Over the past few years, our WAIT team of 12 associates has worked to educate our associates on wildlife habitats.  We have created a Carolina Fence Garden at our facility.  We have also installed 14 bird houses and 4 large bird feeders.  We also have two salt blocks on the outer perimeters of our property for wildlfie.  We have worked to be landfill-free and have goals to reduce other enviornmental impacts.  We received WAIT Certification on May 19, 2010 and hosted a cookout for associates to celebrate. 

Our facility plans to create a fruit bearing orchard in the fall of 2013.  We would also like to create an outdoor picnic area for our associates to enjoy and to create an opportunity to enhance wildlife education in the spring of 2014.  In the fall of 2015, we would like to create a nature trail. 

Other WAIT projects at the site include:

• plant & animal identification posters, wildlife posters, and magazines posted throughout facility. 
• local scout troops build birdhouses
• worked with Whitehall Elementary school to build Carolina Fence Garden and outdoor learning center.
• duck boxes placed on retention pond
• installed 3 feeding areas for wildlife
• 100% landfill free
• recycling program for customers to return used products to reduce landfill space
• facility recycles cardboard, plastic products, fabric waste, yarn waste, and metal
• installed "No Trespassing/No Hunting" signs for property
• participated in Adopt-A-Highway program for Highway 178 cleanup
• dug out retention pond for improved habitat for aquatic wildlife

Projects planned for 2011:

• Build a walking trail for associates
• Thin some of the pine trees on the property
• Plant saplings on vacant field
• Plant 2 food plots
• Replace bird houses
• Update the Carolina Fence Garden
• Assist Whitehall Elementary School with education needs

Images captured on our property with motion-sensored wildlife cameras:

News Article From: Specialty Fabrics Review | May 2010
Glen Raven recognized for wildlife habitat protection

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation recognized the Glen Raven plant in Anderson, S.C., for protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat on its 180-acre property. The company completed requirements for certification under the federation’s Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) program, including installation of bird boxes and feeders, placement of nesting areas for ducks and salt licks for deer. Glen Raven developed a habitat plan for its site, created a native plant garden and worked with a nearby elementary school on an outdoor learning area. “Our long-term plan includes … construction of a nature trail. We also envision creating an orchard that will provide a food source for wildlife,” says Rodney Jones, technical finishing section leader at Glen Raven.

News Article From: Home Textiles Today, 3/23/2010 1:31:00 PM
Anderson, S.C. – Glen Raven’s manufacturing center here has been recognized by the state’s Wildlife Federation for an ongoing program to protect and enhance habitat areas on the company’s 180-acre site.

Glen Raven has installed bird boxes and bird feeders, established nesting areas for ducks and salt licks for deer, and created a “Fence Garden” near the plant entrance that features numerous plants native to the area. In addition, an employee-led task force has completed certification requirements under the non-profit federation’s Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) program.

“WAIT certification requires a long-range habitat plan of three to five years,” said Rodney Jones, technical finishing section leader and task group chair. “Our long-term plan includes labeling of plants and trees around the plant and construction of a nature trail. We also envision creating an orchard that will provide a food source for wildlife.”

Tracey Sanders, quality engineer at the Anderson plant and a task force member, said many initiatives make up the company’s a long-term, ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

 “We have eliminated all waste going to landfills from our plant, and we have achieved certification under the internationally recognized environmental standard ISO:14001,” Sanders said.

The plant site contains more than 130 acres of undeveloped land that supports a diverse array of plant and animal life. The one-million-square-foot plant is the primary manufacturing center for Sunbrella performance fabrics.