SCIENCE & INNOVATION - Texas Nameplate Company

Description of Individual or Organization

Texas Nameplate Company makes nameplates for numerous companies worldwide, using chemical etching, screen printing, and photosensitive processes. They are a role model in their industry for excellence and strive to inspire others through environmental processes of rejuvenate, recycle, and reclaim. Texas Nameplate is a family owned business whose culture promotes diversity in the workforce along with open communication in a relaxed, family-centered environment. Being green is a state of mind, and it's who they are. 

Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)

• Texas Nameplate Company (TNC) is the proud recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1998 and 2004. The Baldrige Award is given by the President of the United States to businesses that are judged to be outstanding in seven areas: Leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results.

• Dale Crownover, TNC's CEO, promotes sustainability in numerous presentations with national and international exposure.

• TNC gives tours to competitors and encourages other companies to adopt environmental processes. They are a role model for other companies.

• TNC tries to inspire others to make small environmental changes and see how over time they can grow into an environmental movement that will make a difference to the world that we all live in and love.

• TNC created a culture of going green and being sustainable.

• TNC adopted the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. If you look at people and the planet, you will make a profit.

Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)

For many years, Texas Nameplate Company (TNC) was on the environmental "bad guy" list. They were cited by the City of Dallas for violations related to polluted water discharge. That's when TNC began changing their practices. TNC won a "Dallas Blue Thumb" award for water quality, and now they are a leader in environmental responsibility.

TNC uses a lot of acids in making nameplates, which involves toxic chemicals. Instead of discharging waste products into water and air, TNC overhauled its processing to capture waste and recycle materials where possible. This metamorphosis transformed the business, drastically reduced toxic byproducts, and resulted in a green process that they promote to other companies.

Some of the things that Texas Nameplate Company has done to reduce their impact on the environment:

• TNC reduced 100 pounds of VOCs per year by switching to water-based paints.

• TNC reduced its water usage by 90 percent.

• TNC changed processing in order to recycle 6,000 gallons of acid and reclaim 1,200 gallons of solvent a year.

• TNC recycles 60,000 pounds of metal a year.

• TNC invented iSCRUBBER™ technology which is an enclosed, fully automated solvent scrubbing system designed for cleaning paint and resist from chemically etched nameplates. It reduces VOC emissions by 75 percent and VOCs by more than 80 percent, decreases labor hours, eliminates soiled rags consumption, diminishes exposure to hazardous chemicals, and decreases the carbon footprint on the environment.

• TNC is paperless and recycles cardboard, saving 18 trees a year.

• TNC created an electronic environmental dashboard which is displayed for all employees to see. The dashboard shows key measures of environmental impact, which reinforces TNC's commitment.

Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)

• When Texas Nameplate Company (TNC) moved their business to a new location, they worked with City officials to minimize their impact on the environment. TNC radically re-invented the nameplate manufacturing process by designing and building a state of the art manufacturing facility. TNC spent an extra $500,000 voluntarily to reduce their environmental footprint; nothing was mandated by outside sources. They went the extra mile for both indoor and outdoor air quality by installing state of the art air-scrubber systems and by drastically reducing VOC emissions. 

• TNC is trying to set an industry standard for environmental responsibility, and is challenging other firms to do likewise.

• TNC has been ISO 14,000 certified for 20 years. This certification shows what the organization does to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and continually improve its environmental performance.

Other reasons for your nomination

• Texas Nameplate Company's (TNC) environmental turnaround to sustainability is an amazing story that should be told so that it can inspire others to be more environmentally responsible.

• TNC did everything voluntarily; nothing was required!

• TNC killed 700 trees during its first 70 years of existence. Over its next 70 years, they plan to save more than 700 trees, 84,000 gallons of solvent, 420,000 gallons of acid, 1.7 million pounds of VOCs, and 31 million gallons of water -- an extraordinary environmental turnaround!

• When I asked if it was okay to submit TNC for a GreenSourceDFW Sustainability Award, the CEO replied: "I’m not as interested in getting recognized as much as trying to obtain exposure as to enhance our environment." This shows the remarkable attitude that he has instilled throughout his company and is one of the reasons why TNC so richly deserves this GreenSourceDFW Award.