Kimball is committed to developing products and processes that are environmentally friendly, and to promote recycling and the wise usage of renewable resources. In all, Kimball International recycles 65 different items in over fifteen categories.

The Kimball internal Corporate Sustainability team monitors data and provides corporate-wide and unit-specific reports on reduction and recycling efforts, in support of each facility’s Environmental/Sustainability personnel. Management also uses this data to determine further improvement areas and recommendations for action.

Each Kimball manufacturing location has Significant Environmental Aspect (SEA) programs to address intitiatives and promote continuous improvement. In Fiscal Year 2011, there are SEA reduction programs in the following areas: (20) waste reduction/recycling; (17) energy/Greenhouse Gas reduction; (3) air emission reduction; and (3) water reduction programs.

To provide inspiration and support among employees, the Kimball employee newsletter regularly includes articles on success stories about continuous improvement actions on energy, water, emissions, waste reduction and recycling efforts.

From the Product Development Teams to the Manufacturing Shop Floor, employees throughout Kimball demonstrate commitment to finding ways to eliminate waste and pollutants, reduce materials usage, and provide for safer, cleaner facilities and communities. The positive results seen thus far are directly due to the actions of Kimball employees who took time to make a difference.

It is important to understand that while our percentage of recycled materials remains high (88%), the actual overall tonnage of materials sent to be recycled has been reduced, thanks to our efficiency actions. If generation of all waste materials can be averted, there are fewer impacts to the environment.

Responsible sustainability practices also make good business sense. Efforts to lower costs through reduction, re-use, and recycling remain strong.

Corporate Recycling Center:

Kimball Corporate Recycle Center (CRC) supports the programs of numerous regional facilities, providing a central location for consolidating recyclable materials for re-sale and transport.

Based upon feedback and requests from the Environmental and Safety Managers at numerous Kimball manufacturing facilities, Kimball established its CRC in November of 2002.

The amount of recycling has steadily increased since 2002. Currently the Kimball CRC recyles over 65 different waste materials. Among the materials recycled are steel, aluminum, glass, fabrics, printer cartridges, electronic equipment, and several types of plastic, wood and cardboard, which is either sold for re-use or recycled by type of material.

In 2011, Kimball recycled or reused 88% of all solid waste generated from its facilities. The sustainability and continuous improvement projects have reduced the overall waste generated at Kimball facilities by 661,684 tons since 1998.

Of the waste that was produced, the amount sent to the landfill annually has been reduced by 87.1%, from 16,226 tons in 1996, domestically, to 2,202 tons in 2011, worldwide.

Waste Materials:

Walls of Waste
Kimball manufacturing plants are reducing waste sent to landfills, thus enabling recycling and reuse into many products, further reducing demand on virgin materials.

Recycled wooden skids and school busses?
Tom Campbell has single-handedly recycled
all of our skids and pallets at KO Salem for
the past few years. Last year it was 310 tons –
equal to the weight of 31 school busses!