Avon - The Company for Women - Corporate Responsibility

The new distribution center in Zanesville will be the first Avon building designed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification standards, with the goal of achieving Gold certification, making it one of the largest LEED Gold certified distribution centers in the United States.

The rating will be achieved by implementing an energy-efficient design, including energy-efficient lighting fixtures, motion sensors that turn lights on only when someone enters an area, and much more. In addition, water conservation measures will be implemented to reduce water consumption by about 60 percent, including the use of recycled rainwater in all restrooms (excluding sinks).

To reduce the building’s carbon footprint (greenhouse gas air emissions), 35 percent of carbon-dioxide emissions from electricity consumption will be offset by purchasing renewable energy credits from wind power. To ensure that the site generates minimal waste, systems will be installed to achieve a facility-wide target recycling rate of 80–85 percent. In addition, the office furniture and furnishings will be constructed of recycled materials, and on-site materials are being recycled during the construction phase.

The numerous environmental initiatives at our Springdale, Ohio, facility have resulted in substantial savings for business and the environment.

Water Management: In 2007, we converted our vacuum system, which is designed to operate manufacturing equipment, to waterless vacuum pumps. This change alone saves Avon $63,000 and saves the environment more than 16 million gallons of water a year—enough water to fill more than 24 Olympic size swimming pools or sustain more than 65,000 people annually.

Recycling: We recycled 6.5 million pounds of material in 2007. This total includes 4.235 million pounds of corrugate, which would require 25,410 trees to produce; 530,000 pounds of clothing, from the Avon Fashion business,  which was donated to charity and distributed in more than 30 countries; and 666,852 pounds (approximately 95,000 gallons) of ethanol waste.

Energy Efficiency: We have upgraded much of our lighting to electronic ballasts and T8 bulbs. These new fixtures provide 50 percent more light and require 65 percent less energy. With more than 10,000 bulbs in new magnetic ballast fixtures installed between 2004 and 2007, Avon achieved annual energy savings of more than 3.9 million kWh.

In addition, we are in the process of completing a two-year, $4.9 million project to replace our 40 year-old cooling system with a state-of-the-art electrical centrifugal chilling system. The new chilled water system is expected to reduce the facility's natural gas consumption by 42 percent from 2007 to 2008. In addition to the reduction in our natural gas consumption, we anticipate significant cost savings.

Avon’s manufacturing facility in Guangzhou, China, has received significant recognition for its outstanding commitment to the environment. The site’s water treatment plant, in particular, is a testament to Avon’s commitment to environmental protection; the water discharged from the treatment plant is recycled for irrigation, cleaning, cooling and plumbing purposes both inside the facility and throughout the surrounding areas.

Avon received an award from the local Guangzhou government for the facility’s exemplary environmental protection efforts. The facility’s wastewater treatment plant received national recognition as a “demonstration project” for 2005 to 2010; and the site has maintained ISO certification since 2004. At the 2007 Avon Global Environmental Health and Safety Conference, Avon presented its Gold Award for Environmental Excellence to the Guangzhou facility.

Avon’s plant in Celaya, Mexico, speaks to the strength of our environmental programs around the world. The facility has outstanding internal programs and facilities available on-site.

What makes our Celaya team so extraordinary; however, is its members’ commitment to the environment both inside and outside of the plant. Together, they work to generate a culture of environmental protection and sustainable growth by working alongside the community and the government. Here are two such examples of their enduring commitment.

Environmental Fair: In each of the past eight years, Avon Celaya has participated in the local community's Environmental Fair. Employees focus on teaching young children and other community members the importance of caring for the environment. Key topics have included recycling and wastewater treatment, which required a small-scale model to demonstrate the water treatment process effectively. In all, more than 1,500 students—between the ages of 8 and 17 years—participate in this event, and their reactions reflect a new sense of awareness around important environmental issues.

Garden of Values: The garden started in 2007, as a continuous effort to promote Avon Celaya's commitment to the environment. Initially, visitors were asked to plant a tree in a dedicated area of the facility’s property. The idea was to keep adding trees and create a green facility that gave everyone involved a sense of ownership. All of the executives in the facility have planted trees and have committed to caring for their trees and observing their growth.

Avon Brazil recently received an environmental award from the Brazilian Benchmarking Environmental Program, lead by Mais Projetos, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote sustainable development, social responsibility and environmental education and awareness. Since 2003, Mais Projetos has recognized environmental best practices among Brazilian businesses.

Avon's winning project involves a reduction of GHG emissions in our logistics operations. By optimizing truck routes within the region, Avon Brazil was able to cut costs, reduce the distance traveled, and lower GHG emissions. The project, which will be fully implemented by July 2009, will save 4.1 million kilometers traveled and cut GHG emissions by 12,707 tonnes annually. This project is just one way in which Avon is focused on reducing GHG emissions.

Beginning in 2008, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series began to reduce their environmental impacts. The event production team researched a number of low-cost process improvements that reduce our overall environmental footprint without impacting the funds raised for the fight against breast cancer. Cited below are some examples of the efforts to reduce the walks’ environmental impact.

• Email communications: Communication with participants continues to be via email whenever possible, and the Avon Foundation continues to encourage walkers to conduct fundraising efforts online.
• Biodegradable materials: The Avon Walk is using more recycled paper in the organizational process and has ceased to use foam or plastic plates, cups and tableware in favor of more environmentally sound alternatives.
• Recycling: The Avon Walk works with local facilities to supply recycling bins along the walk route and at the “Wellness Village” to reduce the amount of waste generated.
• Water bottles: Water throughout the Walk weekends is distributed through multiple gallon jugs, and participants are required to bring their own bottles. Single-serve bottles are available only at the “Event Eve,” “Wellness Village” and ceremonies.
• Water conservation: The Avon Foundation requests that participants take shorter showers to decrease the total amount of water consumed, and promotes this effort in signage posted near the shower facilities.
• Signage and communication: Special signs communicating “green” ideas and tips are posted throughout the Avon Walk sites. The same signs are reused at all Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events nationwide.
• Donations: Unused perishables are donated to local homeless shelters, which reduces our waste and delivers much-needed food items to the hungry.
• Raising awareness: A special “green” team oversees the environmental efforts; members wear “Ready, Set, Green” t-shirts to communicate the Avon Walk’s commitment to the environment and remind participants to do their part.