PLASTICS GO GREEN?

Curious that in a synthetics industry trade journal, this simple and obvious business acumen is described as “going green.” The attitude is somehow reminiscent of Vice President Cheney's condescending remark that conservation was little more than a “nice personal virtue.”

The Greening of an Industry: Managing energy demand, lowering costs
Clare Goldsberry, April 1, 2007 (Modern Plastics)

WHO
Saint-Gobain North America/ John Marrone, vice president of purchasing; Summit Energy Corp.
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WHAT
The plastics, ceramics and glass manufacturing giant has reduced its cost and improved its market position by conserving energy consumption. Five objectives: 1) Create an energy database. 2) Assist in managing procurement. 3) Perform market intelligence. 4) Centralizing natural gas management. 5) Help cut energy demand.

WHEN
Cost containment began in 2002.

WHERE
Saint-Gobain North America is based at Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

WHY
Conservation of overall natural gas consumption was not adequate. Financial hedging was necessary to compete with traders in the gas market. The various Summit Energy-led measures produced 2-5% savings annually.

QUOTES
Marrone: “Now [energy consumption] is extremely expensive, highly volatile, and has a tremendous impact on profitability…”
Marrone: “We’re not in the energy management business; we’re in the manufacturing business. We need [Summit Energy] to help us manage this part of our operations so that we can focus on our core business without having to become energy experts…”