Safety goggles on: Kimberly-Clark expands RightCycle recycling to personal protective equipment
27 Jun 2022 --- Kimberly-Clark Professional is expanding its RightCycle recycling program to include flex-film plastic packaging from Kimtech and products from KleenGuard, aiming to recycle complex plastics and personal protective equipment (PPE) on a large scale.
Since films and flexible packaging are typically made up of various materials, recycling them calls for a particular strategy. According to researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, only 5% of managed plastic garbage in the US was recycled in 2019.
To address plastic waste mismanagement, the RightCycle Program partnered with Kimtech and KleenGuard to develop a strategy for the most appropriate recycling methods.
Kimberley-Clark specializes in contamination control solutions for cleanrooms and laboratories, and through its RightCycle program, non-hazardous lab, cleanroom, and industrial PPE waste will be recycled on a large scale.
Addressing low recycling rates
Since 2011, more than 900 consumers have used The RightCycle Program 2011 to divert a total of 3.7 million pounds of garbage.
“This is a significant step in addressing a challenging waste stream that currently has very low recycling rates compared with other commodities, such as paper and cardboard,” says Mike Haley, vice president of PPE at Kimberly-Clark.
The RightCycle Program also gathers previously difficult-to-recycle PPE such as safety suits, masks, gloves, and goggles in addition to plastic packaging debris. Regional recycling partners use these materials to make new plastic pellets, which are subsequently used to make consumer goods and durable items like flower pots, benches, and bicycle racks.
Kimberly-Clark aims to improve the lives of one billion people in underprivileged places worldwide by 2030.Cross-border influence
The RightCycle Program, which began in the US with a small number of scientific manufacturing clients, is now offered in nine countries in Europe and North America, with a diverse clientele that includes universities, zoos, laboratories, manufacturing facilities, breweries, and various other businesses.
With the least possible environmental impact, Kimberly-Clark hopes to improve the lives of one billion people in underprivileged places worldwide by 2030.
The RightCycle Program helps achieve this goal, according to the company. Kimberly-Clark says it is aware that improving people’s quality of life requires just as much attention as protecting natural systems. To do this, the business is concentrated on the areas of climate, forests, water and plastics, where it can have the greatest impact.
Hand towels and plastic dispensers
The RightCycle Program in Europe was broadened in 2021 to include the recycling of hand towels and plastic dispensers. These additions give Kimberly-Clark an even better chance to lessen its environmental impact while working with its clients.
In a similar development, the Recycling Partnership introduced the PET Recycling Coalition, an initiative informed by industry knowledge and expertise to improve PET circularity. The US-based coalition came as part of The Recycling Partnership’s pathway to circularity and aimed to advance the circular economy for all packaging.
Edited by Mieke Meintjes
