March 12, 2008

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced that both Grupo Antolin Wayne of Canton and Grupo Antolin Michigan of Marlette have joined Michigan's Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) program. The C3 program is a voluntary environmental program that recognizes environmental stewardship across the state.

"I am pleased to welcome both Grupo Antolin facilities to the Clean Corporate Citizen program," said Director Chester. "These facilities are helping us demonstrate that Michigan can, and must, provide for a healthy environment while growing our economy."

The Grupo Antolin Wayne facility in Canton provides assembly overhead systems (headliners) for the automotive industry and has developed an environmental management system through which they have identified opportunities to save energy including a 3 percent reduction in electricity, and a 20 percent reduction in propane use this year alone. The Group Antolin Michigan facility in Marlette additionally designs and tests prototype materials for future products and has identified environmental improvements throughout the site including sealing and capping of all interior drains to eliminate any potential threats to water quality from materials migrating off-site.

"This is a wonderful recognition of the environmental stewardship that is prevalent throughout our plants," said Miguel Angel Vicente, the CEO of Grupo Antolin North America. "The C3 designation at these plants symbolizes Grupo Antolin's commitment to the communities in which we live and work, as being concerned and responsible neighbors. We will protect the natural environment by continually seeking ways to eliminate potentially harmful waste materials and will recycle all waste when possible. We are, and will continue to be, responsible for the impact of our operations upon the environment and appreciate the recognition of our efforts by the state of Michigan."

Clean Corporate Citizen designation is made to candidates that adopt facility-specific Environmental Management Systems, have active and on-going pollution prevention initiatives at their facility, and have a consistent record of compliance with state and federal environmental requirements. The C3 program is open to companies regulated under any of Michigan's environmental statutes, and designations are reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised March 12, 2008 by Pat Watson