Levi’s, Kingsmen, Aramark partner in fixture recycling initiative
A collaborative recycling initiative has given new life to old fixtures, keeping them out of landfills.
The initiative, spearheaded by project management company Kingsmen Projects U.S., involved the reuse of 49 obsolete fixtures from Levi Strauss & Co., which faced the challenge of managing a truckload of out-of-design, unbranded fixtures — discarding the items was not an option for the forward-thinking brand.
“Our involvement stems from a long history of collaborating with Levi's on sustainability issues. said Stephen Hekman, executive VP of Kingsmen. “We’ve worked on various projects, including the development of recycled jean cabinets. This initiative not only prevents waste, but also serves as a model for other manufacturers and retailers.”
Kingsmen facilitated a collaboration with Aramark, which manages numerous stores in national parks across North America. Several stores, which had just recently opened, were able to utilize the repurposed fixtures.
“We have been working closely with Levi's and Aramark to ensure these fixtures are reused effectively,” said Hekman. “I cannot say enough how many fixtures are thrown away every year without being repurposed. This project represents a small but important step in the right direction for sustainable business practices.”
“When Steve came to me with an opportunity to save some wonderful fixtures that were destined for the dump, I went to St. Louis to check them out, and I thought they would be perfect with the several new locations we began operating,” added Eric Flanigan, VP, Aramark. “Steve, myself and the corporate teams of Aramark and Levi’s worked out a deal where we could legally take the fixtures on.”
The recycling initiative was made possible by the collective efforts of the multiple stakeholders. Levi's covered storage costs, ensuring the success of the initiative and setting a commendable example for other retailers, noted Heckman. Aramark, with assistance from Kingsmen, inspected the fixtures and then agreed to purchase them for a nominal fee to meet legal requirements.
Kingsmen also arranged for the transportation and procurement of shelves and hardware that were necessary to complete the fixtures. Travelstead Transportation, the partnering transportation company, proved to be an integral link in the project.
“Without their [Travelstead] sizable efforts, which included dedicating many man hours and going out of their way to provide the lowest cost possible, it ccould not have been done,” Hekman said.
Through the collaborative project, the fixtures found new homes in Aramark-managed stores in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado; Grand Canyon North Rim in Arizona; and Bryce Canyon National Park and Red Caynon Village, both of which are In Utah.
“These fixtures fulfilled a commitment we have with our clients at our parks, which was to reclaim for-use fixtures for our stores,” said Flanigan. “Also, the fixtures turned out to be extremely functional for selling apparel, souvenirs, gifts and home décor."
Although it was a challenging and lengthy process, Kingsmen was able to open the door to Levi’s supplying Aramark in the future without any red tape or long delays.
“This laid the groundwork,” said Hekman. “Now these brands can continue to work closely with each other.”
