DNR Seeking Public Comment On Green Tier Application For Phillips-Medisize Oaklawn Facility

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public input on the proposed Green Tier application for Phillips-Medisize Oaklawn facility in Menomonie. The proposal covers activities at the facility located on 412 Red Cedar St., which is an injection molding facility for plastic components and a partial assembly facility for medical and pharmaceutical delivery products.

The DNR’s voluntary Green Tier program empowers organizations that are on the path to sustainability by helping them use a systematic approach to minimize environmental risk. Green Tier offers three options for participation. Participants can be individual entities, like a single business, or groups, such as related businesses or organizations with common goals.

Tier 1 of Green Tier is designed to encourage, recognize and reward companies that are committed to superior environmental performance. Applicants must have a good environmental record and agree to implement an environmental management system which will be used to set goals, assess their progress and identify opportunities for continual environmental improvement. Participants must also demonstrate their progress and have their system audited on a regular basis.

“Phillips-Medisize Oaklawn facility is excited for the opportunity to be recognized as a Green Tier participant,” said Kristan Essick, Environmental, Health & Safety Manager and Security Coordinator for Phillips-Medisize Menomonie campus. “We are committed to providing environmentally conscious practices during the design and manufacture of our products. The Green Tier Program solidifies our commitment to continual environmental improvement, and we are proud to become a participant.”  

The company’s dedication to environmental excellence has successfully established and sustained certification to the ISO 14001 environmental management system standards since 2001. Future goals at the Oaklawn facility include reducing hazardous waste by 5%, reducing electrical consumption by 5% and reducing landfill waste by 10%.

Phillips-Medisize has a total of 11 Wisconsin facilities that currently participate in Green Tier. If accepted by the department, this application would allow the Oaklawn facility to join three other Phillips facilities located on the Menomonie Campus which already participate in Tier 1.

The DNR welcomes written comments regarding this application from Phillips’ customers, neighbors, stakeholders and the public through June 24, 2021. Please send questions and comments to Weston Wegener at weston.wegener@wisconsin.gov or 608-284-0908.

For more information, please visit the Phillips-Menomonie webpage.