Precision Textiles to Honor Zero Emission Day with 8-hour Plant Shutdown

September 16, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

Zero Emissions Day, also known as “ZeDay,” is annually observed on Sept. 21, as a worldwide movement that aims to put a global 24-hour moratorium on the combustion of fossil fuels and what they release into the air. The idea originated from a concerned father from Nova Scotia, Canada during the early 1980s while he was strolling his newborn daughter past a parked idling truck. The gas emission from the truck in combination with the surrounding traffic emissions was overwhelming and he wanted to put a stop to it. An early internet message did not draw much attention, however with the emergence of social networks, the message took hold and now exists in 12 languages.

“The term ZeDay has become a global rallying cry to beat back climate change,” said Scott Tesser, chief executive officer of Precision Textiles. “Environmental security is a form of sustainability, which is a topic we are passionate about. This initiative shines a light on the bigger picture of what is being taken from the Earth and what can be done to help prevent that. During the shutdown we will save a total of 13,600 KW of electricity and 40 mm Btu’s of natural gas preventing a combined total of over 17,000 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, according to calculations based on the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report for CO2 emissions. As a global manufacturer and responsible citizen, we want to protect the resources entrusted to us to help preserve our environment. This shutdown is another way for us to do that.”

Moe Kovangi, general manager of Precision Textiles, spearheads the company’s sustainability efforts. “We focus on the practice of environmentally conscious manufacturing methods wherever possible, while striving to implement green initiatives to share with our customers,” Kovangi said. “Our R&D team is committed to expanding our exclusive line of eco-friendly products and our green solutions reduce the demands we put on our physical world. The team works on solutions that help reduce carbon footprint, including bedding products such as Ecoloft, a high-quality quilting fiber that reduces combustible materials in a finished mattress, Ecoflex, a glass-free, chemical-free FR stretch barrier, IQFit Natural, a 100 percent glass-free FR barrier made with sustainable & renewable cotton and PurLoft, an eco-friendly FR solution for quilted panels made with GOTS certified wool.”

Being environmentally conscious is not just a catch phrase for Precision. The company uses solar energy panels at its New Jersey headquarters, which reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Precision also successfully designed and engineered a custom system for its drying process that reduces natural gas consumption usage by 15 percent.

“Our sustainability team is constantly thinking outside-the-box to come up with innovative ways to lower emissions being released into the atmosphere,” Tesser added. “We check our progress regularly and are transparent about areas that need improvement. We are committed to supporting clean and renewable energy because we really do care about the future of our environment.”