To reduce waste, Promega locations globally focus on avoiding single-use and difficult to recycle materials, enhancing recycling programs and increasing employee awareness of what is recyclable. This has included segregating materials for recycling, composting and encouraging reuse by providing reusable materials in cafeterias and kitchenettes. Employees embrace the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and have championed this effort. In 2019, we saw recycling levels increase by 2% and landfilled waste continue to decrease due to the following efforts:
- The recycling of nitrile gloves and protective garments with Kimberly-Clark Professionals Rightcycle program diverted 4.2 metric tons (over 8,500 pounds) of personal protective equipment from landfills in Wisconsin and California. Promega was again recognized with the Chelsea Santucci Greenovation Award in 2019.
- The Promega campus in Wisconsin as well as offices in California, Switzerland, France, Germany and the UK are just some of the locations to recently ban single-use materials. When reusable materials are prohibitive we use plant based and recyclable materials.
- Segregating plastic shrink wrap, banding and bottles for recycling from our shipping and dispensing areas across the Promega campus allowed us to recycle over 17 tons of plastic in the last year.
- The Sustainability Committee at our Promega campus held recycling lunch n’ learns, coordinated removal of plastic cups from watercoolers and piloted bokashi composting to help minimize waste going to landfills from a Sustain Dane Summit hosted at Promega.
- Facilities in Madison, WI and San Luis Obispo, CA, feature employee-managed composting programs to divert organic waste and support our employees’ passions for gardening.
- Over 140 employees participated in the annual electronics recycling drive at our Promega Earth Day celebration. The drive set a record by collecting over 12,481 pounds or 5,661 kgs of materials.
Managing Hazardous and Infectious Wastes
In the biotech industry, manufacturing processes can require use of potentially hazardous substances, along with the obligation to minimize waste and ensure its proper disposal. Promega looks to use vendors that can help us reuse and recycle waste.
