In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, sustainability has become a global focus. But what does that even mean? For Thomas Built Buses, it’s about defining our commitment to our organization, our industry and the communities we serve. While our electric school bus, the Saf-T-Liner^® C2 Jouley^®, and its many milestones (including the recent delivery of our 1,000th) often come to mind, our efforts extend beyond our products. We are doing more to reduce our environmental footprint and foster a culture of responsibility every day, with a mission to provide a cleaner, safer future for school children all over the United States and Canada.

As we approach Earth Day, we’re highlighting some key initiatives Thomas Built Buses is undertaking to reaffirm our environmental commitment.

Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Initiative

One of our biggest priorities is our zero-waste-to-landfill initiative. Through meticulous waste management strategies and innovative solutions, Thomas Built strives to minimize our impact on landfills by diverting waste toward more sustainable disposal methods. This goal underscores our dedication to achieving holistic sustainability, ensuring that every aspect of our operations aligns with environmental preservation principles.

Recycling Programs

Emphasizing our waste-and-recycling-handling program, we recognize our pivotal role in minimizing environmental degradation. As a self-accredited zero-waste-to-landfill facility, our employees work hard every day to reduce, reuse and recycle materials. This program not only demonstrates our commitment to sustainability but fosters a culture of environmental consciousness within our workforce.

Certifications

We take immense pride in our International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. These management systems provide a robust framework, guiding Thomas Built to integrate environmental performance seamlessly into our core business functions and setting a benchmark for industry excellence.

Community Stewardship

For us, sustainability extends beyond the confines of our operations, encompassing active involvement in the community we serve. As a proud member of the North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative for the past decade, Thomas Built has been recognized for our contributions toward environmental preservation. Through initiatives like litter cleanups, donation programs and educational outreach efforts, we take our role as a responsible corporate citizen seriously. We were honored to win the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Steward of the Year award in 2023. Our commitment to environmental conservation is something put into practice every day through actions like donating old fire extinguishers to local fire departments to use for training or scrap metal to local high school welding classes, and even repurposing outdated automated operational robots for use at a local community college.

Beyond these highlighted priorities, we have a multifaceted approach toward reducing our environmental impact. From improving signage bins and communications to exploring innovative waste streams for recycling opportunities, we continually strive to push the boundaries of sustainability within our industry.

Our recent efforts in solvent recovery exemplify our proactive stance toward resource conservation. By recovering 70-80% of solvents, we not only minimize waste, but we are underscoring our dedication to implementing cutting-edge technologies for environmental benefit.

Thomas Built’s sustainability journey serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility. Through proactive initiatives, robust management systems and active community engagement, we continue to set the standard for sustainable practices within our industry. A key philosophy that drives our community involvement is that we not only make products that serve the community, but we are also a steward of our community. Join us in celebrating our collective commitment to preserving our planet for future generations.