Shred-it
{{short description|American information security company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Shred-it
| logo = Shred-it logo.svg
| type =
| industry = Information Security
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded =
| founder =
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Bannockburn, Illinois, USA{{cite news |title=Stericycle moving headquarters to Bannockburn |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/stericycle-moving-headquarters-bannockburn |publisher=Crain's Chicago Business |date=2 October 2018 |language=en}}
| hq_location_country =
| area_served = U.S., Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxembourg.
| services = Paper shredding and Hard drive destruction
| products =
| owner =
| num_employees = 5,000+
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = https://www.shredit.com
}}
Shred-it is an information security service by Stericycle Inc. Its services include document destruction, hard drive destruction, and specialty item shredding. The company is also known for its Annual Data Protection Report, a yearly survey of small business owners, C-level executives and consumers focusing on data protection and information security.{{cite news |first=Jayson |last=Blair |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/11/nyregion/in-business-making-sure-there-s-no-paper-trail.html |title=Making Sure There's No Paper Trail |date=11 June 2000 |newspaper=The New York Times }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/21/the-biggest-cybersecurity-risk-to-us-businesses-is-employee-negligence-study-says.html|title=The biggest cybersecurity risk to US businesses is employee negligence, study says|last=Reinicke|first=Carmen|date=2018-06-21|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=http://strategyonline.ca/2019/06/18/execs-still-underestimate-impact-of-data-breaches/|title=Execs still underestimate impact of data breaches|first=Justin|last=Dallaire|date=2019-06-18|website=strategy|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uzado.com/blog/shred-it-data-protection-report-shows-big-gap-between-canadian-businesses-and-consumers-when-it-comes-to-information-security|title=Shred-It Data Protection Report Shows Big Gap Between Canadian Businesses and Consumers When it Comes to Information Security|last=Catricala|first=Maria|website=www.uzado.com|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/having-peace-of-mind-on-data-security-goes-beyond-emptying-recycle-bin-094538756.html|title=Having peace of mind on data security goes beyond emptying your recycle bin|website=sg.news.yahoo.com|date=31 October 2019 |language=en-SG|access-date=2020-01-14}}
History
Greg Brophy founded Shred-it in 1988 and incorporated the company in 1989. In 1993, Brophy expanded the business by launching a manufacturing division called Securit Manufacturing Solutions "SMS". Today, SMS manufactures security consoles and specialty shredding trucks for all Shred-it's branches. It also sells industrial shredding equipment to other secure information destruction businesses.{{cite web |title=Securit Mfg Solutions, A DIV.OF SHRED-IT CANADA CORP INC. 5075 NORTH SERVICE RD BURLINGTON ONTARIO L7L 5H6 {{!}} Supplier Report — Panjiva |url=https://panjiva.com/Securit-Mfg-Solutions/44175775 |website=panjiva.com |language=en}}
In 2014, Shred-it merged with Cintas Document Shredding, which now operates under the Shred-it name.{{cite news|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cintas-corporation-announces-agreement-shred-120000580.html|title=Cintas Corporation Announces Agreement with Shred-it International Inc. to Combine Document Shredding Businesses|date=March 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825225247/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cintas-corporation-announces-agreement-shred-120000580.html|archive-date=25 August 2014|publisher=Yahoo Finance}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2014/03/20/cintas-spins-shredding-business-reports-q-profit/6656255/|title=Cintas 3Q earnings up 13.2%|last=Lambert|first=Lance|website=Cincinnati.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/stericycle-completes-shred-it-acquisition-cintas-2015-10-02|title=Stericycle Completes Shred-it Acquisition from Cintas|website=www.nasdaq.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}
In 2015, Stericycle acquired Shred-it for $2.3 billion and began positioning the company as one of its many waste management and compliance services.{{cite web |last1=Sachetta |first1=Ryan |last2=Alexander |first2=Doug |title=Stericycle to Buy Shred-It International for $2.3 Billion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-15/stericycle-to-acquire-shred-it-international-for-2-3-billion |publisher=Bloomberg |date=July 15, 2025}}
In 2016, Shred-it began sponsoring Good Riddance Day, an unofficial holiday in New York City's Times Square celebrating the departure of unwanted memories.{{cite web |last1=Keogh |first1=Elizabeth |title=Hundreds celebrate ‘Good Riddance Day’ in Times Square to shed unwanted totems of 2016 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2016/12/28/hundreds-celebrate-good-riddance-day-in-times-square-to-shed-unwanted-totems-of-2016/ |publisher=New York Daily News |date=December 28, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/29/good-riddance-day-2016-new-york|title='Good riddance day': an airing of 2016's grievances is thrown in the shredder|first=Adam|last=Gabbatt|date=29 December 2016|publisher=|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=10 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110011743/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/29/good-riddance-day-2016-new-york|url-status=live}}
In 2018, Shred-it was awarded a contract with the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance{{cite web |title=Shred-it Awarded National Contract with U.S. Communities |url=https://www.waste360.com/industry-insights/shred-it-awarded-national-contract-with-u-s-communities |publisher=Waste 360 |date=June 27, 2018}} (OMNIA Partners).{{cite web |title=Franklin GPO announces new acquisition |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/franklin-gpo-announces-new-acquisition/article_8c435489-9b51-5310-866e-66b6a2da1909.html |website=NashvillePost.com |date=April 26, 2018}}
In 2024, Shred-It’s parent company, Stericycle, was acquired by WM (formerly Waste Management Inc).{{Cite web|url=https://investors.wm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/wm-completes-acquisition-stericycle/|title=WM Completes Acquisition of Stericycle
|work=WM|access-date=2024-11-19|language=en}}
Services
= Document destruction =
Shred-it offers document destruction services where paper documents are shredded using industrial paper shredders. This service is offered on a one-time or on a recurring basis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/90922-facts-about-document-shredding-you-need-to-know|title=7 Facts About Document Shredding You Need to Know|website=www.securitymagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}
Shred-it maintains a fleet of trucks that can provide this service on-site or deliver materials to Shred-it's facilities for destruction. The trucks are prominently featured at Community Shred-it events, where Shred-it partners with organizations like Crime Stoppers, to raise awareness about identity theft and fraud, while providing a safe way to dispose of documents with confidential information. Shred-it provides a custom quote for every document destruction job and ensures all paper waste is recycled.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidehalton.com/community-story/2900228-shred-it-mobile-trucks-at-oakville-place-this-saturday/|title=Shred-It mobile trucks at Oakville Place this Saturday|date=2012-05-09|website=InsideHalton.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-01-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/business/shredding-a-necessary-evil-for-companies-to-avoid-data-theft-1.1369994|title=Shredding a necessary evil for companies to avoid data theft|website=gulfnews.com|date=9 August 2014 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}
= Hard drive, digital media, and specialty item destruction =
Shred-it provides secure information destruction for hard drives and digital media. Deliberately destroying these devices is the only way to ensure confidential information can no longer be retrieved.{{Cite web|url=https://torontoguardian.com/2018/08/shred-it-began-as-a-startup-in-oakville/|title=Global information security firm, Shred-it, began as a startup in Oakville|last=Levy|first=Joel|date=2018-08-27|website=Toronto Guardian|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-01-14}} Shred-it has two methods for securely destroying digital information. Shearing slices hard drives into minuscule pieces using 40,000 lbs of combined force while crushing uses 7,500 lbs of force pressure to drill irreparable holes in the hard drive, so information can never be recovered.{{cite web |title=Hard Drive Destruction Service |url=https://www.shredit.com/en-us/secure-shredding-services/hard-drive-destruction}}
The company also offers specialty item shredding, which involves destruction of any item that poses a threat to a business’ reputation or security. Shred-it's specialty item services dispose of items, like uniforms to casino chips, ID badges, prototypes, pill bottles, or material with outdated branding.{{cite web |title=Industrial & Clothing Shredding Services |date=29 September 2023 |url=https://www.shredit.com.au/en-au/secure-shredding-services/industrial-clothing-shredding-services}}
In 2023, Shred-it launched ProtectPlus, a subscription document destruction service that includes cybersecurity and privacy training for customers.{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Megan |title=Stericycle reports progress on workforce and fleet optimization plan, touts new document service |url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/stericycle-q1-2024-miller-headcount-fleet-document-destruction/714419/ |publisher=Waste Dive |date=April 26, 2024}}
Partnerships
In 2023, Shred-it began a 2-year collaboration with Tony Hawk, which included Shred-it’s sponsorship of the 2023 Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert event in Salt Lake City and hosting a Community Shred-it event.{{cite web |last1=Smalley |first1=Megan |title=Shred-it forms 2-year partnership with Tony Hawk |url=https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/shred-it-forms-partnership-skateboarder-tony-hawk/ |publisher=Recycling Today |date=June 20, 2023}}
Recognition
In 2019, Shred-it was named as a Gold Winner in the 15th Annual Info Security PG’s 2019 Global Excellence Awards, under the category of "White Paper or Research Report".{{cite web |title=2019 Winners Cybersecurity |url=https://globeeawards.com/2019-winners-cybersecurity/ |publisher=Globee Business Awards}} In the same year, the company also set a Guinness World Record, shredding 239,060 lbs (108,435.79 kg) of waste paper in 8 hours.{{cite web |title=Most waste paper shredded in 8 hours |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/467279-most-waste-paper-shredded-in-8-hours |publisher=Guinness World Records |date=June 15, 2019}}
Beginning in 2019, Shred-it has earned "Superbrands Status" for four consecutive years.{{cite web |last1=Trim |first1=Neil |title=Shred-it awarded Superbrands Status for fourth consecutive year |url=https://businessinfomag.uk/B2B-Technology/shred-it-awarded-superbrands-status-for-fourth-consecutive-year/ |publisher=Business Info Magazine |date=February 20, 2023}}