LOUISVILLE, KY – December 1, 2021 – GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company, today announced that it's partnering with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), outfitting the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with 31 commercial washers and dryers to help the organization tackle its extensive laundry cleaning needs. Installed in various locations, including the Queenslander House in the Conrad Prebys Australia Outback habitat, the neonatal assisted care unit (NACU) and the Harter Hospital, the laundry units will clean everything from towels to surgical linens in the daily care of more than 12,000 animals at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Laundry at the zoo? Who Knew!

While visitors don’t typically consider the behind-the-scenes care needed for wildlife at the Zoo and Safari Park, the cleanliness of the materials touching the animals every day is a major factor in allowing different species to thrive. Wildlife care specialists do more than 300 loads of laundry per week of some of the most difficult materials to wash, including bed pads, towels and blankets. On top of that, laundry is stained with everything from eucalyptus oil to animal waste, all of which is difficult to clean. Check out the animals and their laundry here. SDZWA requires machines they can count on to get the job done well at all hours of the day.

“We are thrilled to partner with the San Diego Zoo to show the quality, capacity and performance of our commercial laundry portfolio in a real-life setting,” said Peter Pepe, Vice President of Clothes Care at GE Appliances. “While zoos aren’t exactly known for that freshly-folded-laundry scent, the hundreds of materials that are cleaned everyday help ensure the safety of the animals in the park. If our commercial laundry units can handle a Zoo, just imagine what they can do in a standard commercial setting.”

“San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s partnership with GE Appliances Commercial Laundry is already making a difference – because cleaning is a critical part of caring for wildlife at the Zoo and Safari Park,” said Shawn Dixon, chief operating officer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “We strive to provide the best for our team members, and these laundry units are a wonderful benefit for our wildlife care specialists to thrive in their jobs every day.”

This partnership coincides with GE Appliances entering the commercial laundry business with a portfolio of WiFi-enabled front load and top load washers and dryers. The machines are protected with Microban® antimicrobial technology on high touch surfaces, compatible with the SmartHQ Management Portal to help centralize critical laundry information and include a built-in, coinless payment system.

More information can also be found at geappliances.com/commerciallaundry or by following @geappliances on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader committed to inspiring a passion for nature and creating a world where all life thrives. Empowering people from around the globe to support our mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to two world famous wildlife sanctuaries at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests in person and virtually the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to strategic and regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their strengths, via their “Conservation Toolbox,” including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank, are able to effectively align with hundreds of partners in regions to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these tools in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to their native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, its websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Kids channel, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring all life thrives. Please visit SDZWA.org; or follow San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.  

About GE Appliances

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make "good things, for life." We're creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We’re a company powered by our people, made stronger through our diversity — allowing us to grow closer than ever before to our owners, anticipate their needs and enhance their lives.

Since 1907, we’ve built innovative, quality products that are trusted in half of all U.S. homes. We sell appliances under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, wine & beverage centers, air conditioners, small appliances, water filtration systems and water heaters.

To learn more about our company, brands, Corporate Citizenship efforts, and economic impact, visit geappliancesco.com.