RCP Archives

Sustainability and Communications Manager at RCP

Posted on 20 March, 202431 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) has announced the appointment of Adriana Olaya Rodriguez as its new Sustainability and Communications Manager.

The multi-lingual author of Make them Behave Sustainably, takes on the newly created position at the global waste and recycling, cleaning and hand hygiene manufacturer. She will be spearheading sustainability strategy in the EMEA, LATAM and APAC regions, looking to drive positive change through actions, communications and engagement, and supporting RCP’s customers and distributors to do the same.

Adriana brings with her a wealth of experience having worked with some of the biggest names around the globe in a variety of sectors from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. She has provided strategic guidance to a diverse range of businesses, helping them to define, shape and implement intelligent and credible environmental sustainability programmes that engage stakeholders to drive real change.

Emilio Capelli, Vice President Sales & Marketing at RCP said of the appointment:
“We’re delighted to welcome Adriana to the team. As a business, we understand our responsibility to operate as sustainably as we can so bringing on board someone of Adriana’s calibre is a real step in the right direction, enabling us to make strides forward on our award-winning Love Sustainability Journey.

“Not only will Adriana’s expertise help us to define, shape and implement our own sustainability goals, but her work will also allow us to further support our customer and distribution partners to drive real change in their own organisations.”

Adriana said of her new role:
“I look forward to bringing my expertise to RCP and helping to implement a strong sustainability strategy to shape our business to operate within planetary boundaries. I have been impressed by the commitment of the RCP team and the progress made so far in its journey to reduce RCP’s and our customers environmental impacts. I look forward to building on these foundations to bring RCP sustainability efforts to the next level, challenge the status quo, engage and excite our customers, distributors and my colleagues through actions and communications, so that we can all make long-lasting change.”

RCP launches new sustainability vision and roadmap

Join the Big Recycling Hunt this Recycle Week

Posted on 16 October, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

This year for Recycle Week (16-22 October), at Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), we’re supporting WRAP’s messaging calling for a Big Recycling Hunt and focusing in on ‘missed capture’: items that are recyclable but are commonly missed. Whether it’s food waste from your staff canteen, cardboard packaging from deliveries or on-the-go plastic bottles, the cost of forgotten recycling for your facility could be more significant than you think.

With 75% of warehouse and logistics businesses facing pressure from customers to improve the sustainability of their operations, and with tougher legislation on the way for businesses in Wales, we explore how your facility can improve recycling rates and cuts costs simply by implementing efficient multi-stream systems.

Why join the hunt?

When you consider that 91% of packaging waste ends up in landfill and that in the UK alone 7 million tonnes of paper and cardboard is landfilled every year rather than being recycling correctly, the scale of the problem of ‘missed capture’ is clear. Correctly handling waste in your warehouse not only directly benefits the planet but it could save you space, time and money while increasing your business’ efficiency.

But can simply upgrading your waste management system lead to tangible results? After installing multi-stream Slim Jim ® Recycling Stations across various sites at their facilities, leading European logistics company DPD reported taking their recycling efficiency rate to over 90% and achieving 27% cost savings from not sending waste to landfill. As well as cost and productivity savings, collecting and storing waste correctly makes for a cleaner, safer and more efficient workplace.

Different solutions for different areas

When it comes to recycling solutions, one size does not fit all. If you want to implement a successful recycling system, you must consider that different areas of your facility will require different types of waste containers.

The shop floor is the beating heart of any warehouse and with tonnes of materials and goods being moved on an hourly basis it’s essential that your waste management is fit to handle high volumes and tough demands. Handling large volumes of waste in tough environments, the RCP BRUTE® range of waste containers helps your team to drive efficiency, with long-term peace of mind though a 10-year warranty. By prioritising durability, you can buy better and waste less, helping your business to protect budgets in the long run while boosting sustainability credentials by minimising the need to frequently replace poor quality products. When it comes to moving waste around your facility, the Wheeled BRUTE®’s ergonomic design helps your team to move large volumes five times more easily, while prioritising safety and comfort.

When considering the overall waste management of your facility it’s important to include the specific needs in your administrative areas, canteens and staff rooms. For these areas, the need for a system that ensures the effective separation of waste without compromising on space is key. Encourage effective separation with visible, modular solutions that allow staff to easily separate their waste into relevant recyclable streams. This will minimise the risk of costly cross-contamination, as well as help you to save money and improve your business’ green credentials. The RCP Slim Jim® Recycling Stations are discreet, space-efficient and customisable to suit each area of your facility.

Start your Big Recycling Hunt today with RCP’s free online recycling audit. Answer six simple questions about your business’ current waste management operation, and in 90 seconds you’ll have indicative cost and waste savings.

Product Longevity Improves Commercial Sustainability

Posted on 27 March, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Whilst the effects of global warming have long been hitting the headlines, the number of devastating, large scale environmental incidents are only accelerating. From record-breaking fires sweeping our most protectable climate change buffer, the Amazon rainforest, to the unprecedented flooding of Death Valley, these climate crises must propel businesses across the globe to drive change.

Why Product Longevity is a Powerful First Step to Improving Commercial Sustainability, the latest Love Sustainability insights report from Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), reveals corporate stakeholders (95%) and consumers (52%) are calling for more action from businesses in relation to climate change. But this shared drive for change sits against a backdrop of commercial considerations and in the face of inflation, which was cited by 80% of businesses as their most significant challenge in the coming years.

Supporting businesses in turning sustainability ideas into action, the new report helps to identify and overcome future challenges to implementation and provides data-driven recommendations to combat ‘green confusion’, reassess purchasing decisions and ultimately improve operational and systemic sustainability.

Whilst findings from the report show that the number one issuecited as a barrier by businesses is a lack of sustainable products, Why Product Longevity is a Powerful First Step to Improving Commercial Sustainability dispels the myth that recycled materials are the only route to ‘greener practices’. It argues that low frequency sustainability – making significant strides in the reduction of consumption – is far more effective than an increase in so-called ‘green purchasing’ for both the planet and business’ budgets.

For 60% of businesses the perceived investment and increase in ongoing costs for more sustainable practices is considered a barrier to implementation. The report reveals that by extending the life cycle of passive products, businesses can significantly reduce their environmental impact by up to 72% and their costs by up to a third. This subsequent reallocation of resource and investment will allow organisations to invest in innovation, improving their overall sustainability.

“We know that a staggering 95% of decision makers want to do more on sustainability but face various challenges to implementation. RCP is dedicated to being part of a concerted sustainability effort across the business world not just through its products, but through vital education and sustainability tools. The brand has already made progress when it comes to changing attitudes surrounding efficacy and cost of sustainable products but there is still work to be done,’’ explained Emilio Capelli, VP Sales & Marketing International for Commercial at Newell Brands.

RCP announced its Love Sustainability Journey last year to start open, transparent conversations surrounding its own sustainability practices. The brand set clear targets and created a set of initiatives that cover areas of the business where it can make initial gains. With 85% of businesses ranking product longevity as the most important of those initiatives, it’s clear why a laser sharp focus on durability is central to all RCP products across waste and recycling, cleaning and hygiene categories. Supported by industry leading warranties and clear accreditation, the brand creates products that lift the sustainability of every partner it works with.

Capelli continued: ‘’At Newell Brands and RCP, we believe that when businesses raise the tide of sustainability, we are all elevated by it. Let’s do this together.’’

The Why Product Longevity is a Powerful First Step to Improving Commercial Sustainability report is available for download here.

Subscribe