Marietta, Georgia (September 17, 2019) – YKK, which has saved millions of plastic bottles from landfills in the past five years with its materially recycled NATULON® zipper, announces that it will begin production of NATULON® in Macon, Georgia, further reducing the environmental impact from sourcing the products overseas and reducing lead time.
NATULON® zippers are resource-conserving, recycling-oriented products made from PET bottles, old fiber and other polyester remnants. 10,000 NATULON® zippers of 60 cm length recycle approximately 3,600 plastic bottles (29 g/bottle). The materially recycled zippers are bluesign® certified.
YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. produces the YZiP® zipper for jeans and trousers with NATULON® Material Recycled tape in order to contribute to the North and Central America denim industry's environmentally friendly production. It is available for Size 45 with several elements finishes, including Golden Brass, Antique Gold, Antique Silver, Nickel Silver and Anti Nickel Silver.
NATULON® is part of YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.'s collection of sustainable trims. Also included in the collection are environmentally friendly snaps and buttons using a new finishing process that reduces thermal energy, water usage, and toxic chemicals and waste.
YKK continues to reduce carbon emissions in its manufacturing processes, including those that are directly due to manufacturing (Scope 1), indirectly from factory energy consumption (Scope 2), and from material procurement and transportation (Scope 3). These initiatives are being carried out in Macon, GA, Anaheim, CA and globally. In 2015, YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. installed 1,968 solar modules on the roof of its Anaheim, CA facility, resulting in a CO2 offset of 896 tons per year.
About YKK
From backpack manufacturers to skyscraper builders, users of YKK's two great brands - YKK® Fastening Products and YKK AP® Architectural Products – benefit from YKK's network of 108 companies operating in 72 countries and regions. Since the company's founding in Tokyo in 1934, YKK has continuously set industry standards for quality, service, value and innovation in the production of fastening products such as zippers, hook & loop fasteners, plastic buckles and notions, webbing, and snaps & buttons, and architectural products such as storefronts, curtain walls, entrances, sun controls, windows and doors. Based on the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™ corporate philosophy – no one prospers without rendering benefit to others – YKK aims to contribute to a sustainable society through its manufacturing operations and constantly seeks new ways to serve the changing needs of its diverse customers.
