Barreling Towards a Sustainable Future
By Johnny Meckles, Environmental Systems Manager, with Dominic Stelzer, Sustainability Manager
Today marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement that began in 1970. Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging people and businesses to take action for a healthier planet and brighter future.
As the leading producer of high-quality white oak barrels, ISC understands the importance of sustainable practices, but our vision is to also be the leader in sustainability in the oak products industry. This vision drives everything we do, from the way we source the highest quality white oak to how we manufacture and distribute our barrels. We understand that being a leader in sustainability is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it is about setting new standards and inspiring others to follow suit.
We maintain accountability within our environmental and sustainability commitments through our certifications from leading organizations such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for our forestry operations, and the ISO 14001 certification for environmental management within our mills and cooperages. These certifications demonstrate our adherence to stringent environmental standards and best practices, ensuring that our products are sourced and produced in an environmentally responsible manner.
At the heart of our sustainability commitment are our four Environmental Roots: Responsible Forestry, Resource Conservation, Environmental Education, and Community Commitment.
Responsible Forestry: We are committed to sourcing our oak products from responsibly managed forests. This means ensuring that the forests from which we source our raw materials are managed in a way that protects biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and uses best management practices from our logging operations.
Resource Conservation: We are constantly striving to minimize our environmental impact by creating vast recycling programs at each production facility and reducing energy through innovative engineering solutions. Through continuous improvement initiatives, we aim to reduce waste and increase efficiency in all operations.
Environmental Education: We believe that education is key to driving change. That's why we are committed to educating our employees, partners, and communities about the importance of environmental sustainability and how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Community Commitment: We understand that our operations have an impact on the communities in which we operate. That's why we are committed to fostering, supporting, and helping grow positive environmental programs within our communities.
Sustainability is not just a goal; it is a journey that we as a planet are on every day. By prioritizing environmental conservation, staying true to our values and continuing to innovate, ISC is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future—one barrel at a time.
