CARBON REDUCTION IN MANUFACTURING

If sustainability in business slips into a few well-worn clichés and corporate slogans, then I think we are failing in our role as business leaders. -John Anderson, retired CEO, Levi Strauss & Co - 2011

MADE IN USA

•Uniek - established in 1988 - Headquartered in Waunakee, WI

•Approx 230 Employees currently at the Waunakee Plant - Headquarters

•Uniek Designs, Markets, and Manufactures picture frames and related home décor products for major retailers and other OEM businesses

•Products manufactured in Waunakee are made with predominantly (typically 80%-90%) recycled content

•Recently expanded into the Framed Art Market through the acquisition of Amanti Art in Madison

Getting Started – Sustainability Journey

1. Initially focused on facilities and energy reduction opportunities like lighting, HVAC, etc..

2. Formed a cross functional green team within the organization – developed a team mission statement

3. Key focus areas of the team:• Waste Reduction and recycling• Energy reduction and conservation• Environmentally preferable purchasing and

manufacturing processes• Environmental stewardship• Community involvement

MFG Strategies for Carbon Reduction

•Facilities Analysis with local Utility and related resources ( FOE)• Indentify key areas of potential improvements / energy reduction• Review available programs for potential financial assistance /

incentives

•M-Power Business Champions – Sustain Dane• Resources, audits, information• Support to identify and implement key projects• Shared successes with other participating businesses

•Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council• Annual conference with key success stories and best practices• Green masters program – benchmarking against other companies• Networking

•Carbon Foot Print / Annual Green House Gas Assessment – Madison Environmental Group

Some Uniek Projects Implemented

• Outdated Process Chiller Replacement Project• 577,000 kWh reduction annually• 31% of project covered by a WPPI energy incentive• A side benefit was the reduction of water consumption by over ½

million gallons annually

• Complete Plant / Facility Lighting replacement project• Reduced electrical consumption by 900,000 kWh annually• Focus on Energy Incentive – $28K incentive reduced payback to

approx 3 years.

• Dust Collection Controls – implemented on new project• Reduced annual energy consumption by $235,000 kWh annually• Another project with WPPI incentive

Manufacturing - 7 Key areas to start

1. Conduct Energy Audits / Assessments

2. Facility lighting – easy project yielding immediate energy reduction

3. Optimize Air Compressors – Fix leaks

4. HVAC / Process Chillers – High energy consumption – look closely here for opportunity

5. Develop an Energy management team – track energy usage

6. Form a Sustainability Team – get cross functional involvement

7. Join Sustainability Business Organizations – best practices / networking

Recycled Plastic /Polystyrene & StyrofoamWe recycled approx 6 million pounds

of post- consumer & post-industrial packing material in 2013 including approximately 1 million pounds of reclaimed retail hangers and StyrofoamWe are committed to expanding our use of raw material sources that would otherwise go into the landfill. You may have seen this city truck recently Around the Madison area.

Styrofoam Recycling

Waunakee Production FacilityWe produce approximately 12 million photo frames

Each YearStacked up this would form a photo frame tower over 190 miles high,

almost reaching the orbit of the international Space Station.

Some of our recycling Partnerships – just to name a few

American Family Insurance Johnson Health Tech UW Hospitals

Swiss Colony Brands UW Madison Epic Madison Streets and Recycling

City of Middleton Pellitteri Waste Mgt Fitchburg GE Healthcare

Local Recycling Partners

Thank you for allowing us to participate today.

WWW.UNIEKINC.COM