AT&T Environment and Safety

This 1994 case study by the World Resources Institute examines AT&T's transition toward proactive environmental and safety management, focusing on the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) to pollution prevention. It details the company's corporate goals to phase out ozone-depleting substances and reduce toxic emissions, specifically highlighting a project at the Columbus Works facility in Ohio to eliminate 1,1,1 trichloroethane (TCA) through process redesign and chemical substitution.

• AT&T shifted its environmental strategy from simple regulatory compliance to a leadership position, aiming to exceed legal requirements and prevent pollution at the source rather than relying on costly 'end-of-pipe' abatement solutions.
• In 1990, AT&T established specific environmental goals based on 1986 levels, including a 100% phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 1994, a 95% reduction in total toxic air emissions by 1995, and a 15% decrease in paper use by 1994.
• The company integrated pollution prevention into its Total Quality Management (TQM) framework, treating every pollutant or pound of solid waste as a 'cost of non-conformance' or a process defect.
• At the Columbus Works facility, AT&T eliminated the use of 35,000 gallons of perchloroethylene (PCE) annually by redesigning the soldering process to use a low-solids flux, which removed the need for cleaning solvents and generated $210,000 in cost savings.
• As part of a project for the President's Commission on Environmental Quality (PCEQ), the Columbus Works facility targeted the elimination of 1,1,1 trichloroethane (TCA), setting a goal for 50% reduction by the end of 1991 and 100% elimination by the end of 1995.
• To reduce TCA use, the Columbus Works facility implemented chemical substitutions, such as replacing TCA and alcohol with butyl carbitol (BC) for cleaning and lubricating 'gold fingers' on circuit boards.
• AT&T engaged in several industry and government partnerships to share non-proprietary technologies and environmental best practices, including the Industry Cooperative for Ozone Layer Protection (ICOLP) and the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI).

APA

Patell, J., & Trent, M. (1994). AT&T Environment and Safety. World Resources Institute. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-125-X_full_version_english.pdf

Chicago

Patell, James, and Marcy Trent. AT&T Environment and Safety. World Resources Institute, 1994. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-125-X_full_version_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Patell |first1=James |last2=Trent |first2=Marcy |title=AT&T Environment and Safety |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=1994 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-125-X_full_version_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{patell1994att, author = {Patell, James and Trent, Marcy}, title = {{AT\&T Environment and Safety}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {1994}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/case_1-56973-125-X_full_version_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }