By adopting K&N filters, the firm significantly reduced landfill waste, improved energy efficiency, and achieved an ROI in under two years. K&N’s solution not only supported the building’s sustainability goals but also offered long-term cost savings and a measurable environmental impact. The facilities team has now had the filters installed for the full ROI payback period and is continuing to enjoy the benefits of reduced impact to the waste stream, improved energy efficiency and financial savings.

By transitioning from traditional disposable filters to K&N’s high-flow, washable technology, McDonald’s saw immediate operational benefits. Labor costs decreased significantly as maintenance teams were able to extend filter change-out cycles from every two weeks to once a month. The simplified maintenance process allowed teams to reallocate labor to other high- priority areas, while the reduced volume of discarded filters contributed to the company’s broader sustainability efforts. The shift also yielded a clear financial return, with McDonald’s realizing full ROI in under nine months.

The shift was driven by the need for more durable, cost-effective solutions—especially at ACPS, where over 300 dogs and 100 cats generate high volumes of hair and dust. Traditional filters struggled in this environment, requiring frequent replacements and labor-intensive upkeep. K&N’s high-performance filters not only withstood these challenges but outperformed legacy options in airflow retention, durability, and ease of maintenance.

“Given the pilot’s strong results, Jacksonville is now exploring expansion of K&N’s filtration solution across its entire network of city-owned buildings.”

— Building Maintenance Superintendent

Through regular performance checks and feedback by facilities staff, the team was able to extend filter changeouts from every two months to every three, Jacksonville’s facilities teams significantly cut maintenance labor while improving HVAC performance. As a result, the City is projected to achieve full ROI in just four years—well ahead of the filters’ 10-year lifespan. That translates to six additional years of cost-free filtration, equating to hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings across labor, materials, and energy.

OVERVIEW

Recognized worldwide for its iconic films, the studio also nurtures a culture that emphasizes innovation, diversity, and environmental stewardship. It is committed to sustainability, integrating eco-friendly practices into both operations and storytelling. In recent years, the studio has intensified its efforts to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill certification, a process that requires diverting at least 90% of waste from landfills. As of 2025, it has successfully diverted over 87% of its campus-wide waste, positioning itself as a leader in corporate sustainability.

CHALLENGE

Despite significant progress in waste diversion, the studio identified an area with substantial environmental impact: disposable HVAC filters. These filters, typically replaced quarterly, contributed approximately 2,800 pounds of waste annually. The operations team recognized an opportunity to further reduce landfill contributions by adopting a more sustainable solution.

SOLUTION

The studio partnered with K&N Engineering, a company renowned for its high-performance, washable, and reusable filters. K&N’s filters are designed for longevity and can be cleaned and reused for years, significantly reducing waste and the frequency of replacements. The pilot program involved replacing traditional disposable HVAC filters across the studio’s campus with K&N’s washable filters. This initiative aligned with their sustainability goals and offered a practical solution to further minimize environmental impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The adoption of K&N washable filters enabled the studio to divert an additional 1% of its waste from landfills annually, contributing to its ongoing journey toward Zero Waste to Landfill certification. This initiative underscores the studio’s commitment to environmental responsibility and its proactive approach to sustainability.

This initiative also led to a dramatic reduction in associated carbon emissions. By eliminating the need for continuous delivery of disposable filters to the facility, the studio was able to reduce carbon emissions by over 98%. In real terms, this translated to the elimination of 25,410 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and 83,868 delivery miles driven over the life of the filters. This underscores their proactive approach to sustainability and its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

SOCIAL IMPACT

The studio has cultivated a culture where sustainability is integral to its identity. They offer internal sustainability tours and encourages employees to participate in initiatives that promote environmental stewardship. This hands-on involvement fosters a sense of pride and community among staff, reinforcing the company’s dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

“As part of the company’s commitment to zero waste, last year Apple completed the installation of reusable air filters at every one of its data centers worldwide. The shift avoids sending 25 tons of dirty filters to landfills each year — enough to fill an entire football field — and cuts fan energy use by 35 percent. Working together beginning in 2019 at Apple’s Reno data center, Apple and automotive filtration and technology company K&N® prototyped and tested 20 versions of an all-new reusable filter design to meet high standards of performance and efficiency. Today the reusable filters are quickly becoming standard, not just for Apple but industrywide. Innovations like this have contributed to significant progress: In the last five years, Apple increased the diversion rate from its data centers from 64 percent to 90 percent.”

Apple, April 2024, – https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/04/apple-cuts-greenhouse-emissions-in-half/

OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

• 35% more efficient than the legacy disposable filter at capturing dirt.
• 35% reduction in fan energy use.

Testing of both types of filters demonstrated that the washable K&N air filters outperformed the disposable filters, especially in differential pressure testing. The washable filters had less differential pressure across them, which translates to lower energy costs from the fan motors based on room loading and demand.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS

• 25 Tons of disposable waste per year diverted from landfills.

By tracking filter disposal at their Reno site, Apple estimates that 25 tons of dirty air filters have been diverted from the landfill every year since switching to K&N High Performance Washable Filters. Additionally, independent studies have shown switching to K&N washable / reusable filters can eliminate greater than 80% of the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing, distribution and disposal of filters over their 15 year lifecycle. The project helps eliminate greater than 80% of the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing, distribution, and disposal of air filters.