Company: Advanced Drainage Systems
Nomination Submitted by: Paul Werth Associates
Company Description: ADS, is a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and on-site septic wastewater industries and the largest plastic recycler in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Materials & Construction - Large
 Nomination Title: Advanced Drainage Systems
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2022, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 195 words used.
Advanced Drainage Systems’ purpose and promise is to protect and manage water, our most precious resource. ADS does this through engineering manufacturing products focused capturing, conveying, storing and treating stormwater. ADS was founded in Delaware in 1966 as a manufacturer of plastic agricultural pipes, and today its products are an integral part of commercial construction and infrastructure sites around the world. Since its move to Hilliard, Ohio, in the 1970s, it has grown into a worldwide company managing stormwater for commercial, residential, agricultural and infrastructure uses with about 70 manufacturing plants and 37 distribution centers. Now a public company with annual sales of more than $2 billion, ADS employs more than 5,000 globally.
While water management is its purpose, ADS has grown to recognize that it is at its core a company that stewards and protects water. That role is becoming ever more important as climate change induces stormwater events of greater magnitude and frequency, causing greater damage to property and people. ADS remains committed to advancing material science and engineering innovative products that mitigate the impact of those stormwater events, and to pursuing innovative ways to incorporate more recycled material in ADS products.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
In 2022 and 2023, ADS marked successes in sustainability and financial growth, and reinforced itself as a valuable community partner. For example, ADS:
- Broke ground on a new engineering and technology center that when complete will be the most advanced stormwater engineering center in the world dedicated to product engineering, material science –– including recycled plastics –– and manufacturing technologies.
- Recycled about 600 million pounds of plastics annually in 2022 and 2023.
- Developed and implemented a supplier sustainability program and supplier code of conduct.
- Announced plans to make the company’s largest capital investment to date through a state-of-the-art facility in central Florida that will manufacture materials for cinfrastructure projects around the southeastern U.S.
- Awarded $500,000 to the Nature Conservancy over three years to advance water conservation efforts in California, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.
- Increased its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. For example, in Fiscal 2022, 55% of Director level hires and promotions were diverse candidates, and in Fiscal 2023, manager-level diversity increased by 39%.
- Donated $500,000 in stormwater management system materials to the city of Hilliard, Ohio for the city’s new Recreation and Wellness Campus.
- Was named to USA Today’s inaugural list of America’s Climate Leaders and by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies.
- Despite a challenge demand environment and a near doubling of interest rates in 2022, ADSsales revenue in both 22' and 2'3 reached nearly $2.8B. Adjusted EBITDA increased. Our most recent fiscal resutls show adjusted EBITA increased 20.3%.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 232 words used.
ADS stands alone within the water management industry. The company is both the global leader in production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes and one of North America’s largest recyclers of HDPE. The plastic, widely used in the manufacture of containers such as milk jugs, shampoo bottles and bleach containers, too often is thrown away. By recycling HDPE, ADS gives these single-use products an extended life of up to 100 years, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of plastics out of landfills each year. In fact, more than 50% of material across ADS product lines are recycled plastic.
Additionally, ADS is a leader in the sciences that have led to its achievements. From vortex hydrodynamic separators that protect receiving waters by removing suspended solids, to mobile apps that help agricultural planners calculate drainage volume and pipe, and even research that studies the efficacy of drainage products for specific markets, ADS is always developing innovative products and solutions that advance the world's water infrastructure.
In September 2022, the company announced a $65 million investment to build a new engineering and technology center that will be the most advanced stormwater engineering center in the world dedicated to product engineering, material science and manufacturing technologies. Meanwhile, ADS delivers tremendous service to its customers with the industry’s largest company-owned fleet, an expansive salesteam, and a vast manufacturing network of approximately 70 manufacturing plants and 37 distribution centers.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 7 words used.
Links have been placed through the nomination.
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
