washington business leading environmental practices
The Leading Environmental Practices Award recognizes a Washington state business that prioritizes environmental progress, education, and community outreach.
winner: knife river prestress, inc., based in Newman Lake east of Spokane, is reshaping concrete’ s future— one sustainable innovation at a time.
From its CarbonCutter mix, which cuts global warming potential in wall systems by upwards of 60 %, to closed-loop water systems and electric-powered operations, show how environmental leadership strengthens industrial performance.
Led by sustainability engineer Melissa Verwest, the team advances research, internships, and carbon capture at their plant in the Spokane area.
Judges highlighted KRPI’ s overhead delivery system, CarbonCast panels, UHPC trials, 30 % faster pour cycles, and a $ 60 million plant investment. finalists:
• Lacey-based ECOS, pioneers of liquidless detergent sheets, champions climate-positive innovation and zero-waste manufacturing. They make their cleaner products safer with 100 % renewable energy.
• Skanska USA Building in Seattle has cut operational emissions 61 % since 2015. Their net-zero job site offices use electric equipment, renewable fuels, circular waste systems, and Salmon-Safe practices. manufacturing excellence awards manufacturer of the year award
The Manufacturer of the Year Award celebrates a company that’ s committed to business excellence. It recognizes a manufacturer that tackles challenges with smart solutions, sets a higher standard for the industry, and takes an active role in shaping policies that affect Washington’ s manufacturing community. winner: ash grove cement, Seattle, leads in lowcarbon cement, circular practices, and smart policy engagement.
The company advances sustainability through tirederived fuel, water efficiency and habitat restoration. It hosts weekly tours to engage lawmakers and invests in workforce development, safety tech, and tools like MyCareer.
Judges praised its use of its doglike robot SPOT for inspections, AI-driven reliability, and increased inspection hours. winter 2026 33