Cobalt recognized by EPA
NEODESHA, Kan. – The Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7) has recognized Cobalt Boats for ongoing efforts at reducing pollution and waste in its manufacturing operations, the company said earlier this week.
Called the “P2 Award,” the recognition cited Cobalt’s success in enhanced workplace safety, decreased demand on natural resources through reuse of production materials, reduced landfill loading, diminished air emissions from the Neodesha plant, and the elimination of tons of hazardous waste – while expanding the efficiency of production processes with consequent positive impact on the local economy.
“Reducing pollution, waste and the consumption of natural resources is important to Cobalt,” said Paxson St. Clair, company president. “We are committed to not only building the best boat in the industry, but we also want to construct them in an environmentally friendly way, to protect our local community and state. Our facilities and manufacturing teams have been extremely proactive in exceeding environmental guidelines. We are very proud of them.”
In announcing the P2 Award, the EPA cited in particular several new processes, several new environmentally responsible raw materials: in the lamination of hulls and decks, for example, the use of resins low in volatile organic compounds and, consequently, in hazardous air pollution (HAP); the elimination of HAP-content from upholstery adhesives; optimized cutting of fiberglass mat to reduce waste; and an expansion of the original acetonerecycling program.
At the forefront of Cobalt’s continuing efforts at environmental excellence now stands what is known as “closed molding technology,” a fiberglass process that essentially eliminates VOC and HAP emissions and the need for cleaning solvents.
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