LEED certifies first U.S. food facility

CABAZON, CA, Aug. 9, 2004 (GreenBiz.com) -- Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water Co. has been awarded the Silver Rating from the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program, the first U.S. food manufacturing facility to earn LEED certification.

"As a natural spring water company, protecting natural resources is our first priority, so incorporating LEED 'green' building standards into making our bottling facilities environmentally sound is an important extension of that commitment," said Kim Jeffery, president and CEO of Nestlé Waters North America, parent company of Arrowhead.

LEED certification recognizes innovative building designs that are environmentally responsible business models for energy efficiency and resource conservation. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED promotes a national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings that protect the environment.

"From the get-go, the Cabazon facility was designed with an eye toward the future in sustaining and conserving the natural resources in the area. This Silver Rating is another important step in fulfilling our company's promise to the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and our surrounding neighbors that we would preserve the integrity and beauty of the area," said Mike Franceschetti, Arrowhead Facility Manager, Cabazon.

Some of the environmental highlights of the Cabazon facility include:
-- The recycling of over 75% of construction waste materials,
-- The use of 50% wood from sustainably managed forests, and
-- The use of natural light into all critical viewing areas.

In addition to the Silver LEED-rated Cabazon facility, Nestlé was awarded LEED Certification in 2002, for its factory in Stanwood, Mich., bottling the Ice Mountain spring water brand. In the remainder of 2004, Nestlé will be applying for LEED Certification at three other recently completed bottling factories. If successful, this will generate a total of nearly two-million square feet of the bottler's facilities that have achieved LEED Certification.

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