Hesperian Cleaners earns green award
Recently, the non-profit organization Acterra honored ten businesses, including
Hesperian Cleaners, Inc. of San Lorenzo, with its 2008 Business Environmental
Awards.
The drycleaning company was the winner of this year’s Susanne Wilson Award for Pollution Prevention/Resource Conservation.
“We are proud of this honor, and I know it will help us increase awareness of how
green cleaning benefits the community and the environment,” remarked Sung Han Lee, owner of Hesperian Cleaners.
His company was singled out for championing the adoption of green cleaning
within the industry and for converting its perchloroethylene cleaning process
to 100% wetcleaning.
“Hesperian Cleaners is truly a leader in the field of drycleaning,” noted Laura Teklser, Awards Chair. “Owner Sung Han Lee not only chose to convert his cleaning process five years
ahead of the mandated schedule, he shunned the option to convert to an
incrementally better solvent and went instead to completely nontoxic
wetcleaning.”
Acterra has a 38-year-old history of being an environmental leader in and around
Silicon Valley and has recognized over 100 Bay-area businesses and
organizations for environmental leadership since 1990.
The selection process for its awards is quite competitive. Companies undergo a
rigorous three-month judging process that involves 28 regional environmental
and sustainability experts.
Hesperian garnered attention for being the first out of over 500 Korean-American
cleaners in the Bay area to convert to 100% wetcleaning. It is also the first
drycleaner in Alameda County to make that switch.
The conversion has significantly reduced the business’s water consumption by an average of 3,000 gallons per month. Electricity usage
has also dropped by more than 50%.
Additionally, the company’s hazardous waste generation is down to zero now because of its use of water and
biodegradable detergent. Thus, it is now exempt from needing permits from the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Air Resources Board and Alameda
County Environmental Health Department and from posting a Proposition 65
warning sign on its premises.
Lee also regularly offers open houses, tours, demonstrations and workshops at
his plant in order to showcase the environmental and health benefits of
environmentally friendly cleaning methods.
His collaborative efforts have been aimed at sharing data with other cleaners,
pollution prevention centers and other agencies, and the community, as well.
In fact, numerous local DECA students used Hesperian Cleaners as a case study
for a variety of school projects.
Also of note, Hesperian has greatly reduced its solid waste generation by
recycling hangers, giving customers reusable delivery bags, and offering the
choice of degradable poly bags and no bags on cleaned garments. Its stores are
painted with low-VOC paints and lit with energy efficient light bulbs.
For more information on Acterra’s 2008 Business Environment Award winners, visit online at www.acterra.org/bea.
ODCA plans convention in Canyonville
The Oregon Dry Cleaners Association has selected the Seven Feathers Hotel and
Casino Resort in Canyonville to host this year’s annual convention.
The event will take place from Sept. 25-27.
The association has enlisted several guest speakers to deliver programs during
the weekend, including keynote speaker Jon Meijer from the Drycleaning and
Laundry Institute. He will present a session entitled: “Branding: Is It Really Necessary?”
Also present will be Doris Easley, an industry consultant and heirloom
specialist that will examine how attendees can increase revenue on the work
they are most likely already doing.
Tom Bradley, the owner/broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial NW, Inc., will be on
hand to help guide cleaners through the maze of leases. He will also provide
tips on how to negotiate a good lease with your landlord.
Lastly, Dick DeZeeuw from the state’s Department of Environmental Quality will provide an update on the Dry Cleaner
Program, including what the future may hold and how it could affect the
industry.
In addition to the educational sessions, there will be vendor tabletop displays
throughout the weekend, a President’s Reception on Friday, and a board meeting on Sunday.
On Saturday, ODCA will host a general membership meeting, followed by a banquet
with live entertainment.
