Investing in Our L&P Communities: Trinity River Waterwheels Initiative

Leggett & Platt believes in supporting the communities where we live and work. With that goal at heart, L&P is sponsoring the Trinity River Waterwheels Initiative in Fort Worth, Texas.

This initiative seeks to install large, solar-powered litter capture devices, or “waterwheels,” in the Trinity River. Waterwheels are a proven, sustainable, lower-cost technology to clean waterways. A waterwheel can remove up to 50,000 pounds of litter per day – about the size of two and a half garbage trucks. Removing the waste protects the water quality, improves the aesthetic and usability of the river, and improves the aquatic ecosystem for fish and wildlife.

“The Trinity River provides 710 miles of habitat, drinking water, tourism, and recreation,” said Juli Ragland, Environmental Program Manager for the City of Fort Worth. “The impact of this project will reach beyond Fort Worth and the metroplex and provide a cleaner river to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Mr. Trash Wheel, the first waterwheel created in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Trinity River Waterwheels initiative aligns with our L&P commitment to being good stewards of the environment and our company’s value of doing great work together.

“We are excited to be part of the solution to reduce litter in the City of Fort Worth through our support of the Trinity River Waterwheels Initiative,” said Tamara Cook, L&P’s Sustainability Director. “The Waterwheels will benefit the Fort Worth community and communities beyond by collecting trash and litter from the Trinity River.”

The Waterwheels Initiative also aligns with our commitment to being good partners in the communities where we operate. Leggett has produced carpet padding in the Fort Worth area for over 50 years and works hard to create sustainable solutions with our products. In our Flooring business, we manufacture carpet cushion products that are certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus and help customers achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification. Each year, we incorporate several hundred million pounds of recycled urethane foam in our production of bonded carpet cushion.

“Supporting the Waterwheels initiative and recycling foam to make new carpet cushion products are excellent examples of how L&P is supporting positive environmental impacts in the Fort Worth community,” concludes Tamara.

To learn more about the Trinity River Waterwheels Initiative and follow along as they plan construction for the first Waterwheel in Fort Worth, visit their website. And to learn more about our Environmental, Social, and Governance efforts, visit www.leggett.com/sustainability.

Apr 24 2023
By Life@Leggett

Happy Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day — a day for us to invest in our future by investing in our planet.

While we come from many cultures, Earth Day reminds us of our shared responsibility and commitment to care for our mutual home. Together, we can draw inspiration from one another to care for the environment and take action to promote a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.

Apr 21 2023
By Life@Leggett

L&P Careers: Redesigned with You in Mind

We’re excited to share our redesigned Leggett & Platt careers website! L&P Careers is a place to learn about opportunities to grow your career at Leggett and what it’s like to be part of our team. Check it out!

You can also sign up for job alerts and stay informed of every opportunity at L&P. Click on “How to Sign Up for Job Alerts” on the main page.

Apr 19 2023
By Life@Leggett

Happy Retirement, Chuck!

After 48 years of dedicated service to L&P, please join us in extending best wishes to Chuck Denisio on his retirement!

Chuck’s Career at L&P

Chuck started his career with Leggett & Platt in Mason, Ohio, as a Box Spring Nailer and quickly became the Quality Manager/Safety Director in 1976. In 1983, he was promoted to Plant Superintendent after moving to the Edison, New Jersey, facility. When that facility closed in 1984, he had the opportunity to move to Winchester, Kentucky, as the Quality Manager. During his tenure in Winchester, Chuck was also a Plant Superintendent and an Operations Manager before becoming Branch Manager in 2009. He has led the Winchester team in achieving seven Best in Class Awards, several Governor’s Safety and Health Awards, and consistently meeting branch goals.

Recently, Chuck received the title of Kentucky Colonel—the highest title of honor awarded by the Governor of Kentucky—for helping people affected by the floods of eastern Kentucky during the summer of 2022. Chuck and his teams donated more than 1,500 beds and other supplies to help bring relief to those who were affected.

Looking Back

We asked Chuck to share about his favorite memories and what he enjoyed doing the most at L&P:

My favorite memories are watching the company evolve over the years and being a part of the changes that made our company successful. I am proud that we grew from small plant quality circles to a world-class system of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.

I enjoyed working for a company that gave me opportunities at every stage of my career. Helping others succeed in their careers was also very rewarding.

Looking Forward

After he retires, Chuck plans to stay busy with photography, exercising, and volunteering in his community and church.

We wish you all the best, Chuck!

Apr 17 2023
By Life@Leggett

2023 Sustainability Report

At L&P, our mission is to build businesses and a culture that are sustainable for generations to come.

We recently published our 2023 Sustainability Report, which provides information about our approach to and performance on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters that are most important to our business. As we move through 2023, our key ESG initiatives include:

  • Developing and communicating ESG goals, including climate-related targets.
  • Establishing a roadmap of actions that will support us in meeting our ESG goals and targets.
  • Obtaining third-party limited assurance of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and publicly reporting our data.
  • Advancing our ID&E efforts as outlined in more detail in our report.
  • Building upon our management systems to improve data collection and contribute to broader companywide sustainability advancements.
  • Continuing to enhance our supplier assessment process, including a heightened emphasis on labor and social standards and cybersecurity controls.
  • Maintaining our commitment to transparency and continuing to share our corporate sustainability approach and performance.

Thank you for your support as we continue to build and report on our sustainable practices. Read our full Sustainability Report here: 2023 Sustainability Report

Apr 14 2023
By Life@Leggett

L&P Supports Mission of Lafayette House at Annual Fundraiser

Recently, a group of L&P employees attended Ooh-la Lafayette, the annual fundraiser for the Lafayette House of Joplin, Missouri. The Lafayette House is a center that provides safety and healing to those suffering from domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance abuse disorders. Annually, the Lafayette House serves more than 1,000 residents of Southwest Missouri, over half of which are seeking refuge from domestic violence.

Highlights of the evening included a purse auction, Versace raffle items, a fashion show spotlighting local boutiques, and an impactful video featuring survivor stories from those who have benefited from the shelter’s services.

“There were some tears shed as we heard from a woman who had to go to court 78 times to seek protection from her husband,” said Tammy Trent, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Tammy also serves on the Board of the Lafayette House. “This woman used her struggle to educate lawmakers in Missouri on the importance of Lifetime Protection Orders.”

“It was an honor to represent L&P at this event and to be a small part of helping the Lafayette House empower their clients,” Tammy concluded.

Thank you to all of our L&P employees who attended Ooh-la Lafayette and support the mission of the Lafayette House!

Apr 12 2023
By Life@Leggett

Congratulations, Gino!

Gino Mancini, Controller at Sponge-Cushion, recently celebrated 42 years of dedicated service to L&P.

Gino started at L&P in 1981 as a General Accountant. In 1986, he was promoted to Controller and has held that position since. We asked Gino to share about his time with L&P and the lessons he’s learned.

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

I’ve enjoyed working with and getting to know many people along the way. Everyone has a different background and environment they come from, which is not only interesting but helps in understanding the person. Also, with the help of others, I’ve enjoyed being able to solve some of the daily problems that arise. There’s a certain satisfaction in that.

What has been the most valuable lesson that’s added to the longevity of your career?

I’ve always tried to be transparent and straightforward with others. When you have no hidden agenda and remain consistent, it helps smooth out the highs and lows.

What advice would you give your younger self about life and business?

Stuff happens! Try to be as prepared as you can and as flexible as possible. Life and business will present you with situations you didn’t expect, so know they’re coming.

How have you seen Leggett change over the years you’ve been here? 

Leggett & Platt has been a consistent and well-run company, which is something to be admired. In recent years, there has been more focus on employees and social issues, which has been great.

Do you have plans to retire, and if so, what will you miss the most about your time at Sponge-Cushion? 

At the moment, I don’t have a specific date set, but I can tell you it’s close! I’ll miss the consistency, the interactions, the challenges, and the adrenaline rush of dealing with a hectic day. At the same time, I look forward to seeing what the next chapter in my life brings.

Please join us in congratulating Gino on this incredible achievement!

Apr 10 2023
By Life@Leggett

World Health Day: Health for All

April 7 is World Health Day and also the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) founding. Each year, the WHO selects a theme for World Health Day, and this year’s theme is Health for All—a message that promotes health equity and taking action to ensure that everyone can have good health.

Understanding the challenges communities face is a step towards being able to enact change. To broaden your knowledge of health-related issues and topics, check out these fact sheets from the WHO.

Apr 07 2023
By Life@Leggett

All Work and No Play? Not Today!

April 6 is International Fun at Work Day—a day to remind ourselves that work doesn’t have to be a fun-free zone.

Studies show that having fun at work enhances communication, collaboration, and productivity. We spend a lot of time with our coworkers, so let’s make it fun! Here are some ideas for you to try with your teams:

  • 👀 Two Truths, One Lie — Ask them to prepare two facts and one lie about themselves. Each person takes a turn to say their two truths and one lie without revealing what’s true and what’s not. Ask your coworkers to guess what’s true and what’s false.
  • 🔁 Would You Rather — Ask them a would-you-rather question. Here are two questions to get you started: 1. Would you rather sing every part of your work presentations or perform an interpretative dance of your presentations? 2. During work meetings, would you rather stand on one foot or sit on a child-sized chair?
  • 🍵 Tea Time — Schedule some time to share a drink or snack with your coworkers and catch up on life.
  • 💻 Group GIFs — This idea is great for virtual teams. Give your coworkers a scenario and ask them to respond with a GIF. Ask everyone to choose their favorites.
Apr 06 2023
By Life@Leggett

Earth Month at L&P

It’s Earth Month! At L&P, we are committed to fostering a culture that cares about our planet and providing sustainable solutions for our customers. Throughout the month of April, we’ll be sharing our efforts to be responsible stewards of the environment and communities where we live and work.

Our Commitment

The continued success of our company is built upon the culture and values of our nearly 20,000 employees who are dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable solutions, ensuring a safe and inclusive workplace, and driving value for our shareholders.

Our commitment to corporate sustainability reflects and reinforces our culture and our values. Our businesses are building sustainability into product development processes and designing products for improved durability, recovery, and recycling at end of life. We ensure compliance with environmental regulations everywhere we operate and engage employees in the development and implementation of sustainability and environmental programs.

Ideas for Celebrating Earth Month

If you’re looking for ways to care for and appreciate our planet, check out the following ideas:

  • 🧹 Community Cleanup — Notice a lot of litter around your community? Consider talking to your local government to see if a litter cleanup program exists and how you can get involved.
  • ♻️ Composting — Help keep waste out of landfills by turning your food and yard waste into compost that can be added to your yard’s soil. To get started with composting, check out the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Composting At Home resource.
  • 🌿 Appreciating Nature — In our busy lives, we may forget to notice nature’s beauty and all it provides. Take time to reconnect with nature by watching a nature documentary, going for a walk, visiting a park, or checking out what’s in your own yard.
  • 🛍️ Reusable Shopping Bags — Instead of using plastic bags at a store checkout, consider purchasing or using reusable shopping bags to help keep plastic out of landfills. You can also make your own reusable shopping bags.
Apr 03 2023
By Life@Leggett
← Older posts
Newer posts →