In late September Newsweek published The Greenest Big Companies in America http://www.newsweek.com/id/215577. This looks at the 500 largest U.S. companies based on their actual environmental performance policies, reputation and industry-neutral metrics that help even the playing field for companies in carbon-intensive businesses.
One of the companies to make the top 100 is First Solar. Their product intrigues me for many reasons. Solar panels are a good clean energy source and are manufactured and tested in only 2.5 hours. The panels can all be substantially recycled at the end of their life, including the glass and the encapsulated semiconductor material, which can be treated and processed into new modules or other products. With their collection and recycling program, First Solar is preventing the disposal of the panels into local communities’ landfills.
First Solar has also set in place a program to hold funds to handle the collection and recycling of the panels from the initial sales. These funds are held by a third party insurance company, ensuring that when the client is ready to recycle their product, no matter what the company’s financial status, there are funds available to collect and recycle their modules. The client’s only responsibility is making a collection request with First Solar, this starts the process to dissemble and box the panels.
In this industry we continually talk about recyclability of materials and product. How are clients and end users to actually accomplish these tasks when the product is not labeled or recyclers are not available?
Is it a wonder that so much material goes to the landfill? How easy do manufactures make it for the actually end user to recycle the material when it has gone through its useful life?
For me this program makes First Solar an excellent choice for one of The Greenest Big Companies in America.
So check them out. First Solar http://www.firstsolar.com/products.php
A few others to note that made the list were: #45 C.B. Richard Ellis, #51 AECOM Technology, #56 Owens Corning, and #145 Jacobs Engineering.
One of the companies to make the top 100 is First Solar. Their product intrigues me for many reasons. Solar panels are a good clean energy source and are manufactured and tested in only 2.5 hours. The panels can all be substantially recycled at the end of their life, including the glass and the encapsulated semiconductor material, which can be treated and processed into new modules or other products. With their collection and recycling program, First Solar is preventing the disposal of the panels into local communities’ landfills.
First Solar has also set in place a program to hold funds to handle the collection and recycling of the panels from the initial sales. These funds are held by a third party insurance company, ensuring that when the client is ready to recycle their product, no matter what the company’s financial status, there are funds available to collect and recycle their modules. The client’s only responsibility is making a collection request with First Solar, this starts the process to dissemble and box the panels.
In this industry we continually talk about recyclability of materials and product. How are clients and end users to actually accomplish these tasks when the product is not labeled or recyclers are not available?
Is it a wonder that so much material goes to the landfill? How easy do manufactures make it for the actually end user to recycle the material when it has gone through its useful life?
For me this program makes First Solar an excellent choice for one of The Greenest Big Companies in America.
So check them out. First Solar http://www.firstsolar.com/products.php
A few others to note that made the list were: #45 C.B. Richard Ellis, #51 AECOM Technology, #56 Owens Corning, and #145 Jacobs Engineering.
