Quabaug Corporation Receives Central Mass Green Award
Quabaug Corporation was one of nine companies chosen to receive this year’s Central Mass Green Award for its innovative and responsive actions taken to conserve energy and resources, and its reuse of rubber scraps and shavings. Quabaug Corporation, the only U.S. manufacturer of Vibram® soles for shoes and boots, has also taken steps to find other niche markets such as QuaBoing®, a surfacing product for outdoor applications; Vibram pet performance products, a line of safe, durable rubber pet toys; and Vibram Hoof Pads for the farriers market.
The company has taken on a number of green initiatives in the last several years to improve the plant’s efficiency, including a new water system, saving the company more than 28,000 gallons of water per week, reusing the water it uses to cool rubber which reduces the amount of water going into the local sewer system. The company also has reduced their energy costs by taking advantage of incentives offered by National Grid to update lighting throughout the manufacturing facility and offices. In addition, its new innovative products help reduce the amount of rubber waste going into landfills by producing loose and tile rubber surfacing products.
"We are always trying to push ourselves to be considered a green company," says Mike Gionfriddo, President and Chief Operating Officer of Quabaug. "When you look at our heritage, that of an outdoor company, we’re continuing that history of being a good environmental steward."
For more information about Quabaug Corporation, visit the web site at www.quabaug.com.
This article first appeared in the Worcester Business Journal, April 28,2008, published by New England Business Media, Worcester, MA 01604. Reprinted with permission.
