For JLG / Jerr-Dan, an Oshkosh Corporation company, protecting the environment is a core value. Through a corporate environmental protection policy, JLG / Jerr-Dan established goals to reduce waste and emissions, minimize adverse environmental impacts, and promote resource conservation in all manufacturing facilities. To meet these goals, JLG /Jerr-Dan tracks waste metrics throughout the facilities which in turn led to the pursuit of TRUE certification. By starting the process, we came to realize how much material we did recycle, reuse, and upcycle. We also discovered what more we can do to increase our recycling efforts throughout our facilities.
JLG /Jerr-Dan leadership adopted a zero-waste policy with the goal of reaching 90 percent of waste diverted from the landfill. As part of their People First culture, JLG / Jerr-Dan promotes sustainability and employee participation in environmental initiatives. Employees have been involved in waste stream analysis, annual employee e-waste recycling, and Earth Day activities. The JLG /Jerr-Dan team established best management practices that promote zero waste in the facilities, including:
• Separating types of metal to increase recycling and rebates
• Upcycling and creating new tools and supplies to help improve the manufacturing process within 253 Success Drive and other facilities
• Placing standardized labels on all recycling and trash collection containers
By tracking the waste and costs, we calculated how much money we were actually spending on waste disposal and the rebates back from properly recycling items. Employees were asked to help identify waste streams and label collection bins. We now ask employees and newly hired team members in training for new sets of eyes and ideas to better improve our recycling and diversion efforts. In April, Oshkosh Corporation celebrates "Good2Give Back" month. This is a month Oshkosh Corporation has asked team members to volunteer time to help in their communities. This includes road cleanup, working in soup kitchens and animal rescues.
For the ninth consecutive year, Oshkosh Corporation was named a 2024 World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute demonstrating their commitment to leading ethical business standards and practices. In addition to being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, Oshkosh Corporation has been named one of America’s Greenest and one of the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek, earned top score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index and has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for five consecutive years.
“Sustainability is a core value at JLG / Jerr-Dan. Achieving zero waste to landfill, incineration, and the environment is a way to demonstrate that we are vested in the future of our company, community, and planet," said Jason Grentus, Senior Environmental Manager.
“Receiving TRUE Gold certification for Jerr-Dan 253 is a huge honor," agreed Eric Hall, Senior Plant Manager for Jerr-Dan. "It’s truly a win-win all around. We save money for the organization with a reduction in waste costs and help support sustainability for the planet!”
Photo credit: Michelle Wise