Goodwill Industries

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Goodwill Industries Sustainability Actions

Expanded recycling programs

In 2024, a Goodwill group in South Carolina said it had started or expanded recycling work for glass and electronics. The electronics program sorts donated devices, saves usable parts, wipes private data using Department of Defense standards, and resells items that still work. It also handles harmful materials more carefully when devices cannot be reused. The group said these steps help cut waste and keep more material out of landfills.

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Cut single-use plastic bags

Goodwill said it is phasing out single-use plastic shopping bags across its stores and replacing them with reusable or other lower-waste options. This is meant to reduce plastic pollution and push shoppers toward habits that create less waste. The source describes this as an ongoing store-wide change rather than a one-time project.

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Tracked waste and energy data

Goodwill Industries of Alberta said it built a sustainability action plan using waste audits, energy audits, and a carbon inventory, which is a count of greenhouse gas emissions. It also worked with outside groups such as Green Economy Canada, the City of Edmonton, and KPMG to gather and check data. The group said it now tracks key measures like energy use and waste each month and reviews them with finance staff.

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Diverted donated goods from landfill

Goodwill Industries of Alberta said its Goodwill Impact Centre diverts 90% of donated goods from landfills in the Edmonton region and more than 19 million kilograms provincially each year. The centre also supports reuse through an outlet store, repair work, and repurposing items such as furniture and bicycles. The goal is to keep products in use longer and reduce waste from disposal and new manufacturing.

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Built repair and reuse programs

Since opening its Impact Centre in 2017, Goodwill Industries of Alberta said it has expanded recycling to electronics, appliances, books, plastics, lightbulbs, and batteries. It also started repair and reuse programs, including Repair for Good for broken furniture, You Can Ride 2 for adapted mobility items, and a uniform mending program. These efforts are meant to extend product life instead of replacing items early.

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