Kodak and Wal-Mart Launch Recycling Program

February 28, 2008 | Mark Goldstein | News | Comment |

Kodak Logo 2006Kodak and Wal-Mart have announced a program to recycle used materials from in-store picture kiosks. 4,100 Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in the U.S. that operate KODAK Picture Kiosks will annually recycle 2 million pounds of thermal printer ribbon, spools and cartridges. “Kodak has a long record of responsible behavior related to environmental issues, and this initiative is a world’s first in the photo kiosk business. Together, Wal-Mart and Kodak are helping to make the planet a better place for our children.” said Nicki Zongrone, General Manager Retail Systems Solutions and Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company.

Kodak and Wal-Mart Press Release

Kodak and Wal-Mart Launch Nationwide Recycling Program for Picture Kiosk Consumables

U.S. Initiative Expected to Annually Divert 2 Million Pounds of Kodak Picture Maker Ribbons, Spools and Cartridges from Landfills

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and BENTONVILLE, Ark., February 27, 2008—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 Sam’s Clubs in the U.S. that operate KODAK Picture Kiosks, and is expected to annually recycle 2 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-Mart’s company-wide zero waste goal and Kodak’s 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 world’s 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 Kodak’s assistance, will separate the materials and process them for reuse.  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 (OTUC) in conjunction with numerous partners, including Wal-Mart.  Today, Kodak’s Responsible Growth goals provide for product stewardship across the company’s 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. 

About Eastman Kodak Company
As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit www.kodak.com, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, and 1000nerds.kodak.com.

About WAL-MART
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.                     

The Company’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT.
More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.

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