Environmental Management

A leader in environmental protection, Cooper continuously seeks to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. With comprehensive training and well-established internal controls, Cooper’s plants exemplify environmentally responsible manufacturing.

In 1990, Cooper issued a formal policy to affirm its commitment to the environment. The principles of this policy, highlighted here, reinforce standards of operation already in place and remind employees throughout the world that environmental considerations are a high priority at Cooper.

Principles of Cooper Environmental Policy include:

• To observe all environmental laws and regulations.
• To respond effectively to environmental concerns involving Cooper facilities and products.
• To minimize and, wherever possible, to eliminate the generation of all wastes.
• To conduct operations in a manner that demonstrates respect for the environment.
• To cooperate with national, state and local governments in developing scientifically based environmental standards.
• To encourage the development of environmentally sound procedures and to conduct business with the best-available technology.
• To maintain environmental monitoring programs that ensure compliance with governmental requirements and these principles.
• To provide training programs that emphasize the individual’s responsibility for sound environmental decisions.

To learn more about Cooper’s environmental management program, please view Cooper’s Environmental Statement, a brochure designed for use with customers and others interested in Cooper’s approach to this important issue.

In 1994, Cooper launched its Environmental Excellence Awards program which is designed to salute outstanding performance in environmental protection and resource conservation efforts at the Company's plants. Winners in this program earn the right to make a grant from the Cooper Industries Foundation to a local environmental group. To date, more than $500,000 has been contributed to organizations in Cooper communities around the world. An example of a recent award winner is the Cooper Crouse-Hinds plant in Syracuse, New York. This plant dramatically reduced the energy used at the plant by more than 1 million kilowatt hours, 70,000 gallons of heating oil and 6 million cubic feet of natural gas. In additions, associated air emissions were dramatically reduced. The plant also eliminated the use of 16 million gallons of water previously required for steam heating and other purposes. Please view the winners of the Company's Environmental Excellence Awards Program Company’s 2006 Environmental Excellence Awards Program.