Inkjet & Digital Printing
Kodak and Wal-Mart Launch Nationwide Recycling Program for Picture Kiosk Consumables
Friday 29. February 2008 - U.S. Initiative Expected to Annually Divert Two Million Pounds of Kodak Picture Maker Ribbons, Spools and Cartridges from Landfills
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today announced the launch of a national program to recycle used materials from in-store picture kiosks. The program is underway at about 4,100 Wal-Mart stores and Sams Clubs in the U.S. that operate KODAK Picture Kiosks, and is expected to annually recycle two million pounds of thermal printer ribbon, spools and cartridges. That amount is equivalent to the weight of approximately six, 250-passenger commercial airliners.
This initiative builds on ongoing sustainability efforts of both companies, as outlined in Wal-Marts company-wide zero waste goal and Kodaks Responsible Growth principles.
“We are thrilled to be working with our longtime partner, Wal-Mart, on this important sustainability initiative,” said Nicki Zongrone, General Manager Retail Systems Solutions and Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodak has a long record of responsible behavior related to environmental issues, and this initiative is a worlds first in the photo kiosk business. Together, Wal-Mart and Kodak are helping to make the planet a better place for our children.”
“Our partnership with Kodak to recycle materials from the photo kiosks in our stores is another step towards achieving our zero waste goal,” said Lori Kumar, divisional merchandise manager for Wal-Mart. “This initiative complements a number of other recycling programs in our photo department, including the recycling of silver, one-time use camera bodies and film canisters.”
The award-winning KODAK Picture Kiosk is a walk-up, in-store photo station where consumers can quickly and easily make photo prints, enlargements, greeting cards, calendars, invitations and more starting with prints, CDs or digital camera cards. Included in the Wal-Mart recycling program will be all three components used in the kiosk: printer ribbon, plastic spools and cartridges. These components are primarily made of polyethylene terphthalate (PETE) and polystyrene, which are plastics that are widely recycled today.
These materials will be collected in each store and sent regularly to one of several Wal-Mart Return Centers. From there, Wal-Mart recyclers, with Kodaks assistance, will separate the materials and process them for re-use. In a related effort to further reduce waste and impact to the environment, Kodak has introduced a change in the way these thermal materials are packaged by removing the bubble wrap around the donor spool which decreases the overall package size and weight.
Kodak, which was recently named a Wal-Mart “Supplier of the Year, Photo Department / Electronics,” has been a pioneer in the recycling arena for nearly two decades. Since 1990, Kodak has recycled well over one billion one-time use cameras in conjunction with numerous partners, including Wal-Mart. Today, Kodaks Responsible Growth goals provide for product stewardship across the companys commercial and consumer product portfolios.
In January, Kodak was also named one of the “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World,” a list compiled by Corporate Knights, Inc., based on data from Innovest Value Strategic Advisors. Kodak has been selected for the list in all four years of its existence. Additionally, The Roberts Environmental Center, a research institute associated with Claremont McKenna College, has announced that Kodak has received an “A+” sustainability rating in the Scientific, Photo and Control Equipment business sector.