BOZEMAN, Mont. — West Paw is expanding its commitment to its recycling program, Join the Loop, by offering free in store recycling collection “centers” to its retailers. Beginning January 2021, the Bozeman, Montana-based, B Corp will proactively aim to increase the amount of dog-tired Zogoflex toys returned to the company for recycling via branded recycling bins. Once full, retailers simply adhere the pre-paid shipping label and send back to West Paw for inspection, cleaning, sanitizing, and recycling.
By offering customers an easy and free way (no postage!) to recycle the dog-tired toys, the company aims to increase the amount of recycled plastic content in its Zogoflex toys while reducing the amount headed to the landfill. West Paw will also be supporting retailers in this endeavor by offering window stickers calling out the program as well as social media posts to help them share the news with the followers in their communities. This strategy is in line with the company’s Vision of “a world where business success is friendly to people and the planet.”
Introduced in 2004, Join the Loop was a way for loyal and eco-conscious retailers and consumers to send back their well loved and worn out Zogoflex toys. As the durable, non-toxic material used to make Zogoflex is a No. 7 plastic, they cannot easily be recycled in most parts of the country. Join the Loop was West Paw’s way of collecting, cleaning, and recycling damaged toys. Additionally, West Paw assesses the damage of all returned toys to learn how they can continually improve the toy’s durability. As of December, 2020, West Paw has recycled over 266,589 lbs (or over 700K) well-loved toys.
“West Paw is confident by offering customers a free and easy drop-off location at their favorite pet product store, retailers will notice an increase in consumer traffic, and Zogoflex returns for recycling will as well,” Spencer Williams, CEO, and Owner, West Paw. Continues Williams, “this is a win-win for participating retail partners as well as the planet.”
