“What this team has done better than any I've worked with over the years is adapt to the demands placed upon it.”

Nick Sovacool is the Senior Mill Engineer at BiOrigin Specialty Products. His team's commitment to sustainable energy saving opportunities is clearly seen throughout its Ladysmith mill. From the boots on the ground developing energy efficiency projects to the corporate leadership’s support and investment in the future of the mill. BiOrigin has worked with Focus on Energy and its utility, Ecel Energy for more than 22 years.

“Thank you for making the commitment to this community through your investment in efficiency and productivity," Excel Energy's Jeff Klaver told the group gathered for the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award Presentation. "This investment goes beyond the energy savings. It is actually an investment in the people and the community and a commitment by this company to the long-term success of the plant and its integration with the community.”

The century old specialty paper and tissue manufacturer focuses on “eco-friendly” products for a variety of industries such as sanitary/hygiene and medical – creating antimicrobial coatings that fight off germs for medical exam table paper, surgical drapes, gown stocks and face masks.

“The most important thing to me is this is helping us guarantee our employees a career in a successful business for many, many years to come,” said Mark Bittner, Mill Manager.

BiOrigin completed 14 projects between 2018 and 2023,

Those projects saved enough energy to power 1,500 Wisconsin homes.

7 of those projects completed in 2023 can power

670 Wisconsin homes for a year!

“And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have a ton of other opportunities here that we are planning on attacking,” Bittner said.

BiOrigin’s Energy Advisor, a Focus on Energy provided resource, offered in-depth energy experience, identified two recent projects during an energy assessment.

“Our selfish goal is to keep Wisconsin paper industry in Wisconsin accessible and sustainable to achieve all of their corporate goals, environmental goals," Focus on Energy Advisor Tim Hasbergen said. "

The projects showed how emerging technology in the paper industry can now be transitioned into best practices.

“As we move into the future," Sovacool said, "we will continue to adapt to what I'm sure will be changes, if we keep our focus on energy savings opportunities, we will continue to improve the viability of our mill for years to come.”

“Sustainability is very important to us at BiOrigin and for me sustainability is like safety.," Bill Oliver, BiOrigin VP of Operations said. "They're extremely important aspects of our business and a lot of what we do in the sustainability market, really product development is all about providing more sustainable solutions for our customers, for the market. And this today happens not because it's important to us, but at the mill level they get it. They're the ones that made this happen. So, thank you to the local team.”

Congratulations to BiOrigin Specialty Products, a 2024 Focus on Energy Efficiency Excellence Eward recipient