantage (PDF) (446 K, 8 pp, About PDF)
EMS Training Modules & Guides
Case Studies
Publications

For Groups

Overview

Because of pollution control and monitoring equipment difficulties experienced at Louisiana Pacific's (LP) Olathe, Colorado facility, the company implemented an EMS to further ensure that their business practices protect the environment and community. Acknowledging the problem, LP invested substantial financial and human resources into analyzing the causes and potential solutions. Through an evaluation of the cause of environmental problems at Olathe and throughout the company, LP decided to strengthen its environmental management at the plant level. The Olathe mill was selected for the initial pilot of LP's EMS because of its immediate need for change. If this particular facility could be successful in changing, it was likely that the EMS would enhance environmental performance company-wide. Olathe's transformation is a notable success. Soon after the EMS was implemented, a comprehensive two-day, unannounced inspection by EPA was conducted. EPA considered permit compliance to be well managed, contingency plans appropriately linked to the community, and training thorough. EPA's lead inspector, who had conducted numerous inspections of wood product manufacturing operations across the country, likened the LP Olathe plant to a "bakery" because it was so clean and well run. The company now has a cutting edge EMS and can transfer this knowledge to employees everywhere.

Benefits

Louisiana Pacific has realized the following benefits from the EMS program:

Mill employees have an enhanced sense of environmental awareness. Mill employees report that changes implemented through the EMS have greatly improved individual performance and consequently that of the whole facility. Knowledge of and compliance with environmental regulations is at an all-time high.
As an outgrowth of the EMS program, LP's Laminated Veneer Lumber and I-Joist plant in Hines, Oregon, began recycling planer shavings in early 1998. The wood "waste" material, originally disposed of at a cost to the company, is now being used in the production of other wood products such as medium density fiberboard. In February and March 1998, an estimated $12,900 was generated as a result of recycling the material rather than sending it to the local landfill. Total revenue from planner shavings is estimated at $90,000 for 1998.
Soon after becoming a part of LP, Associated Chemists, Inc. in Portland, Oregon, implemented the EMS program and discovered how to save thousands of dollars by retaining and filtering their wastewater. After a few months with the filtration system, cost savings were estimated in the thousands of dollars. In 1997, ACI received the "Best Practice Award for Water Conservation" from the City of Portland.
Significant savings in waste management are being reported company-wide. At LP's particle board plant in Missoula, employees have reduced annual landfill disposal costs by $31,000 by reducing waste, reusing, and recycling. Much of this savings is the direct result of their Pallet Rebuild and Reuse program. Rather than dispose of pallets, old or broken ones either are repaired or sold to other companies. Recycling paper, cardboard, and metal has also resulted in additional plant profits and/or savings. Overall ‘scrap sales' led to a $5,500 profit in 1998.
During the development of an SOP for wood burner slag at one of LP's facilities, the EMS team discovered that each employee performed disposal tasks in different, sometimes overly time-consuming, ways. The implementation of an SOP eliminated the confusion and unnecessary steps by clearly stating the standard disposal requirements and procedures. Consistent handling of wood burner slag reduces environmental risk for local communities and increases efficiency in company operations.

For more information, visit Louisiana Pacific.

Top of page

Louisiana Pacific

See Also

Overview

Benefits

Local Navigation