Sabra Dipping Company has achieved LEED Gold New Construction Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council on its recently added 106,475-square-foot expansion. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes resource efficiencies.
"Sabra is all about making delicious, kitchen fresh hummus and creating fresh connections. This commitment drives us to support the well-being of our employees, our community, our environment, and our consumers," explained Meiky Tollman, Sabra's Global Growth and Capabilities VP. "Sabra's kitchen fresh products are made from the finest fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices that grow in the earth; our logo features an image of the sun we share. We are committed to improving peoples lives, not only through product innovation, but also in social responsibility, doing our part to cherish and protect the environment. We're proud of this facility and all who contributed to its success."
A first for a manufacturer in the state of Virginia, this certification commends in part that the new facility uses 44% less energy and 45% less water than a typical food processing facility, Sabra said. Designed and built by The Dennis Group, the facility doubles Sabra's production capacity to help keep pace with rapidly growing demand, according to a press release.
"Manufacturing, and food processing specifically, is inherently resource intensive," noted Mary Frances Stotler, Director of Sustainability at The Dennis Group. "Mitigating energy and water usage is not only good for the environment, but also makes sound financial sense. The pay-back period for most energy efficiency initiatives is very short."
More than 20% of the construction materials were sourced from recycled content, and only low and no-VOC paints and coatings were utilized to ensure healthy indoor air quality for the building occupants.
To learn more about Sabra and its growing product line, check out www.sabra.com.
