Dedicated to a sustainable future
A fresh approach to sustainability
At Kwik Lok, we recognize that as a plastics company with a global footprint, we have both a responsibility to minimize our impact and an opportunity to drive meaningful change.
Our new Fresh Start initiative is our promise to continually improve, innovate and support our community. At the core of our Fresh Start initiative, we have instituted a sustainability planning, governance and reporting system to hold ourselves accountable. This system is rooted in the following four key strategies.
Four strategies guiding us forward
Unlocking opportunity through education and economic success
Whether offering cross-training to employees or providing scholarships to students in our community, Kwik Lok is dedicated to helping people achieve their potential. We continue to strengthen our on-the-job training programs and seek more ways to support future generations.
Improving the health, safety and well-being of all people
We know that health and safety go beyond keeping employees safe at work. That’s why we promote an inclusive environment, provide access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance, sponsor a wellness program and more.
Protecting people, places and the planet
While at our core we provide an easy way to keep food fresh and safe, we also strive to minimize our waste and reduce our impact on the environment. One example of recent efforts: we’ve logged a 36% reduction in energy use at our Yakima headquarters since its renovation in 2013. Our goal is to be a zero waste company.
Fostering innovation in food safety, access and manufacturing
Kwik Lok has always led the way in low-cost, time-saving food safety technology. As we look forward, we seek to continue to innovate with an eye towards environmentally sound production, reuse and recycling.
Kwik Lok recently introduced Eco-Lok, a bag closure made with sustainable materials, the first step in the company’s drive to reduce its environmental impact. The proprietary technology from BioLogiQ used to make Eco-Lok converts plant-based carbohydrates, such as corn and potatoes, into the NuPlastiQ® material that is manufactured into Eco-Lok bag closures. Using a 100% natural, renewably sourced plant-based resin that requires less fuel to manufacture than traditional plastics, NuPlastiQ® helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall material use. Eco-Lok is one piece of an industry wide opportunity for responsible environmental stewardship.
We’ve Joined The Hefty® EnergyBag® Program
Kwik Lok is a proud sponsor of the Hefty® EnergyBag® pilot program in the city of London, Ontario. Designed to complement current recycling efforts, the Hefty® EnergyBag® program establishes a way to collect otherwise hard-to-recycle plastics, like Kwik Lok bag closures, at curbside and uses them as valued resources.
The program helps divert these resources away from landfills, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, increase efficiency at recycling facilities, and improve the quality of other recycled materials. In doing so, the Hefty® EnergyBag® program takes an important step toward a more circular economy and a more sustainable future.
Collect hard-to-recycle plastic
Fill the official Hefty® orange bag with closures and other hard to recycle items. Make sure the items are relatively clean and dry.
Tie the bag
Once filled, tie the official Hefty® orange bag and place in recycling along with your normal recycling.
Collected with recycling
The filled bags will be picked up with your normal recycling and then converted into useful resources like energy, fuel and durable building materials.
We’ve partnered with TerraCycle
Kwik Lok Australia and TerraCycle are partnering in a pilot program to create a free recycling program for our bag closures! Every closure collected is a closure saved from landfill, to be recycled and given a second life in a new and useful product.
Participating in your home, office, school or organization is completely free and very easy:
Collect your closures
We recommend collecting your waste in any cardboard box you already have or can obtain. The larger the box the more you collect, the more efficient the program!
Ship to TerraCycle
TerraCycle will send you a free shipping label. Once collected, the bread bag closures are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.
Small closures, big impact
As a thank you for your commitment to recycling, for each kilogram of bag closures that you send to TerraCycle through this program, $1 will be donated to Keep Australia Beautiful.
6 plants, 300+ employees, 4 common goals
