The Cooper Tire plant in Tupelo, Miss., has earned the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s enHance Partnership Award for 2015. The award recognizes facilities for putting environmental initiatives in place beyond those that are required.

The Tupelo plant has been a member of the enHance program since 2011 and received the Partnership Award for contributing significantly to furthering enHance’s objectives and supporting the program.

The Tupelo plant put achieved several ongoing environmental improvements including a 34% reduction of waste going to landfills and a 5% reduction in energy use since 2012. The company also reduced solvent use by 30% and minimized waste through reuse and recycling initiatives.

With the knowledge Cooper gained through its own initiatives, the company was able to share its experiences at enHance training conferences. Its presentations were also incorporated into enHance Resources for Manufacturing. 

"Cooper’s environmental policy commits our plant to using energy and natural resources efficiently, reducing waste, preventing pollution and acting as a good corporate citizen through the use of good environmental practices," said John Swartzendruber, Cooper Tupelo’s environmental coordinator. “We are pleased to be recognized for our efforts with the 2015 enHance Partnership Award.”