Press Release

ZEISS Innovation Center California wins local StopWaste Award

Active waste management and sustainability efforts get acknowledged by local county

10 June 2022

DUBLIN, California/United States | 10 June 2022 | ZEISS Group

ZEISS, the leading global optics and optoelectronics technology company, yesterday received the StopWaste Award for its ZEISS Innovation Center in Dublin, California. The StopWaste Award recognizes Alameda County organizations for their efforts in upstream waste prevention through reuse, recycling, and composting. Furthermore, the program honors continuous efforts to improve environmental performance and business efficiency.

Just over a year ago, in March 2021, ZEISS opened the newly constructed ZEISS Innovation Center California that houses customer experience and demonstration centers showcasing recent ZEISS innovations, as well as research laboratories, service and production facilities. The Center also serves as US headquarters for the ZEISS Medical Technology segment that develops and distributes cutting-edge solutions for ophthalmology and microsurgery worldwide. Also based at the Center are the strategic business unit Research Microscopy Solutions with the ZEISS Microscopy Customer Center and the X-Ray Microscopy business as well as the ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment.
The high-tech building, accommodating approximately 800 workspaces, meets the highest green energy and sustainability standards. The facility is powered by solar energy, supported by a use-based light and air controls and a heat recovery system. The outdoor irrigation system only uses recycled water.

“ZEISS is deeply committed to its sustainability goals. We are honored to receive the StopWaste Award and would like to thank Alameda County for recognizing and appreciating our efforts towards more sustainability at work,” said Maryam Asi, Environmental Health and Safety Manager at the ZEISS Innovation Center California. “This distinction shall motivate us to push even further and try to leave as minimal of a waste footprint as possible, becoming a community leader for green and conscious business efficiency,” added Ian Bauer, Environmental Health and Safety Manager at the ZEISS Innovation Center California.

The Environmental Health and Safety team has created a dedicated waste management program at the ZEISS Innovation Center to ensure correct waste separation. Continuous webinars and training programs help employees understand the aim of the program and teach how to actively reduce waste while at work. Furthermore, paper cups have been replaced by ceramic mugs for a less-waste coffee break. The hazardous waste management program has been streamlined in order to have scheduled pickups only four times a year. This minimizes the vehicular carbon footprint. In addition, throughout the year dedicated household hazardous waste days for ZEISS employees are organized where they can bring in non-standard waste and sensitive documents to be shredded and disposed.

On the property of the ZEISS Innovation Center California sits a wetland that is home to a few unique species of bacteria that only exist here. This wetland along with special bioretention areas is actively protected and maintained.

ZEISS has set up a constant process of evaluation and re-evaluation of all environmental and safety programs on site, aiming to refine methods and learn every day.

Further information

Furher information about the ZEISS Innovation Center California

Press Contact Melanie Kiefer

Manager Communications North America
ZEISS Group

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling 7.5 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology and Consumer Markets (status: 30 September 2021).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 13 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With around 37,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 30 production sites, 60 sales and service companies and 27 research and development facilities (status: 31 March 2022). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com