DuPont Tyvek achieves zero landfill

Through the Drive to Zero landfill program, none of the waste generated by the manufature of DuPont Tyvek is sent to landfill.

For its latest trick, DuPont Building Innovations, the manufacturer of DuPont Tyvek building wrap, has made more than 80 million pounds of manufacturing waste disappear by reducing, reusing and recycling manufacturing byproducts and waste at its global sites.

US-based DuPont has achieved zero landfill status in its Building Innovations business after three years of effort through its comprehensive Drive to Zero programme. The project is aimed at completely eliminating landfill across all 15 global manufacturing and partner sites.

None of the waste from the manufacture of DuPont Tyvek wrap – used in the construction indsutry to increase air and water resistance and provide better protection against water and moisture intrusion – is sent to landfill, with Tyvek wrap and flashing manufacturing trim recycled into first-grade material.

The project even includes cafeteria waste, which is recycled into worm bedding or converted into energy.

Waste from the manufacture of the company’s Corian solid surfaces and Zodiaq quartz surfaces is used as a filler replacement in concrete, while ground-up scrap Corian sheet is used as recycled content in first-grade products. Crushed scrap Corian is also sold for use as road subbase material and as landscape stone.

Meanwhile, shipping pallets are repaired, reused, or ground into animal bedding, and carrier belt film is melted and used to make adhesives.

The company’s efforts were highlighted in a recent USA Today article, which said the zero-landfill movement in corporate America is fast picking up pace and what was once a budding movement is now “mushrooming into a common strategy to save money and boost environmental credibility”.

Timothy P. McCann, president of DuPont Building Innovations, said: “With USA Today adding DuPont’s name to the growing roster of companies that aim for and actually achieve zero landfill, DuPont joins an elite group of companies that are succeeding in their commitment to sustainable business practices.

“It’s an achievement that’s good for our business and good for the environment. And I’m proud of the recognition our team is getting for making zero landfill possible.”

Commenting on the Drive to Zero programme, he said that it is “good for our business, good for the environment and highly valued by our customers”.

“Working with our supply chain partners to tackle the zero landfill goal was critical to the success of our business in reducing its environmental footprint. Collaborating with our business partners allowed us to succeed in reaching our ambitious project goal of zero landfill,” he added.