Recycling/Waste Prevention

Recycling Program

Kohl's has a long-standing commitment to recycling as part of our business practice.

2008 Recycling Results (in tons)

Cardboard and Paper: 95,040 tons
Plastic Hangers: 6,401 tons
Plastic: 1,786 tons
E-Waste: 45 tons
Miscellaneous*: 1,850 tons

*Bottles, cans, gift cards, fluorescent light bulbs

Kohl's implemented a new plastic recycling program in 2007. Our stores strip all plastic that is shipped with our merchandise and return it through our distribution network for recycling. This plastic is recycled into plastic pellets that one day will be used to make items we use in our stores like plastic shipping totes, garbage cans and more! This program has been expanded in 2008 to 100% of our stores, furthering Kohl's commitment to waste stream reduction.

Recycled Content Within Our Products

When cost effective, it is Kohl's goal to use products with recycled content. When using products with recycled content, the positive environmental impacts are many. Utilitzing these products saves water, energy, landfill space, oil and even trees.

The following is a list of items Kohl's purchases for its business operations.

Gift Boxes: 100% Recycled Content
Restroom Papers: 100% Recycled Content
Merchandise Bags: 10-30% Recycled Content
E-Commerce Shipping Cartons: 30% Recycled Content
Advertising Paper: 20.5% Recycled Content
Office Supplies: 12% Recycled Content

Kohl's gray plastic bags even contain more recycled content than a standard white bag.

Waste Prevention

Kohl's waste stream management program does not just stop with recycling and using recycled products. Looking for ways to reduce what arrives or is used at Kohl's is also an important aspect of this strategy. By looking at all aspects of our business and listening to suggestions from our associates, Kohl's is reducing waste every day. The major challenge is reduction of the packaging used to ship the merchandise to Kohl's stores. Kohl's knows that by just raising the units packed in a single shipping carton by 1 to 2 units, the environmental savings is substantial.

Kohl's Information Technology Supplies Recycling

average amount of materials recycled in pounds
Type of Material	Average Amount of Materials Recycled in pounds
Computer Accessories**	77982
Computers*	32653
Miscellaneous Electronics	25722
Monitors****	19890
Scanners	12825
Servers	2120
Cash Registers	2025
Thin Clients	540
KVM Switches	190
Media Destruction Services	150
Palm Pilots/PDAs/ Telephones	101
Televisions	70
UPS	64
Display Hardware***	35

*Computers: Desktop Computers, Docking Stations, External Drives, External Modems, Hard Drives, Keyboards, Laptops, Network Hub/Routers and Terminals w/Base
**Computer Accessories: Fax Machines, Inkjet/Dot Matrix Printers, Jet Direct Cards, Photocopiers, Laser Printers and Plotters.
***Display Software: Projectors and VCRs.
****Monitors: Combo Units (pc & monitor), LCD/Plasma Monitor, and Monitor (all sizes 14"-21").