May 15, 2001 News Release LinkUp program boosts sales and product awareness Businesses participating in the LinkUp program during the past year cited increased sales as well as heightened customer and product awareness in a survey conducted by King County last month. LinkUp, sponsored by the King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials, uses a team of specialists to provide customized technical and marketing expertise to manufacturers that use recycled materials in their products. The program currently works with businesses in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The program is a natural outgrowth of King County's recycling movement. In the past, county officials focused their marketing efforts on getting consumers and businesses to buy recycled products. LinkUp takes this one step further, by partnering with manufacturers to use more recycled materials in the products they make. Launched in April 2000, the program's first-year goal was to attract six to 12 companies. During that time, LinkUp welcomed six business partners and one financial partner, with four more businesses poised to enter the program this spring. The program budget for 2001 is $240,000. LinkUp assistance During the past year, the LinkUp team provided a variety of marketing and technical assistance. This included: Identifying suppliers of recycled materials and researching public and private organizations that might provide financial incentives to partnering firms. Testing the recycling potential of scrap carpet (a "problem" waste in the Northwest). Crafting several media campaigns to promote select recycled products. Developing marketing materials to introduce a new product made with recycled materials. Assisting recycling-based manufacturers with business planning efforts. Staging recycled product demonstration events. Results LinkUp business partners reported the following results. Production volume at a recycling facility that processes construction and demolition debris for reuse was up 174 percent in 2000 over the previous year. The facility is currently handling 500 tons a day - a 30 percent increase over the same period last year. An initial marketing campaign for the plant generated 25 new customer accounts. The amount of recycled material used to make an asphalt patch product increased by 300 percent. To respond to heightened demand, the LinkUp team helped this company create a business expansion plan. A demonstration event to showcase a blasting abrasive made with 100-percent recycled glass resulted in several new commercial accounts. A national media campaign focusing on the company's recycled tumbled glass reached 1.8 million readers and generated increased product sales and queries from around the country. A new environmental learning center learned of one LinkUp partner through newspaper accounts and commissioned the business to produce rag rugs woven from recycled fabric for use in its common areas and dormitories. Business participating in Linkup during 2000 were: TriVitro Corporation, Kent, Wash.; Y.K. Products, Everett, Wash., Recovery One, Tacoma, Wash.; Recycled Plastic Marketing Inc., Redmond, Wash.; Custom Handweaving, Seattle, Wash., and Origami Inc., Seattle. The City of Seattle served as a financial partner. The survey of LinkUp businesses was conducted April 16-20, 2001 for King County by Northwest Research Group. Businesses interested in learning more about the LinkUp program should contact Erv Sandlin, LinkUp program manager at (206) 296-0233, or visit http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/linkup/. Related Information Product Stewardship Sustainable Building Green Business Directory Other Business Programs News Releases

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