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ROSWELL, Ga. June 13, 2017 – As a life sciences company, Cell Signaling Technology (CST) uses about 200,000 pairs of gloves each year. But that glove waste no longer goes into a landfill. CST diverts it through an innovative program that has enabled the company to recycle more than 4,400 pounds of gloves, which are then turned into flower pots, lawn furniture, and other products.
How has the company accomplished this? Through RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional, the first large-scale recycling program for non-hazardous lab, cleanroom and industrial waste. CST began participating in the program in 2014.
“Reducing our environmental footprint has long been a core company value,” said Sustainability Coordinator Elias Witman. “So finding a way to reduce the volume of glove waste was an important goal for us.”
Instead of being discarded, used lab gloves are sent to domestic recyclers to be turned into raw materials that are used to make a wide array of products.
Participating in The RightCycle Program is part of the everyday routine for CST employees. General use labs have highly visible recycling boxes with signage explaining how the gloves recycling program works. “It is explained in new employee training, and it’s become second nature – like throwing a plastic bottle in a recycling bin,” Witman said.
The RightCycle Program has diverted more than 400 tons of waste from landfills since its launch in 2011. It removes gloves, masks, garments, shoe covers and other apparel accessories from the waste stream and turns them into plastic pellets. These are then used to create eco-responsible consumer products and durable goods, such as shelving, totes and storage bins.
“We created The RightCycle Program because we recognized that our pharmaceutical and university customers wanted to reduce landfill waste, and single-use gloves made up a significant portion of that waste,” said Randy Kates, director of the Kimberly-Clark Professional Global Scientific Business. “So we developed a recycling solution that helps them achieve their sustainability goals, while positively engaging their employees in the process.”
The RightCycle Program has helped CST reduce the costs of trash removal and move closer toward its goal of zero waste to landfill.
“We’re glad to have made an impact on our waste profile and to have the lab gloves repurposed for safe, practical products,” Witman added. “The RightCycle Program is highly visible and practical. People see it and want to participate. Programs like this can help shape a culture of sustainability in the lab and yield positive impacts for the planet.”
About Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces, helping to make them healthier, safer and more productive. Key brands in this segment include: Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech and Jackson Safety. To see how Kimberly-Clark Professional is helping people around the world to work better, please visit www.KCProfessional.com.
About Cell Signaling Technology
Cell Signaling Technology (CST) is a private, family-owned company, founded by scientists and dedicated to providing the world's highest quality, innovative research and diagnostic products to accelerate biological understanding and enable personalized medicine. Our employees operate worldwide from our U.S. headquarters in Massachusetts, and our offices in the Netherlands, China, and Japan. For more information, visit www.cellsignal.com.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust Kimberly-Clark's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene, and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the Company's 145-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.