CooperVision Costa Rica manufacturing plant earns LEED Silver Certification

Global medical device company, The Cooper Companies, Inc has recently been awarded LEED Silver certification at its contact lens manufacturing facility in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Housing an environmentally-conscious design, the 100,000-square-foot site is believed to be the only LEED Silver-certified contact lens manufacturing site in the world.

Developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the programme recognises buildings, homes and communities which have been designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. The facility is responsible for the company’s clariti 1-day silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

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Achieving LEED certification is more than implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better," commented Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, CooperVision demonstrates their leadership through LEED certification of its Costa Rica site."

The site was found to excel in LEED evaluation categories including energy and water conservation, transportation, waste reduction, and human experience. In addition to a range of features that were operational upon its opening, the Costa Rica team has continued to advance sustainable practices for additional gains. These include recovery of organic waste for composting, reducing hot water use, implementing new energy and water consumption monitoring, and expanding LED illumination.

"Our efforts in Costa Rica have a clearly positive effect on employee wellness, health and productivity. They're appreciated by like-minded customers who see us as partners in their own sustainability initiatives. Of course, a green building such as this is a clear way of demonstrating our environmental practices to the community," said Rolando Torres, Senior Vice President, America Manufacturing Operations for CooperVision. "Earning LEED Silver certification is testament to incredible dedication by our teams in Alajuela, as well as the countless people across the entire company who have supported and encouraged us."