The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Environmental Business Award. This afternoon the 2012 award was presented by award sponsor Steve Thomason, Taylor-Thomason Insurance, to Richlite Company. Richlite Company pioneered the paper-composite surface industry at its manufacturing facility in Tacoma, beginning in 1943. Richlite is made of paper. It starts out as pulp, is turned into paper and is transformed again into a dense, durable and attractive material that can be tooled like wood. Richlite is a product base that ranges from cutting boards to countertops, exterior wall cladding to flooring, guitar parts and outdoor furniture - and even as outdoor skate ramp surfacing. It's used for nearly any commercial or residential surface or design accent. Richlite Company has always strived to produce a quality product - locally - while leaving a smaller footprint on the environment. In doing so, Richlite uses only sustainably-derived resources, pursues environmentally-sound manufacturing and business practices and works with partners who share in their initiatives to maintain a healthy planet. Richlite Company employs sustainable organizational practices. The paper includes Forest Stewardship Certified paper that comes from managed forests, is 100% recycled from post-consumer waste or is 50% recycled cardboard. Richlite Company patented a manufacturing process (WE ((waste-to-energy)) Technology) where its saturation equipment captures energy from the manufacturing process and recycles it back into the heating system. In addition, Richlite Company began tracking greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, set and exceeded a five-year goal with a total of 32% decrease of CO2 emissions. Richlite Company and Richlite facts: * The first business in Tacoma to obtain its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Environmental Product Declaration; * One of the first businesses in Tacoma to receive a BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tacoma) award; * Qualifies for LEED points in six categories; * Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification; * Rainforest Alliance Certification. Richlite's community environmental leadership includes being: * A member of Tacoma's Green Ribbon Climate Action Task Force; * A member of the Sustainable Tacoma Commission; * On the Steering Committee with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Environmental Business Alliance; * A member of the Seattle Metro Chamber's Sustainability Committee; * And, a member of the Seattle Climate Partnership. Gary D. Brackett, CCR Manager, Business and Trade Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber 950 Pacific Ave., Ste. 300, Tacoma WA 98402 P.O. Box 1933, Tacoma WA 98401-1933 Phone: 253-682-1720 Fax: 253-597-7305 Email: garyb@tacomachamber.org<mailto:garyb@tacomachamber.org> Web: www.tacomachamber.org<http://www.tacomachamber.org>