Ridgefield Business Receives State DEEP GreenCircle Award

By Barbara Heins & Wendy Ann Mitchell

A Ridgefield business, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is one of 16 individuals and businesses recognized Tuesday by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for their efforts to protect the environment and natural resources during a GreenCircle awards ceremony at DEEP headquarters in Hartford.

“GreenCircle Awards presented to those businesses, organizations, and individuals today recognize the importance of their voluntary efforts that improve the environment in their communities and statewide,” DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement.

“Through this award program, these volunteers and the work they do serve as role models for others to follow.”

Since DEEP launched the GreenCircle Award Program 16 years ago, approximately 1,085 individuals, businesses, schools and organizations have been recognized for preserving natural resources and protecting the quality of the state’s air, water and lands.

GreenCircle award winners have had a positive impact on the environment by focusing on reducing energy and water consumption, increasing recycling at their businesses, promoting conservation efforts and offering educational programming for students and families.

The Ridgefield business was honored at the ceremony.

Here is what the DEEP said about the firm’s green efforts:

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Began implementation of its BE Green program to conserve energy, reduce CO2 emissions, reduce the use of natural resources, and increase the level of recycling at the company. Through the BE Green Team, employees were encouraged to identify ideas and opportunities to improve environmental performance. Ideas that have been suggested include purchasing simulation software to calculate the most efficient way to perform solvent distillation and extraction protocols; using recovered solvents instead of virgin materials for cleaning operations; replacing paper towels with hand dryers; and replacing water coolers with water bottle filling stations that have a digital counter that shows how many plastic bottles are saved from the landfills. Several suggestions that have been implemented have reduced the environmental impacts of discovering and developing effective medications.

Have a news tip? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following thesedirections. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.