Philadelphia – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently presented the Evergreen Award to Valley Forge Fabrics, J&J Invision, Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA and EcoPlay Playgrounds. GSA’s Evergreen Award Program was developed in 1998, at the Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center (IWACenter), formerly the National Furniture Center, to support the federal government’s environmental initiatives. GSA’s IWACenter annually recognizes the efforts of partners who do business in an environmentally friendly way. The program assists GSA’s customers to identify environmentally preferable products currently on schedule and recognizes the efforts of GSA’s business partners in the areas of recycling, affirmative procurement, and waste prevention. 

The 2009 Evergreen Awards were presented to the four businesses in the following categories: furniture, SPORTS, furnishings and technologies and electronics. “These companies have done an outstanding job in making environmentally friendly options available to GSA client agencies and are committed to demonstrating that green products are a viable option for customers and businesses alike,” said Acting Regional Administrator and FAS Regional Commissioner Linda Chero. “We are honored to partner with companies that help to create a more sustainable environment and help build a greener future.”

Valley Forge Fabrics, a fabric manufacturer located in Pompano Beach, Florida is the recipient of the 2009 Evergreen Award under the Furniture category. Since 1977, Valley Forge’s mission has been to provide the highest quality products to the hospitality industry. Through using its influence and size in the textile industry, Valley Forge has been able to further the use of recycled and recyclable textiles, as well as bio- based textiles. Valley Forge has been recognized with industry, national, state, and local environmental awards for its part in prioritizing the resources of our planet by including recycled and bio-based products in its standard product line.

J&J Invision, a commercial carpet manufacturer, located in Dalton, Georgia is the recipient of the 2009 Evergreen Award under the Furnishings category. J&J Industries has been manufacturing commercial carpet exclusively for over 50 years. In 1997, J&J Industries created EnAct, an organization-wide program with a focus on reducing, recycling, reusing and creating a healthier, more sustainable environment. Through EnAct, J&J Industries features a variety of environmental initiatives ranging from R4 (return, reuse, recycle, reduce) to the creation of J&J wetlands, a 20 acre piece of the campus that has been developed by the company to capture stormwater runoff. After completion, the wetlands were donated to the city of Dalton, Georgia.  

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A, a manufacturer of printers and digital MFPs, located in Arlington, Virginia is the recipient of the 2009 Evergreen Award under the Technologies and Electronics category. Konica Minolta is working steadily to solve environmental issues based on securing reliable data and quantitative measurements of performance and impact. Konica Minolta has developed a corporate initiative called “plan_it green” in order to achieve greater environmental performance. Through this initiative, Konica Minolta seeks to continue the green movement through its products, facilities and corporate initiatives. Konica Minolta’s Zero Waste program ensures that all manufacturing facilities follow a strict program to minimize the amount of externally disposed waste.  

EcoPlay Playgrounds from Safeplay Systems, a manufacturer of playground equipment, located in Marietta, Georgia is the first annual recipient of the 2009 Evergreen Award under the SPORTS category. EcoPlay Playgrounds from Safeplay Systems are manufactured from post- onsumer, recycled HDPE (milk jugs) plastic, with a recycled content of between 95 percent and 98 percent. Safeplay Systems’ environment goes beyond producing “green” products; rather, it has a commitment that leads to the review of all internal processes and the recycling of as many materials as possible from all business departments. Further, Trash Reduction/Recycling Awareness on the part of all employees, allows Safeplay Systems to go from twice-a-week removal of full dumpster each time, to once-a-week removal, which is less than half full.  

The Evergreen Award itself “closes the recycling loop” in that it is made from recycled glass. The Award sets a high standard for other business partners to follow and is a wonderful example of how the federal government and businesses can work together to improve the environment.  


GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.  

• Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than 11 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars and $30 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 213,000 vehicles.  

• GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 480 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.  

• GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.  

www.gsa.gov