An aerial view of the Kingsford plant in Parsons , WV . Photo by Kingsford Manufacturing .
and refurbishing recycled scrap , which makes the steel 100 % recyclable at the end of its life . Nucor pioneered this process , which is now used to make more than 70 % of the country ’ s steel .
On top of Nucor ’ s sustainable steel production , the company is partnering with other enterprises to help improve their carbon footprints as well .
In March , Nucor signed an agreement to supply Mercedes-Benz with Econiq RE steel , a product that has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than half the amount of furnace-based steel . The company has also partnered with Google and Microsoft to help them reach their clean electricity goals .
Kingford Manufacturing
Along with the state ’ s large-scale sustainability , many West Virginians are making smart choices in their own backyards by grilling with Kingsford charcoal .
The Kingsford brand has supplied consumers with high-quality products since the 1920s , including its famous charcoal that has been manufactured in Parsons , WV , since 1958 . Today , Kingsford is the top U . S . charcoal brand and an industry leader in environmental manufacturing controls , supplying high-quality briquettes for countless barbeques and cookouts .
“ Adhering to environmental regulations and standards , conducting regular audits and having a dedicated green team shows a strong commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability practices ,” Robert Boggs , plant manager for Kingsford , says . “ The facility aims to have a positive impact on the community and the planet .”
The Mountain State ’ s dependable workforce was attractive to Kingsford , along with the abundance of natural material in the Appalachian Mountains . The company has been able to utilize its time in the state by providing more than 100 jobs for a wide range of skillsets from engineers to production workers .
Recently , the plant achieved a zerowaste-to-landfill status , joining the other Kingsford manufacturing plants ’ major milestone of more than 30 Clorox ( Kingsford ’ s parent company ) facilities around the world that have achieved this status .
To minimize its environmental impact , the brand converts more than 1 million tons of wood left over from local mills into high-quality briquettes every year . The company also purchases waste wood from local businesses and collaborates with the American Chestnut Foundation to help plant and restore the American chestnut tree .
“ Kingsford ’ s dedication to environmental stewardship and its positive impact on West Virginia ’ s communities help make it an industry leader in environmental manufacturing controls ,” Boggs says .
RecycleBalls
In the state ’ s sports sector , sustainability is implemented by RecycleBalls , which collects used tennis balls to turn into new products . To date , the company has collected almost 14 million tennis balls for reuse and recycling .
Originally based in Vermont , the company looked at 10 different states for relocation before settling on West Virginia .
“ West Virginia stood out not only for its central location and supportive
“ West Virginia stood out not only for its central location and supportive institutions but also for its natural beauty and strong workforce .”
The Green Gold installation at Heaven Wood Farm in Dillsburg , PA . Photo by RecycleBalls .