CNS wins gold, silver DOE GreenBuy awards
Y-12, Pantex honored for “green purchasing” efforts
Oak Ridge, Tenn.—Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, TX turned green into gold and silver, respectively, with GreenBuy awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for sustainable purchasing. The awards recognize excellence in “green purchasing” that extends beyond minimum compliance.
This is the fourth year for Y-12 and second year for Pantex to receive a GreenBuy award. Multiple recognitions are significant because GreenBuy awards call for continuous improvement. Both sites are managed and operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS).
By participating in the GreenBuy Program, the sites leverage the federal government’s purchasing dollars to achieve mission goals while improving the marketplace for sustainable products and services, as well as reducing the overall environmental impacts of DOE's operations.
Shab Fardanesh, Senior Sustainable Acquisition Advisor for the DOE's Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security, said, “This voluntary program helps DOE sites systematically reduce their footprint through environmentally sustainable purchases. As an added bonus, employees can also use this information to make greener and healthier purchases at home.”
Exceeding the goals
Sites must purchase a minimum of nine products in at least five categories to receive the Gold award. Y-12 exceeded those milestones by purchasing 10 priority products in the requisite categories in fiscal year 2021. The categories range from lowering health and environmental impacts to reducing maintenance and waste-management costs.
Pantex exceeded the goals for the Silver award by purchasing six priority products in four categories.
CNS Sustainability and Stewardship Manager Jan Jackson said, “Both sites achieved these awards by demonstrating excellence in sustainable acquisition for recycling electronics and purchasing of paper towels, toilet tissue, other consumables, and electronic equipment as priority products.”
Sherith Hudson, CNS Sustainable Acquisition Program coordinator, added, “These awards recognize that the CNS Sustainable Acquisition Program trained 399 employees at Y-12 and Pantex involved in specifying and procuring materials, products, and services during Fiscal Year 2021.”
Learn more about the GreenBuy Award Program and its recognition of DOE sites for excellence in “green purchasing.”
Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.
For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@pxy12.doe.gov
Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
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