Evinrude Earns Green Master Sustainability Distinction

Based in Sturtevant, Wis., Evinrude has received recognition as a Green Master in the Wisconsin Green Masters Program. The news was announced Thursday in a press released from the outboard engine company.

Recognized for its sustainability effort, Evinrude builds a line of E-Tec outboard engines from 150 to 300 hp.

Presented by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, the Green Masters Program assesses and acknowledges local businesses on their sustainability performance in a variety of categories. According to the release, the program is “grounded in an in-depth survey where points are awarded and companies are scored for a variety of actions grouped to include: Energy, Climate, Workforce, Governance, and Community and Educational Outreach.”

“Evinrude is committed to preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy,” said Tracy Crocker, senior vice president and general manager of Evinrude, in the release. “That is why we use innovative technologies to ensure our products are more fuel efficient and better for the environment than any other outboard. We know creating sustainable products is not the only action we can take to protect the environment; we are also committed to sustainable practices throughout our workplace.”

“Sustainability is essential for companies seeking to compete in today’s economy,” said Kevin Banas, the director of the Green Masters Program for the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, in the release. “Evinrude serves as a great example of how a large company can incorporate a sustainability strategy to better itself, the community and the environment. Their score in the program demonstrates their commitment to sustainability, and their efforts are paying off.”

Cited in the release, Evinrude’s major sustainability initiatives include installing a closed-loop water and energy recovery system for testing and developing clean-technology outboard engines and pioneering field emissions testing equipment to help bring second-generation alternative biofuels, such as biobutanol, to boating consumers. The brands’ advanced end-of-line engine test “reduces process emissions and fuel consumption by over 50 percent.”

“Every member of the Evinrude team is committed to sustainable manufacturing practices,” said Jeff Wasil, Evinrude’s engineering manager, Emissions Testing, Certification and Regulatory Development, in the release. “Evinrude constantly pioneers new solutions to reduce our impact on the environment. These actions help us ensure long-term energy efficiency, a core component in Evinrude’s corporate social responsibility goals.”