In 2015, we were selected to join a pilot program, MPower. Sponsored by Sustain Dane out of Madison, WI, MPower is a nationally-recognized sustainability program through the Sustainability Institute at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Other pilot cohorts included Walmart Store #5217 (south La Crosse), Habitat ReStore, and HSR Associates.
To help promote sustainability and to help explain ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), Jessy Ortiz with the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council spoke for our training day and had a booth for the PIP vendor fair.
We made connections at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Connections event, where we were told about the types of waste in the state's landfills and how to manage and reduce this waste.
As a Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Member, Empire selected a booth sponsorship at the 2023 WSBC conference. There, we promoted our sustainable print methods, product offerings, Green Tier membership, and the use of UV LED technology and automation using lean principles. This was an exciting event to talk with other like-minded businesses, share our technology, and learn from others as well.
Since then, we've continued to participate in this program and joining other businesses, such as Dynamic Recycling, People's Food Coop, Dairyland Power, Western Technical College, and McHugh Excavating. Through this program, we put the triple bottom line into action: people, planet and profit.
We were recognized by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) for superior sustainability practices. SGIA also made a case study about our sustainability practices.
We made a presentation about HR's role in "Sustainability in the Workplace."
In stage two of our Mpower landscape project, we engaged employees about environmental awareness and gathered trash on our grounds, collected 144 pounds of garbage.
In 2016, we hosted the Wisconsin Sustainability Conference to spread ideas and build relationships.
Through our achievements, we have been recognized locally, state, and nationally for our sustainable business practices.
