Thrive program aids businesses in keeping waste out of landfills

Kimberly-Clark Professional, Roswell, Georgia, has launched its new sustainability service Thrive, which aims to assist businesses in reducing waste and tracking life cycle progress.

The service features a first-of-its-kind program, the Thrive Dispenser Service, that diverts used plastic restroom dispensers from landfills. Thrive is available to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada that replace 100 or more dispensers deemed eligible for landfill diversion (if they are considered nonhazardous after use).

Kimberly-Clark team members collect qualifying used plastic dispensers at customer sites and prepare them for shipment. Customers then send their dispensers, which can contain dry, leftover paper products, to a Kimberly-Clark sustainability partner facility.

At the facility, the dispensers undergo processing, including sorting, shredding and transformation into a fossil fuel substitute to be used in producing cement and building materials.

Once the used dispensers are received and processed, Kimberly-Clark coordinates the installation of new replacement dispensers, including ICON, Kleenex or Scott dispensers.

Throughout the process, Thrive offers a service to aid businesses in quantifying, reporting and tracking landfill diversion metrics. Participating customers will receive an environmental impact achievement certificate.

"Our customers are looking for practical, measurable ways to meet their sustainability goals," says Susan Gambardella, president of Kimberly-Clark. "Thrive offers a solution that's easy to implement and makes a tangible, positive impact toward waste reduction."