Tate & Lyle McIntosh Wins PEP Environmental Stewardship Award for PFAS Reduction
Tate & Lyle McIntosh has been recognized with the Environmental Stewardship Award from Partners for Environmental Progress for its proactive initiative to remove PFAS-containing AFFF from its McIntosh facility.
During a facility upgrade, the team decided to replace the existing fire protection system, which used 3% AFFF, with a non-fluorinated alternative, rather than simply expanding the old system. Approximately 8,000 gallons of PFAS-containing foam were safely disposed of via high-temperature incineration, eliminating the potential for future contamination.
This project removed an estimated 16.7 pounds of PFAS, enough to contaminate more than 500 billion gallons of water above the EPA’s 2024 drinking water threshold. The initiative demonstrates Tate & Lyle’s leadership in environmental stewardship, risk reduction, and proactive sustainability planning.
Drew Davis, Area Manager, emphasized that this effort protects employees, neighbors, and the environment while exemplifying effective teamwork. Environmental Manager Shay Manuel added that early and thoughtful decision-making significantly reduces long-term environmental impact, and Plant Director George Parten highlighted the facility’s alignment with broader company sustainability goals.
Tate & Lyle McIntosh continues to prioritize minimizing environmental impact across operations, addressing climate change, water scarcity, and responsible waste management. The PFAS removal project stands as a model of proactive environmental leadership and community responsibility.
Join us in congratulating Tate & Lyle. Learn more about this special project in the video below. You can also learn about all of our 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award recipients on the PEP YouTube channel.