what’ s working: sustainability
A Crisp Snack That’ s Good for the Environment
From field to family, Washington’ s homegrown potato chip maker has kept environmentally-friendly operations at the forefront long before it was cool.
employer: Tim’ s Cascade Snacks location: Auburn number of employees: 90
product: Thirty years ago, Tim’ s Cascade Style Potato Chips was started in a make-shift facility in Auburn. It has been a beloved, local and environmentally-friendly snack ever since. Offering a delightful crispy taste and memorable chip called“ the best potato chip in Seattle” in 1988, and recipient of awards from Esquire and The American Culinary Institute, Tim’ s continues to enjoy a cult-like following, and receives fan mail from around the globe.
innovative environmental stewardship: Long before the days of environmental awards, green movements, and higher energy costs, Tim’ s Cascade Snacks was building sustainability into their operations as a general course of business, not an afterthought.
The company’ s Green Team, established more than 15 years ago, is constantly finding new ways to improve their already efficient production process, including using some of the smallest bags in the industry to create less waste. Tim’ s also recycles used oil into products such as biodiesel, uses recyclable products such as cardboard for shipping, and sends unused potatoes and chips to ranches for livestock feed. It has made 66 percent fewer trips to the landfill due to hefty recycling efforts. Alongside these efforts, the company is conscious of using less water, utilizing the most energy-efficient equipment available, redirecting heat generated by equipment to warm the facility and reducing energy use with efficient lighting and natural sunlight.
Their work has not gone unnoticed. In 1993, 1994 and 1995, Tim’ s received pollution prevention, recycling and water conservation awards and in 2001 the company received AWB’ s Environmental Excellence Award.
in their own words:“ Before the days of environmental awards, green movements, and higher energy costs, Tim’ s Cascade Snacks was aware of its role on this planet. Since our company’ s inception in 1986, we’ ve used less, reused more, and recycled everyday. We continue to do so because we believe it is the only way to do business.”— Jeff Leichleiter, general manager, Tim’ s Cascade Snacks
www. timschips. com summer 2016 23