CP Kelco Honored for Water-Reduction Strategies

11 Oct 2016 --- The Industrial Environmental Association (IEA) has presented the CP Kelco San Diego Plant with its prestigious “Environmental Excellence Award” for the company’s numerous water-saving initiatives and strategies, and for hosting the 2015 Industrial Water Efficiency Workshop for best practices sharing.

The IEA recognized its slate award winners at their 32nd Annual Environmental Training Symposium and Conference, October 5-6, at the San Diego Convention Center.

In the wake of California’s historic drought, CP Kelco San Diego has successfully shifted from a vigilant, under-the-radar environmentally conscious stakeholder, to a vocal, high-profile thought leader. Over the past year, the company has proven to peers, policymakers, and the public that ethical, respectful, and innovative business decisions can benefit the bottom line and the community.

“Even in a period of drought, water is not an optional ingredient for our products,” said CP Kelco San Diego Plant Manager John Breese. “Since 2014, we have made water conservation projects an operational and budgetary priority, which allowed us to reduce our rate of water use by more than 10,000,000 gallons in the first six months of 2016. “

CP Kelco, a JM Huber company, is a world-leading producer of specialty hydrocolloid ingredients. The company traces its history in San Diego back to 1927, and moved to its current location on Harbor Drive in 1943. Many of the company’s products are used as key ingredients in foods as diverse as jams, alternative dairy drinks, baked goods, salad dressings, yogurts and candies. The Barrio Logan plant currently has 230 full-time employees.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for our comprehensive efforts to not only reduce water use, but also lead the way for other industrial water users who want to reduce their own water use and better work with the community at large,” Breese said.