DALLAS, July 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For staffers
at the Dallas Zoo, nitrile gloves from Kimberly-Clark Professional
help ensure quality and safety when they care and feed for more
than 2,000 animals at the zoo. Through Kimberly-Clark's RightCycle
Program, the zoo also has expanded the overall impact of its
sustainability efforts by providing a safe, renewable way to
dispose of these gloves.
The RightCycle Program works with universities, research and
manufacturing facilities, zoos and a variety of other businesses to
take hard-to-recycle products, such as used gloves, protective
apparel and safety eyewear, and convert them into new consumer
goods. For the Dallas Zoo, it estimates that it has been able to
divert more than 1,000 pounds of gloves since starting the program
in 2018 – roughly the weight of one of its female giraffes.
"When these gloves go to a landfill, they can be consumed by
wildlife or they can wind up in our oceans and harm marine life,"
said Shannon College, a Dallas Zoo
animal supervisor who runs the zoo's Green Team. "Our team members
were really excited, and they immediately agreed to participate in
the program. Anything we can do to reduce that impact is vitally
important to us."
Keeping plastic waste out of the environment is an integral part
of the zoo's commitment to create a better world for animals.
That's why the zoo partnered with The RightCycle Program to recycle
the nitrile gloves that it uses for animal care, cleaning and food
preparation.
"Kimberly-Clark has a long relationship with the Dallas Zoo
through our support of numerous conservation efforts and, of
course, making products to help keep the Dallas Zoo staff and
animals healthy and safe. But the real pride for us is to partner
with the zoo on a program that provides such a tangible
contribution to their mission to create a better world for
animals," said Jennifer Shaffer,
RightCycle Program manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional.
For the Dallas Zoo, participating in the program isn't just
about recycling waste from its own facilities, it's also about
modeling responsible environmental practices to inspire others.
"We enjoy being able to show our guests various ways to change
their behavior," College said. "For example, a lot of our
zoologists wear the gloves during animal encounters, and they say
to guests, 'This is one more way that that we're creating a better
world for animals. We wear these gloves and we recycle them.'"
The program has been enthusiastically received by both zoo
employees and visitors. In addition to telling visitors about The
RightCycle Program, the zoo shows guests what happens to the gloves
after they are recycled.
"We purchased plastic flowerpots to show how used gloves go to
The RightCycle Program to be turned into plastic products like the
ones guests see around the zoo, with plants that benefit local
pollinators, and herbs that we use as scent enrichment activities
for our animals," College said. "And our guests are
super-impressed. They don't realize that glove recycling is an
option. They appreciate the extra steps we take to make these
changes, and see us at the forefront of a program that is
redirecting a large volume of waste in such a utilized way."
The RightCycle Program is the first large-scale recycling
initiative in the scientific and industrial products industries for
non-hazardous laboratory gloves, single-use apparel and safety
eyewear. The used products are transformed into flowerpots,
shelving, lawn and garden furniture and other goods by U.S.
manufacturers. Since 2011, the program has helped zoos, aquariums,
universities, research facilities, and a range of businesses divert
more than 830 tons of waste from landfills.
About the Dallas Zoo
The Dallas Zoo is dedicated to creating a better world for
animals. Named one of the nation's Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, it is the largest zoological
experience in Texas. The zoo has
been accredited continuously by the Association of Zoos &
Aquariums since 1985, and features a 106-acre park, thousands of
animals, and an education department that offers programs for all
ages. The zoo is located at 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35 at
Marsalis) and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit
DallasZoo.com or call 469.554.7500.
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 KleenGuard. To see how Kimberly-Clark
Professional is helping people around the world to work better,
please visit www.KCProfessional.com.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an
indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries.
Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's
most essential needs, we create products that help individuals
experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of
brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle,
Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve,
Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position
in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a
healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business
thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to
learn more about the company's 147-year history of innovation,
visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or
Twitter.
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