Kodak and the environment

bob100684 · Aug 19, 2009

In my search for jobs in the environmental sciences, I went to kodak's employement page and noticed that they don't seem to have a category for compliance or environmental sciences like many major manufacturers in the United States. An automated email seems to indicate that they indeed do not. In what way is it acceptable for them to not be responsible for maintaining a clean environment or monitoring any outputs of pollution at their plants?

Sirius Glass · Aug 19, 2009

No, Kodak has worked quite hard to clean up problems from the past and comply to all the present laws.

The problem you are having is that you are not using the right job title. Since I am no longer at Kodak, I cannot supply you with the right job title. Perhaps someone else can.

Steve

Bruce Watson · Aug 19, 2009

Twelve to one they contract nearly all the environmental stuff out to specialists.

Sirius Glass · Aug 19, 2009

Bruce Watson said:
Twelve to one they contract nearly all the environmental stuff out to specialists.

What do they do after 1 PM? or before 12 noon?

Please advise.

Steve

John Koehrer · Aug 20, 2009

Between 9 and 12 is pre-lunch break, 12-1 is lunch and 1-5 is post lunch break and recess.

Sirius Glass · Aug 20, 2009

John Koehrer said:
Between 9 and 12 is pre-lunch break, 12-1 is lunch and 1-5 is post lunch break and recess.

Thank you. I was wondering why "twelve to one" was posted earlier by Bruce. Now I am clear on the topic.

Steve

Photo Engineer · Aug 20, 2009

Kodak has an extensive program regarding environmental issues. Over and above the decrease in sales, they have reduced chemical contaminants by a huge amount. This effort started in the 60s with the elimination of Mercury and Cadmium in photo products and continues to the present.

Environmentalists locally contend that there is a conspiracy to "protect" Kodak, but every time they think they have that evidence it turns against them, such as their collectioin devices using a Methylene Chloride solvent to prepare the collection container showing high Methylene Chloride which was coming from their own equipment. They printed a retraction. Then they found evil colored chemical contaminants leaking from Kodak Park onto the I 390 highway which turned out to be a natural spring leaking algae containing water. Another retraction.

So, they have a program at all levels and a hard working community communication program to work with local neighbors to insure clean air. They have been accused and some of the complaints have been valid but they always respond and "do better".

PE

Sirius Glass · Aug 20, 2009

Thank you PE. I knew Kodak was serious about clean up its environment, but I lacked the details that you supplied.

Steve

Dave Pritchard · Aug 20, 2009

Most of those environmental compliance officer positions are in manufacturing facilities or factories. Product-related environmental factors are usually handled by product design engineering (along with upper management and marketing input). I don't know Kodak, but I'd expect a chemical engineering company to expect all engineers to be aware of all issues related to toxics. Have you done the same search at 3M?

Photo Engineer · Aug 20, 2009

Dave;

I agree. Kodak basically told us that they wanted to get rid of Cadmium and Mercury in the emulsions and Ferricyanide and Formalin in the process. We then did our jobs to comply with managements dictates on environmental concerns.

In the plant, as opposed to R&D, the engineers had the mandate to reduce the contamination from the incinerator, and so they installed new scrubbers, and in other parts of the plant they increased the efficiency of the water treatment facility. There was no environmental science dept. or personage. It was just that every engineer was expected to do his/her job with high awareness of the environment.

We had to do BOD and COD asessments of our new processes and the same for making the new products. That is why new products take a large team with a long development time and why Kodak products are somewhat more expensive. When we came out with these new products, the competition merely came out with compatible products. After all, Kodak did the R&D for them when you get right down to it.

PE

AgX · Aug 21, 2009

Bob,

Perhaps here you will find more information of interest to you:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/HSE/healthSafetyAndEnvironmentalAnnualReports.jhtml?pq-path=7211

alexmacphee · Aug 21, 2009

Fascinatingly informative.

Aurum · Aug 21, 2009

They will be recovering as much as possible, as a lot of the materials, especially things like silver and gold will have a large commercial value and will help offset the costs of recovery.

Sirius Glass · Aug 21, 2009

Why are there no cries for Ilford or Fuji to show their environmental cleanups? Are Ilford and Fuji getting a free pass again?

Interested Readers Want to Know!

Steve

msage · Aug 21, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Why are there no cries for Ilford or Fuji to show their environmental cleanups? Are Ilford and Fuji getting a free pass again?

Interested Readers Want to Know!

Steve

Why do you think that "Ilford and Fuji getting a free pass again"?

Sirius Glass · Aug 21, 2009

msage said:
Why do you think that "Ilford and Fuji getting a free pass again"?

Because no one is questioning them.

Steve

Q.G. · Aug 21, 2009

A few years ago, Ilford/Harman proudly announced that they had done beter than was demanded in EU regulations, many years in a row, and were given an award for that.

It's not quite a free pass, an award ...

Sirius Glass · Aug 21, 2009

Q.G. said:
A few years ago, Ilford/Harman proudly announced that they had done beter than was demanded in EU regulations, many years in a row, and were given an award for that.

It's not quite a free pass, an award ...

Great. I am glad to hear it.

The free pass comment is aimed at posters who will decry Kodak for this or that, or call for Kodak boycotts, but look the other way when Ilford or Fuji commit the same alleged offense.

Steve

AgX · Aug 21, 2009

Steve,

Kodak have their environmental reports, Agfa have theirs.
So I'm sure Fuji have too. Seemingly it is a matter of finding them.

Kirk Keyes · Aug 22, 2009

Observation A:

bob100684 said:
In my search for jobs in the environmental sciences, I went to kodak's employement page and noticed that they don't seem to have a category for compliance or environmental sciences like many major manufacturers in the United States.

Observation B:

bob100684 said:
An automated email seems to indicate that they indeed do not.

Conclusion:

bob100684 said:
In what way is it acceptable for them to not be responsible for maintaining a clean environment or monitoring any outputs of pollution at their plants?

I'm glad you did such an exhaustive amount of research before coming to that obvious conclusion.

Perhaps a few more classes in logic and reasoning are in order before you start looking for a job in environmental science.

(If you think I'm not qualified to make such a comment, I actually do have a job in the environmental field - I analyze air for volatile organic compounds using GC/MS.)

Kodak and the environment

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