City of Eugene Recognizes FORREST for Sustainable Actions

FORREST's leadership role in Oregon's post-consumer paint recycling program (PaintCare), operational waste reduction, and recycled products innovation distinguished the company as a sustainability leader.

Eugene, Oregon -Mayor Lucy Vinis recognized FORREST as the Large Business Category Winner of the Bold Steps Award for 2023.

The award is given annually to one business that has shown extraordinary leadership in sustainability.

"Yesterday was our 50th birthday as a company," said Scott Forrest, Founder, who accepted the award on behalf of the company at the public event. "I'd like to thank the City and the people of Eugene who supported us all that time."

"Additionally, I'd like to the thank the employees because the company isn't the boss, it's the people who do the work," he concluded.

Watch Scott Forrest accept the award from Mayor Lucy Vinis on January 4, 2023 in the video below or read on to learn more about our sustainability efforts.

What Distinguishes FORREST As A Sustainability Leader?

Mark Forrest, CEO, and Scott Forrest, Founder, talk about FORREST's values in action in the company's operations and products.

Here below are some of the details mentioned in the video and recognized by the committee.

Our Sustainable Manufacturing Practices:

• Our sand mills used in paint making are chiller cooled instead of water cooled, which prevents water waste.

• We have an on-site biofilter that uses natural bacteria reduce VOC emissions from our factory by over 90%.

• Solvent is reclaimed and recycled in our still. 

• We are leaders in Eugene's LEAN education group: Emerald Valley Lean Association (EVLA);

• Monthly employee safety meetings educate all staff on responsible handling of our on-site materials.

• In 2019, we performed a full site evaluation of the carbon impact of our operations to identify areas for improvement.

• We are BRING ReThink Certified.

Recycling Leadership:

• We recycle over 814,000 pounds of material each year into the a product that makes railroad maintenance safer and cleaner (FireSnake).

• Since 1996, we have made our own brand of FORREST Recycled Paint from consumer paint returns.

• We were central actors in the development of the PaintCare post-consumer paint recycling pilot program in Oregon. It was the nation's first paint stewardship law and has recycled over 8.4 million gallons of paint in Oregon since 2010. It has been replicated in several other states; cumulatively, 60 million gallons of paint have been recycled nationwide through all programs.

Investment in forward-thinking, sustainable coatings technologies:

• We are the only powder coating manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Powder coatings do not produce VOCs and are virtually zero waste, making them safer for workers and environmentally friendly.

• Over the last 5 years, we doubled our powder coatings production and upgraded our R&D laboratory.

• We make low-VOC industrial paints to meet the strictest health, safety, and environment regulations in the country.

• We make high temperature powder coatings for our high temp coatings niche.

• From Day 1 in 1973, we eliminated lead, mercury, and chromium from our formulas ahead of industry regulations. These chemicals were legal and industry standard then, but Scott Forrest did not want to expose our workers or our customers’ workers to these harmful chemicals.

About FORREST Technical Coatings

FORREST specializes in custom and specialty coatings and products with a strength in high temperature paint in liquid, powder coating, and aerosols. FORREST serves international specialty markets in high temperature including specialties in hearth and barbeque paint, muffler paint, exhaust paint, and general high temperature industrial paint. FORREST also produces and commercializes specialty adhesives, paints for OEM and general industrial use, ESD coatings, and other technical coatings with specific applications. Read more about FORREST here.