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Green Apple Cleaners
Nov-5-2009
MCC’s Green Business of the Year Award was bestowed on Nov. 5th at the Annual Awards Breakfast by Rebecca Craft, Con Edison and Award Sponsor, Ron Bergamini, CEO Action Carting Environmental Services Photo Credit: Anna Morris 2009 Green Business of the Year David Kistner, Founder and President of Green Apple Cleaners Green Apple Cleaners – is the tri-states ONLY truly environmentally (and people) friendly cleaner using non-toxic CO2 and Wet cleaning process’. Green Apple was formed when Mr. Kistner’s wife (Effie) was pregnant with their twin boys (Michael and Evan), as first time parents they read many books and articles about pregnancy and infant care. Several guides warned that pregnant women should avoid dry cleaning because of the harmful, often toxic chemicals (including Perchloroethylene or “perc” hydrocarbon and silicone) used by 99% of cleaners. With three years of research and carful assembly of the startup team, Green Apple Cleaners launched in Oct 2006 to capitalize on the opportunity within the NYC dry cleaning market to offer an "eco-friendly" alternative using clean efficient CO2 and water as opposed to traditional dry cleaning methods which are carcinogenic and ground water contaminants. After a creative acquisition and retrofit of an existing dry cleaning plant in 2006, Green Apple Cleaners under David’s meticulous branding eye and continuous environmental initiatives and innovations has grown from a single store / plant into a large multi-state operation serving over 10,000 customers in over 800 building in NYC through a combination of a fleet of the most fuel efficient delivery vehicles (including the industries first pedal trike) servicing 7 daily routes, 3 NYC store fronts and 2 NJ store fronts. This growth has taken place while continually introducing new environmental initiatives in the industry and continually challenging the historically “dirty” industry to change and even being recognized by being selected as an affiliate of Americas Best Cleaners leading Mr. Kistner to coin “Not only are we Green but were Great!” Over the past three years Green Apple has transformed from a dry cleaning company into a Green Consumer Products Company which currently derives the majority of its revenues from dry cleaning then uplifts those profits into other green ventures including: Green Apple Interiors, Green Apple Consumer Products (Natural Soaps and Detergents), Green Apple Concierge, and most recently the creation of a not-for-profit “The Green Apple Foundation” who mission is to help educate school age children on protecting our environment. Personally, David Kistner continued to prove leadership even after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in December of 2007. He is often quoted as saying “Cancer saved my life, my relationship with my wife and my company” as it forced him to re-address how the company operates (hiring additional personal – restructuring job duties and committing to be the best) and where and how he spends his time (more time with his now 6 year old twin boys and wife). Recent press on David Kistner and Green Apple appeared in outlets including: The Discovery Channel, America.gov, Sundance Channel, NBC - First Look, CBS – Organic Lie, Crains, The Green Guide, NY Times and 4 books as well as planting over 100 Apple trees in NYC in 2009 and committing to and additional 500 trees as part of their 3rd year celebration for more information about Green Apple please go to www.GreenAppleCleaners.com.
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