February 12, 2004

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced that Asahi THERMOFIL, Inc. has earned the distinction of becoming Michigan’s 78th Clean Corporate Citizen.

Asahi THERMOFIL is a premier custom resin compounding/manufacturing plant that employs approximately 120 people and is located within the Village of Fowlerville in Livingston County. Asahi THERMOFIL facility is dedicated to contributing to a sustainable community environment by continuously searching for products and processes that will help reduce waste stream and strives toward sustainability.

This past year, the plant recycled 2,894 pounds of office paper, 91,934 pounds of cardboard, and 410,000 pounds of wood pallets; and preserved 1,086 trees, 316,637 gallons of water, 113 barrels of oil and 1,675 cubic yards of landfill space. Asahi THERMOFIL’s operations are also certified to QS-9000, ISO 14001, and ISO 17025.

“This designation publicly recognizes the contribution that each of our employees make in managing the environmental issues related to our operation, thereby minimizing our impact on the environment,” says Randy Rudisill, President of Asahi THERMOFIL. “As part of our commitment to ensuring our customers’ resin supply is not jeopardized by environmental enforcement actions, we are dedicated to a strong environmental management system. Asahi THERMOFIL strives for world-class results in every aspect of our operations; the Clean Corporate Citizen designation acknowledges our efforts and accomplishments.”

Asahi THERMOFIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi KASEI, a Global Fortune 500 company and world leader in plastics. Asahi THERMOFIL serves markets worldwide, providing technology and resins for many applications including construction, automotive, industrial, liquid handling, and electrical and electronic appliances.

Each year, Asahi THERMOFIL donates 2 percent of pre-tax profits to the community through various charitable organizations and activities. As part of their dedication to attaining a sustainable community environment, Asahi THERMOFIL provided trees for planting on Earth Day 2003 to each Fowlerville facility employee and all second-grade students enrolled in the Fowlerville School District.

“I congratulate Asahi THERMOFIL for attaining the Clean Corporate Citizen designation at their Fowlerville facility,” expresses Governor Granholm. “This is the sixth Clean Corporate Citizen from Livingston County to achieve this honor. It illustrates that the culture of environmental stewardship is spreading throughout Michigan. Asahi THERMOFIL is demonstrating that business can be successfully accomplished with environmental protection as an overriding principle.”

“We are glad to see Asahi THERMOFIL join the ranks of Michigan’s elite environmental performers,” said Director Chester. “The company’s commitment to environmental protection is evident in its operations, involvement in pollution prevention, and policy of continual environmental improvement. We congratulate the employees at the Asahi THERMOFIL plant for continually striving to create a sustainable neighborhood.”

Clean Corporate Citizens are eligible for certain regulatory benefits under the state’s environmental programs, including expedited permit approval. The program is open to establishments regulated under any of Michigan’s environmental statutes. Designations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

To qualify for a Clean Corporate Citizen designation, candidates must adopt a facility-specific environmental management system, active pollution prevention initiatives and have a consistent record of compliance with applicable environmental requirements.

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

Revised February 12, 2004 by Pat Watson