Oakland, CA
Eco-friendly practices are a good thing, and–it’s no secret–an important consideration in planning a conference, meeting, or convention today.
MK Shannon Awards & Rewards and our most important business partners have worked together to reduce the footprint we leave on our planet. As it turns out, good earth-friendly practices are often good business practices, too. We continue to look for ways to minimize our use of resources and to offer you the highest quality recognition awards and service.
Here are a few of the practices that are helping us reach our goal:
MK Shannon recognition awards are individually cast and hand-finished at an art foundry. The foundry has implemented practices that are geared to reducing waste, energy usage and toxic substances in their processes:
- Some pewter used for awards in the awards industry does contain lead, as does all glass crystal. The pewter used in casting MK Shannon sculpture awards is the highest quality pewter available and contains no lead.
- All cardboard is recycled, and the foundry has implemented a program for its industrial neighbors to conveniently recycle their cardboard at the foundry site.
- All metal scraps are collected and recycled for reuse.
- Effective shipping materials for the sculpture awards are critically important for delivery of the awards in good condition. The foundry uses a variety of materials for shipping, choosing the greenest materials that will guarantee a good delivery of the awards.
- Only fans are used for cooling the casting and finishing area of the foundry to minimize energy usage.
- No impact from commuting–no added gasoline consumption, pollutants, or congestion.
- Whenever possible, we minimize the use of paper in favor of electronically storing data and other information. This reduces the usage of toner, as well as paper.
- All paper and laser cartridges are recycled.
- All MK Shannon employees are very conscious of the need to conserve our resources and individually implement practices in their own offices that support that goal.
MK Shannon uses UPS for shipping. UPS has implemented several eco-friendly practices such as a system that tracks minute details for each truck to maximize maintenance cycles and decrease pollutants. UPS drivers are encouraged to practice “green” behavior, such as reducing idling time, which reduces fuel usage and pollutants. With 90,000 drivers on the road, even a few minutes less idling time a day per driver can make a significant impact. UPS was also awarded the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute’s “Green Fleet Award” and the Uptime Institute’s “Green Enterprise IT Award.”
With Green Awards in mind, we have designed two new awards that express our feelings about this new world we live in. They are World Above and World Infinity. Here are the Artist’s Notes about their concept and inspiration.
World Above: This single figure sculpture award was conceived to express that feeling of accomplishing above and beyond, to capture that sense of "out of this world." The figure is open and this refers to the concept of an individual being open to new ideas, new thinking, and new ways of being in the world. This design honors those who are a world above and a world apart from their contemporaries.
World Infinity: The world is infinite, endless, and continual. We as individuals struggle to grow, to learn, to achieve and to accomplish in an ever-changing planet in an ever-changing world. This sculpture illustrates the importance of partnership, of teamwork, of sharing and caring. These figures reach out to one another for support and connection. In that moment, through that movement they become more than they are alone, they become stronger and brighter and offer hope for a better world. This recognition award captures the spirit of teamwork or global partnership.
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