The idea of moving towards a “Zero Waste” world seems too farfetched for some people on the business end of the spectrum to take seriously. Even so, consumers are starting to value businesses that are more sustainably-minded, beyond simple “greenwashing.” Many skeptics seem to think that this is some idealized, unobtainable goal, when in fact there are very reachable and accessible methods of taking a few beginning steps towards Zero Waste. Plus, consumers aren’t just attracted to companies that generate Zero Waste; they value ones that are putting forth real efforts into making those first few steps to solving their own waste generation problems.

Through a large-scale recycling program called RightCycle, Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) has helped divert 137,000 lb of disposable garments and 45,000 lb of nitrile gloves from landfills. The program allows cleanroom employees to deposit their used gloves, hoods, boot covers and hairnets in collection boxes where they are delivered to TerraCycle, KCP's partner company that recycles the otherwise landfill-bound items into useable products such as composite decking, park benches and chairs. Through this program, KCP is providing a more long-term solution to its own waste-generation and helping to pave the way for a more sustainably conscious corporate world "By recycling more than 90 tons of garments and gloves since the program began, we have helped our customers achieve or exceed their corporate social responsibility and sustainability goals," says KCP's Randy Kates. "Our mission to create exceptional workplaces that are healthier, safer and more productive is inseparable from our commitment to protecting the environment. This program addresses both of these goals." Since 2011, the KCP and TerraCycle partnership has made it simple and convenient for companies to recycle these previously non-recyclable waste streams, helping them meet zero-waste goals. The program is part of a larger goal by parent company Kimberly-Clark Corp. to send zero manufacturing waste to landfills by 2015. The company's Global Nonwovens Division has already worked to keep more than 99 percent of its manufacturing waste out of landfills.

Sustainability is quickly becoming less of a consideration and more of a necessity for corporate entities and industries in the United States. This means putting an increased focus on efficiency through sustainability and alternative solutions, resulting in less operational waste. For cleanrooms and laboratories, this can also mean safer working environments and an increase in employee morale due to the corporate commitment that many companies are making. Despite many corporations taking a fresh look at ways to become greener, sustainability can be difficult to manage for facilities dealing with hazardous materials and other contaminates. The disposal of things like safety garments and protective gloves, for instance, has been a challenging issue due to the sheer volume of these items that are consumed. The traditional disposal option for items like these is the garbage, where they eventually end up in a landfill. While landfilling is one of the cheapest disposal methods, hazardous leachate may seep into the groundwater; plus, the synthetic polymers in protective clothing and gloves will not degrade over time in a landfill. Some consider incineration to be a more sustainable option, though massive quantities of greenhouses gases and pollutants are released into the air using this method of destruction. The ideal option for things like disposable garments and gloves is recycling. However, recycling rates in the United States are still dismally low: only about four percent¹ of the hazardous waste and 34.7 percent of the municipal solid waste² was recycled in 2011. Items made of multiple components, such as synthetic fiber garments with protective linings, are even more difficult and expensive to recycle as each component must be separated and recycled individually. The traditional approach to recycling (through municipalities) does not work in this scenario because the cost of collecting, sorting, and processing materials is greater than the value of the recycled output. For this reason, more and more corporate entities are beginning to focus on non-traditional recycling options to solve for their waste streams. For example, Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) started a large-scale recycling program, called RightCycle, for cleanroom garments and nitrile gloves. The program allows cleanroom staff to collect their used garments, boot covers, hairnets, nitrile gloves, and other related items for recycling. These waste items are stored in on-site collection boxes which are organized onto pallets.  These sites coordinate pick-ups with their back-end recycling partner, TerraCycle. Photo: Kimberly-Clark ProfessionalSince the end of 2011, the RightCycle program has diverted more than 182,000 pounds of KCP garments and gloves from landfills, a testament to how viable programs like these can be. The company’s larger goal is to keep all of their manufacturing waste from landfills by 2015.  For context, its Global Nonwovens Division is already diverting 99 percent of manufacturing waste from landfills. All of the garments and nitrile gloves collected through the RightCycle platform are pelletized and used to replace virgin plastics in the manufacturing process. Some of the products that TerraCycle is able to create from the recycled garments and gloves are things like industrial pallets, recycled plastic lumber, and Adirondack chairs. By being repurposed instead of landfilled, the materials retain some of their value as a new raw material. Programs like this one are setting the benchmark for take-back options, making work environments more environmentally responsible while helping to achieve overall strides in sustainability.

Kimberly-Clark Professional, a global leader in cleanroom and laboratory contamination control garments, has helped divert 137,000 pounds of disposable garments and 45,000 pounds of nitrile gloves from landfills through its innovative large-scale recycling program called RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional. The RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program allows cleanroom employees to conveniently deposit used gloves, hoods, boot covers and hairnets in collection boxes where they are then delivered to recycling pioneer and partner, TerraCycle. TerraCycle transforms these otherwise landfill-bound items into useable products such as composite decking, park benches, and Adirondack chairs. “By recycling more than 90 tons of garments and gloves since the program began, we have helped our customers achieve or exceed their Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability goals,” said Randy Kates, director, Global Scientific Business, Kimberly-Clark Professional. “At Kimberly-Clark, our mission to create Exceptional Workplaces that are healthier, safer and more productive is inseparable from our commitment to protecting the environment. This program addresses both of these goals.” Since 2011, the Kimberly-Clark Professional and TerraCycle partnership has made it simple and convenient for companies to recycle these previously non-recyclable waste streams, helping them meet their zero-waste goals. The overwhelming success of the RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program is part of a larger goal by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the parent company of Kimberly-Clark Professional, to send zero manufacturing waste to landfills by 2015. The company’s Global Nonwovens Division has already worked to keep more than 99 percent of its manufacturing waste out of landfills. As the environmental and economic costs of landfilling and recycling manufacturing waste continue to rise, alternative recycling options are becoming increasingly important to both industry leaders and consumers. Through this pioneering program, Kimberly-Clark Professional is not only providing a more long-term solution to its own waste-generation, it is helping to pave the way for a more sustainably conscious corporate world. About Kimberly-Clark Professional Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces* helping to make them safer, healthier, and more productive. Key brands in this segment include: Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and Jackson Safety. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s four business sectors. To see how we are helping people the world over work better, please visit www.kcprofessional.com.

Kimberly-Clark Professional, a provider of clean room and laboratory contamination control garments, has helped divert 137,000 pounds of disposable garments and 45,000 pounds of nitrile gloves from landfills, according to the company, through its innovative large-scale recycling program called, "RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional." The RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program allows cleanroom employees to conveniently deposit used gloves, hoods, boot covers and hairnets in collection boxes where they are then delivered to recycling pioneer and partner, TerraCycle. TerraCycle transforms these otherwise landfill-bound items into useable products such as composite decking, park benches, and Adirondack chairs. "By recycling more than 90 tons of garments and gloves since the program began, we have helped our customers achieve or exceed their Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability goals," said Randy Kates, director, Global Scientific Business, Kimberly-Clark Professional. "At Kimberly-Clark, our mission to create Exceptional Workplaces that are healthier, safer and more productive is inseparable from our commitment to protecting the environment. This program addresses both of these goals." Since 2011, the Kimberly-Clark Professional and TerraCycle partnership has made it simple and convenient for companies to recycle these previously non-recyclable waste streams, helping them meet their zero-waste goals. The overwhelming success of the RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program is part of a larger goal by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the parent company of Kimberly-Clark Professional, to send zero manufacturing waste to landfills by 2015. The company's Global Nonwovens Division has already worked to keep more than 99 percent of its manufacturing waste out of landfills. As the environmental and economic costs of landfilling and recycling manufacturing waste continue to rise, alternative recycling options are becoming increasingly important to both industry leaders and consumers. Through this pioneering program, Kimberly-Clark Professional is not only providing a more long-term solution to its own waste-generation, it is helping to pave the way for a more sustainably conscious corporate world. For more information visit http://www.kcprofessional.com/home.

Kimberly-Clark Professional, a provider of clean room and laboratory contamination control garments, has helped divert 137,000 pounds of disposable garments and 45,000 pounds of nitrile gloves from landfills, according to the company, through its innovative large-scale recycling program called, "RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional." The RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program allows cleanroom employees to conveniently deposit used gloves, hoods, boot covers and hairnets in collection boxes where they are then delivered to recycling pioneer and partner, TerraCycle. TerraCycle transforms these otherwise landfill-bound items into useable products such as composite decking, park benches, and Adirondack chairs. "By recycling more than 90 tons of garments and gloves since the program began, we have helped our customers achieve or exceed their Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability goals," said Randy Kates, director, Global Scientific Business, Kimberly-Clark Professional. "At Kimberly-Clark, our mission to create Exceptional Workplaces that are healthier, safer and more productive is inseparable from our commitment to protecting the environment. This program addresses both of these goals." Since 2011, the Kimberly-Clark Professional and TerraCycle partnership has made it simple and convenient for companies to recycle these previously non-recyclable waste streams, helping them meet their zero-waste goals. The overwhelming success of the RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional program is part of a larger goal by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the parent company of Kimberly-Clark Professional, to send zero manufacturing waste to landfills by 2015. The company's Global Nonwovens Division has already worked to keep more than 99 percent of its manufacturing waste out of landfills. As the environmental and economic costs of landfilling and recycling manufacturing waste continue to rise, alternative recycling options are becoming increasingly important to both industry leaders and consumers. Through this pioneering program, Kimberly-Clark Professional is not only providing a more long-term solution to its own waste-generation, it is helping to pave the way for a more sustainably conscious corporate world. For more information visit http://www.kcprofessional.com/home.

The programme, called RightCycle, makes it easy to dispose of previously hard-to-recycle garments such as coveralls, gloves, hoods, boot covers and hairnets in a sustainable manner. The used items are simply placed in a RightCycle collection box or the operator's own box. Full boxes are assembled onto pallets and collected by Kimberly-Clark Professional programme partner TerraCycle.

Terracycle has been making it easy for people and businesses throughout North America to reduce consumer product waste through its dozens of “Brigades” that collect previously non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste

Terracycle’s Zero Waste Box program is being marketed to factory managers in a bid to encourage employees to recycle items commonly used on factory floors, including ear plugs and hair nets.

Même en Suisse, pays détenant le record européen de recyclage des produits, il reste du chemin à parcourir dans les domaines du tri des déchets et du recyclage. L’entreprise américaine TerraCycle a développé une nouvelle approche de la question : en partenariat avec des marques comme BiC, Colgate ou Kimberly Clark Professional, TerraCycle organise des programmes de collecte des déchets qu’elle réutilise par la suite à 100%. Les marques prennent ainsi volontairement la responsabilité vis-à-vis des déchets qu’elles produisent.