DETROIT, MI – December 22, 2025 – Kamps, Inc., (“The Company”), the national leader in Innovative Pallet Services™, today announced that its Detroit and Taylor, Michigan facilities have received a Zero Waste Certification from Zero Waste USA (“ZWUSA”). With this achievement, According to ZWUSA, Kamps becomes the first pallet company in the United States to earn this certification from ZWUSA. The Detroit facility achieved a 98 percent diversion rate, while the Taylor facility achieved a 97 percent diversion rate.
As the official U.S. National Affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance (“ZWIA”), the ZWUSA verification adheres to the rigorous ZWIA definition, requiring over 90 percent diversion without the use of incineration (waste-to-energy). By meeting this strict standard, the Detroit and Taylor facilities combined claim a successful diversion of 69,619 tons of material, primarily wood, along with metal, plastic, and industrial components—from landfills and incinerators over the course of the last twelve months.
This certification is not just a badge of honor for our Detroit and Taylor teams, it is a validation of the vision our founder Bernie Kamps had. Bernie built this company on the belief that waste is simply a resource in the wrong place. Achieving 98 percent diversion without relying on incineration proves that our circular business model is not only effective but is leading the industry toward a greener future.
Steve Ayers, General Manager (Eastern Michigan), Kamps, Inc.
We are very impressed with the leadership of Kamps, Inc. in not only achieving high diversion levels at its facilities, but modeling waste reduction and reuse practices as founding principles of the Company.
Ruth Abbe, President, Zero Waste USA
While this certification is a new accolade, the philosophy behind it has been the company’s driving force for over 50 years. In 1973, founder Bernie Kamps began the business by taking pallets that were discarded in landfills, repairing them, and reintroducing them to supply chains. Honoring that vision, Kamps is now accelerating its sustainability efforts. The Company has formally committed to achieving Zero Waste USA certification for all of its asset-based sites by 2027. Furthermore, to ensure the highest levels of transparency and accountability, Kamps plans to engage a secondary third-party organization to further verify these claims and certifications as the initiative expands.
About Kamps, Inc.
Kamps, Inc. is a full-service national pallet company delivering innovative pallet services to customers since 1973. Kamps specializes in supplying high-quality wood pallets, comprehensive pallet recycling services, and total pallet management services to diverse supply chains across the nation – and select national customers in Canada and Mexico. Due to its vast national presence and breadth of capabilities, Kamps is considered the largest manufacturer and service provider for new and recycled pallets. Kamps has over 400 locations in its national network, which includes over 50 asset-based manufacturing and recycling facilities and multiple company-owned sawmills.
Learn more at: www.kampspallets.com
About Zero Waste USA
Zero Waste USA is a national non-profit, and the U.S. National Affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance. Their mission is to support communities, institutions and businesses on the path to Zero Waste through training, technical assistance, recognition, and networking.
Learn more at: zerowasteusa.org
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Fuad Hasanovic
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