Waste Management
As a company with global operations in kitchen and bath, hospitality, and power, we recognize that we need to take responsibility for the waste we generate. This drives our goal of net-zero waste to landfill by 2035. In 2021 we expanded our reuse and reclamation programs in the manufacturing process. In addition to driving efficient use of materials in our operations, we are also finding new uses for manufacturing waste, including using these materials as the basis for new products. In 2021 operational net waste increased by 37,057 metric tons, while operational net waste intensity increased by only 2%. In part this was because two of our plants in Asia were not able to execute recycling projects as expected.
Vitreous China Waste Reuse
Several of our vitreous china operations grind their fired process waste to a fine powder and reuse it as one of the materials to make vitreous china products. One factory in Morocco does this with an on-site process and several others use off- site contracted companies. We ship them broken fired plumbing products and they return a fine powder that we can use in our process. We are working to expand our own grinding capabilities so that we can do this grinding process on-site, eliminating the need to ship waste to the contractor and return the powder to our factory.
Crushed Cull Reuse
Kohler partnered with the Sheboygan County Humane Society to use reclaimed cull for drainage under the artificial turf of a new dog park. Crushed vitreous china cull drains easily, allowing park personnel to easily wash down turf to prevent waste accumulation and odors. The park will be open in 2022. Seventy metric tons of crushed vitreous china cull was used in this project.
Hospitality Waste Reduction
Our Destination Kohler resorts, hotels, restaurants, and golf courses are committed to robust waste management programs, including elimination of paper and single-use plastic products and composting and recycling of food waste. In 2021 our Destination Kohler resort in Wisconsin diverted 96.5 tons of food waste from the landfill using the innovative food waste recycling system Grind2Energy . During Ryder Cup 2021, which was held at Kohler's Whistling Straits golf course, over 4.2 tons of food waste was processed in Grind2Energy and converted to bio-fuel and compost. In recognition of our waste management and other environmental programs, 12 of our 16 Destination Kohler restaurants received the Green Restaurant Certification in 2021 from the Green Restaurant Association.
2%
increase in global operational net waste intensity in 2021
A team member collects food for Grind2Energy, a program that is turning food waste into clean and renewable energy. GHG Emissions Water Stewardship Waste Management Environmentally Friendly Products Innovation for Good Education and Reporting
I N T R O D U C T I O N B E T T E R P L A N E T B E T T E R C O M M U N I T I E S B E T T E R L I V E S T R A N S P A R E N C Y A P P E N D I X
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