Reduce
ACS monitors product production levels very closely. By doing so, only products that are to be consumed (used by our customers) are produced. This creates less waste and less resource consumption.

Organizations such as the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) are working towards understanding how composite products, such as those using polyester resins, could fall within the Green standards.

Reuse
Many of ACS's chip-in-chip products are creations based on the "Reuse" idea. In manufacturing of thermoset chips, the smaller sizes are more abundant than the larger chips. By reusing the smaller mesh sizes as key ingredients in chips like Storm and Kilimanjaro, waste product is reduced yet again.

Going beyond the internal manufacturing processes, ACS is working with alternative products that could potentially be integrated into cast polymer and solid surface manufacturing.

Recycle
The basis of our Poly Stone, Dura Stone, and Artistone product lines is the Poly Chip. These thermoplastic chips are comprised of up to 25% recycled plastic—something thermoset chips can not claim. (The darker (color) the chip, the more recycled plastic used.) The thermoset chips made by ACS use a 'green' resin and produce little to no waste. This means we're able to manufacture at a more efficient rate.

In our Terra Bella line, many of our natural stones (% varies) are scrap material from jewelry manufacturers as well as tailings from mines. This does less harm on the environment than natural granite mines. Stones that are mined use less water to extract from the earth than natural granite and/or marble slabs. 

Green manufacturing involves choices in manufacturing methods that support and sustain a renewable way of producing products and/or services that do not deplete scarce resources and reducing a businesses carbon footprint—among other things.

Green requires that all things be considered. The impact a product has on the environment starts at the very beginning of the supply chain and ends at the end-use of a given product. Questions such as:

How much energy was used to manufacture the raw material?
What kind of resources are used? How long will the product last once installed?
Was the product locally produced, or shipped over long distances? What does the product do to the quality of our air?

This is really just surface layers to consider. The next section contains links to other organizations that might help your business in its quest for Green.

Here are a few links to get started in the process of becoming Green...in one shade or another.

• ACMA: Stay up-to-date with federal regulations and much more.
• Green Manufacturing Expo: Multi-industry trade show for manufacturers.
• USGBC: The United Stone Green Building Council, includes LEED certification.