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The Nordson sister companies of Asymtek, March, and YESTech are committed to minimizing their impact on the environment.

Nordson ASYMTEK is a world leader in automated fluid dispensing, jetting and conformal coating. They design and manufacture a full line of equipment for semiconductor package assembly, printed circuit board assembly, LED assembly, FPD assembly, life science product assembly and other precision manufacturing.

Nordson MARCH is the global leader in plasma cleaning and treatment equipment, and plasma applications technology. The company has been engaged in the plasma equipment business for more than 25 years and has broad experience in the areas of advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly, wafer level packaging (WLP), printed circuit board manufacturing, life science & medical device assembly, and various large-scale industrial applications.

Nordson YESTech is a worldwide leader in the design, development and manufacture of advanced automated optical (AOI) and x-ray inspection (AXI) solutions for the PCBA and advanced semiconductor packaging industries.

Eco-Stream began working with the Nordson companies’ Green Team. They had already established a green team, a green policy, and targeted initiatives. It was time to have a review and develop next steps. Their green policy showed a commitment to:

* Designing for the Environment
* Eco-friendly Operations
* Conserving Natural Resources
* Waste Reduction and Recycling
* Employee Engagement
* Community Involvement
* Exceeding Environmental Regulation

Nordson already has a list of sustainability related accomplishments that include: starting a green team; a recycling program, re-lamping and installing motion sensor lighting to reduce energy demand; product enhancements to reduce waste; more sustainable packaging on shipments of equipment; and community & employee engagement.

They get a very high score for a great start, follow-through, and even reporting. It is so very important to track and measure the success and value of all these accomplishments. The Nordson companies here are tracking performance indicators in Energy, Water, and Waste & Recycling. There is enough historical data now to see trends and savings. With the energy efficiency lighting upgrades alone at the two Nordson buildings on Loker Ave West in Carlsbad, they have reduced their 2008 vs. 2009 Kilowatt hour per day usage by over 10 percent!

The structure of the green team is very organized. It is coordinated by the Director of Human Resources, and there is a good array of green team participants from various levels and departments. With about 15 active members they have focused so far on Energy, Water, Waste & Recycling.

There are some staff champions that have stepped up to the task of educating others about the recycling program and how it works. But with lower than desired participation levels, there is room for improvement. Key strategies are being developed in order to enhance participation in the recycling program and build awareness.

Engagement is a very important factor in the success of sustainability programs. And sometimes it is elusive. In order to improve participation in the recycling program there are plans developing for contests, better visual cues, champions, and custodial support. On Earth Day all employees received a branded reusable company cup as an engaging reminder to reduce waste. A well-structured Green Committee Newsletter to all staff offers regular updates on the companies’ initiatives, as well as employee suggestions and feedback.

Eco-Stream is working with these Nordson companies on recognition with applications for the Energy Star Challenge and the WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program). Besides fine-tuning a paper use reduction strategy, an energy management system for PCs, and an office supply reuse cart, next steps for the companys are to begin to look up-stream, to their suppliers, for more sustainable products and services. It all starts with a simple conversation about sustainability.