TERRACYCLE NEWS

ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®

Face Masks Are Hurting The Environment

tom szaky Include USA Include Canada (English) ZWB PPE
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Disposable masks are usually made of polypropylene, which can break into microplastics and if eaten by wildlife can block their digestive tracts.
On sidewalks, subways and sewer grates, single-use mask litter is everywhere. In Chicago, it's not unusual to find discarded masks mixed in with snow. KN95 masks and N95 masks are the highest barrier of protection. They perform better than the surgical-type mask, which performs better than the traditional cloth mask. Medical experts recommend high-quality single-use masks instead of reusable cloth masks, and while they better protect us from the Omicron variant, they also create a lot of trash. The environmental impacts from discarded masks are huge. "Just in 2020, it was estimated that approximately 1.6 billion of these types of masks ended up in our oceans," said Michele Okoh, senior lecturing fellow at Duke University's Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. "That's roughly 5,500 tons of plastic pollution." Disposable masks are usually made of polypropylene, which can break into microplastics, which can block the digestive tracts of wildlife if eaten. "It's estimated that one face mask can turn into 173,000 microfibers per day in our seas," Okoh said. Globally, one study estimates 3.4 billion face masks are discarded every day. There are some ways to help protect the environment. A New Jersey company, TerraCycle, has been recycling disposable masks for 15 years, transforming them into flooring and park benches. "The problem is most objects, packages and products that we interact with are not recyclable, not because they can't be, but because they cost more to collect and process than the results are worth," TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky said. One way to help is to use masks more than once. "If you put the KN95 mask into a paper bag overnight, by the next day, it is appropriate to use this again," said Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, medical director of infectious diseases at OhioHealth. "But again, we want you to sanitize your hands before you put it on and do a visual inspection of the mask to make sure that it still fits you properly and it's not degraded." Still, environmentalists like Michele Okoh say large manufacturing companies should step up when it comes to sustainability. "That's a huge burden on consumers, so there needs to be a shift away from that and actually putting the responsibility on companies," Okoh said.
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Better Natured Partners with Terracycle to Make Its Product Packaging Recyclable Nationwide

Include USA Include Canada (English) Better Natured

Better Natured Partners with Terracycle to Make Its Product Packaging Recyclable Nationwide

Launches national recycling program for hair color products and rewards collectors with charitable donations for participating. image.png
01.11.22
Better Natured, a Henkel professional-level hair care and styling line, has partnered with TerraCycle to make their hair color product packaging nationally recyclable across the United States. As an added incentive, for every shipment of Better Natured hair color packaging waste sent to TerraCycle, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. “We're proud to extend our partnership with TerraCycle to ensure that we give our community of hair creators a way to close the loop and divert packaging waste away from landfills, once they’ve squeezed every-last-drop out of their Better Natured hair color. Better Natured was developed in a Green Circle Salon and is on a mission to make salon quality products that are created responsibly without compromising the performance or results of the product,” said Better Natured marketing director, Jennifer Lauroesch.

About the Program

Through the Better Natured Hair Color Program, consumers can now send in their Better Natured hair color packaging waste to be recycled for free. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page and mail in the empty hair color packaging using the provided prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. “Like the clothes and shoes we choose to wear, hair coloring is another way for individuals to express themselves and feel confident in their own skin,” said TerraCycle CEO and founder, Tom Szaky. “Now, through our partnership with Better Natured, consumers can enjoy all the fun hair coloring has to offer – without any of the waste.” The Better Natured Hair Color Program is the brand’s newest sustainability initiative, complimenting the established Better Natured Recycling Program that was launched last year to specifically collect Better Natured hair care packaging. The brand is also working closely with the How2Recycle organization to help standardize labeling to clearly communicate recycling instructions to the public to make sure their packaging is recycled appropriately. Ultimately, by 2025 Better Natured is committed to making 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable. The Better Natured Hair Color Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization, and builds on Henkel’s existing relationship with TerraCycle.
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Meet Mr Trash Wheel – and the other new devices that eat river plastic

TerraCycle Include UK TerraCycle Foundation
The Great Bubble Barrier is just that – a wall of bubbles. It gurgles across the water in a diagonal screen, pushing plastic to one side while allowing fish and other wildlife to pass unharmed. TerraCycle’s river traps, which are installed in some of Bangkok’s 1,600 polluted canals, catch up to 2.5 tonnes of waste a day, helping to recycle plastic instead of sending it to landfill.
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PPE Use Protects Us Against Coronavirus, but It’s Harming the Oceans

Include USA Include Canada (English) ZWB PPE
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Did you know that 91% of the plastic produced has never been recycled? Yet calls to eliminate single-use plastics lost their force in the initial panic of the pandemic and the rush to secure personal protective equipment (PPE). As we get ready to end our second year of COVID-19, we have learned a lot, yet it is still common to see discarded PPE littering the landscape. Many of these items — including disposable masks, gloves, and antibacterial wipes — are designed for one-time use. Unfortunately, so many people improperly dispose of PPE that we are experiencing a “plastic pandemic” on our streets, public transport, green spaces, and beaches, according to the Alliance to End Plastic Waste’s Jacob Duer. Improperly discarded PPE contributes to the overwhelming plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Here’s why this is a problem and what you and your community can do to reduce PPE waste.

The Problem: PPE in Our Oceans

Gary Stokes, the founder of marine conservation group OceansAsia, reported collecting 70 masks along 100 yards of beach near Hong Kong during a trip to the uninhabited Soko Islands in February when the pandemic had only just begun. Here’s how they got there: When we don’t throw waste into a secure garbage can, wind can blow it into the gutter where it mixes with rainwater and is washed out to the rivers and sea. From there, it washes to near and far shores. Marine animals like turtles and fish often mistake this waste for food. Ingesting it can lead to a slow and painful death. And plastic waste, like gloves, never fully degrades in water. Instead, it breaks into smaller pieces called microplastics. Plastics are, pun intended, a mixed bag. Today, many consider them a necessary evil: Masks are proven to slow the spread of COVID-19, and when we don’t wear them correctly, more people become sick, hospitals use more resources, and we create more waste. Worldwide, we are using an estimated 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves each month.

What We Can Do to Reduce PPE Waste

Due to both material and contamination issues, single-use PPE can’t be recycled in your curbside bin (but check out TerraCycle’s paid options for recycling disposable gloves). With minimal options for recycling disposable PPE, we must use less of it and dispose of what we use correctly and safely.

Avoid Single-Use PPE When Possible

The CDC website offers guidance for selecting, wearing, and caring for your cloth mask correctly. Make sure it fits properly and consists of two or more layers of fabric. To keep yourself and others safe, launder your reusable mask regularly. Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds each time, instead of using plastic gloves or hand sanitizer. Hot water and soap are the best way to prevent the spread of infection.

Discard Single-Use PPE Safely

Disposing of PPE improperly puts essential workers and your neighbors at risk of getting infected. Take an extra step to protect them before placing your masks, gloves, and wipes in the trash. Use a reusable bag that can be sealed to store used PPE while on the go and dispose of it in your home garbage bin, sealing the bag before pickup.

Make It Easier to Properly Dispose of PPE

Businesses can use behavioral insights to combat PPE litter and “[make] trash cans convenient and conspicuous by tracing a path to them with green foot-step stickers, or [place] more of them in a given area” where people commonly remove PPE.

Use Educational Messaging

People respond well to motivational messaging and concrete calls to action in PPE disposal areas. Research has found that “emphasizing people’s duty to protect frontline workers can be effective.”

Enforce Littering Fines

Municipalities in Massachusetts and New York have imposed hefty fines on PPE littering, yet the threat is not enough to stop bad behavior when fines are not enforced. The best road may be to combine existing fines with educational campaigns to mobilize the public and create a collaborative rather than punishing atmosphere. Of course, we don’t need fines if everyone does their part. Dispose of used PPE responsibly to avoid contaminating others and for the sake of our oceans. Remember, we’re all in this together.
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Mayet-de-Montagne, 15 collégiens très investis

TerraCycle Include France
Les éco-délégués du collège Jules-Verne ont mis en place plusieurs actions de collectes de produits usagés. Recycler le plastique Les produits récoltés sont acheminés vers l’entreprise Terracycle qui en recycle le plastique afin de fabriquer de nombreux objets. Terracycle reverse ensuite l’argent à l’association Keur Sam (20 kg collectés = 20 euros de dons ou 1 centime d’euros par stylo collecté). Ce qui permet d’aider les enseignants et leurs élèves à la mise en place de projets liés à l’environnement. Une collecte d’économie circulaire, écologique et solidaire.
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LILYSILK Launches Recycling Program in Partnership with TerraCycle

Include USA Include Canada (English) LILYSILK
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TRENTON, N.J. - LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live better, sustainable lives, is assisting consumers who want to part with their well-loved LILYSILK textiles in a planet positive way. In partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycleÒ, the LILYSILK Recycling Program offers a free and convenient way to recycle non-donatable LILYSILK products including bedding, apparel, and sleepwear. "At LILYSILK, we believe that zero waste can make a huge difference, so we are leading by example in the hope of encouraging our customers to join us," said David Wang, LILYSILK CEO. "Participating in the recycling program is a natural and meaningful way for people to say goodbye to their LILYSILK products when the time comes. As part of our commitment to make the world greener, we are delighted to partner up with TerraCycle to be more proactive regarding environmental sustainability."
Through the LILYSILK Recycling Program, consumers can send in all non-donatable LILYSILK textiles including bedding, apparel, and sleepwear made from silk and cashmere to be recycled for free. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page (www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/lilysilk), wash and package all textiles in an available box, and mail the box in using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the LILYSILK textiles are turned into a shredded fiber and used as a filler for cushions, pillows, and linings. Additionally, for every shipment sent to TerraCycle through the recycling program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.
TRENTON, N.J. - LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live better, sustainable lives, is assisting consumers who want to part with their well-loved LILYSILK textiles in a planet positive way. In partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycleÒ, the LILYSILK Recycling Program offers a free and convenient way to recycle non-donatable LILYSILK products including bedding, apparel, and sleepwear. "At LILYSILK, we believe that zero waste can make a huge difference, so we are leading by example in the hope of encouraging our customers to join us," said David Wang, LILYSILK CEO. "Participating in the recycling program is a natural and meaningful way for people to say goodbye to their LILYSILK products when the time comes. As part of our commitment to make the world greener, we are delighted to partner up with TerraCycle to be more proactive regarding environmental sustainability."
Through the LILYSILK Recycling Program, consumers can send in all non-donatable LILYSILK textiles including bedding, apparel, and sleepwear made from silk and cashmere to be recycled for free. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page (www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/lilysilk), wash and package all textiles in an available box, and mail the box in using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the LILYSILK textiles are turned into a shredded fiber and used as a filler for cushions, pillows, and linings. Additionally, for every shipment sent to TerraCycle through the recycling program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.
"Partnering with environmentally-conscious businesses like LILYSILK aligns well with TerraCycle's mission to 'Eliminate the Idea of Waste' and, in turn, care for the planet," said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. "Through their recycling program, LILYSILK is providing consumers with a sustainable option to part with their LILYSILK textiles that can no longer be passed on or donated when they reach the end of their useful life." The LILYSILK Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. For more information on TerraCycle's recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.
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Four Ways Companies Are Elevating Their Sustainability Initiatives

TerraCycle Include USA Thousand Fells
Climate change and COVID-19 have been the fashion wake-up call we all needed. People are catching wind of how dirty the fashion industry is and are gladly waving goodbye to fast fashion and inviting sustainable staples to establish a permanent presence in their lives. Professional women across the world are taking a 360 view of their closets and leaning toward the brands that place sustainability at the forefront of their missions.
Consumers are no longer looking at brand names and elite status, rather, they're diving deeper into the companies values, mission, and environmental impact. Today, more than ever, we are focused on the action items companies are taking to continuously push the limits of innovation and a cleaner future. Here are four ways companies are leveling up their sustainability initiatives.

1) Transparency.

Congratulations, each and every one of you has front row seats to today’s transparency race. Grab your popcorn and bloody Mary, because companies are off to the races. Brands are leading with transparency for customers to feel confident in what they are buying, where it comes from, and under what social, economic, and environmental conditions it’s being produced. Everlane is a pioneer and leader of sustainability with their bold slogan “radical transparency.” They weave transparency into every aspect of their business model, sharing the true cost behind all of their products, from material, to labor, to transportation. Just like dating, customers are establishing a new level of trust with companies intertwining transparency into the brands DNA and communicating openly in a way that feels like a personalized, 1:1 conversation.

2) Circular thinking.

The future of fashion is circular, and I am not talking about your high school geometry class. Circular fashion is a system when the production of an item and the end of the item's life are equally as important. Circular fashion is the perfect collision of sustainability and circular economy. It all starts with manufacturing and pushing the limits of longevity and timelessness. Then focusing on materials used and whether or not they are sustainable. Once the customer has decided they no longer need or want the product, rather than trashing the item, the item will be repaired, re-designed, swapped, or sold second-hand. Consider this product to have a second, third, and even fourth life. Take for example, Thousand Fell shoes. They take a material-first approach ensuing materials used can biodegradable or recycled. They have also established a partnership with TerraCycle so unwanted shoes can be broken down into recycled raw materials to be used to create new shoes. Since these materials are not being sent to a landfill, Thousand Fell is creating a circular model so materials can be used and reused continuously. [Relate: Four Steps to Building a Sustainable, Successful, Soul-Driven Business]

3) Resale.

This is an element of circular fashion that is changing how we are approaching shopping habits and rate of consumption. Secondhand style sector has only amplified from the pandemic, and the luxury market is hopping on this surge. It's become every woman’s dream to get their hands on designer styles for a reasonable buy in rate. Today, brands are beginning to introduce resale programs to their customers. Gucci has partnered with The Real Real and the largest luxury names to support second hand. This partnership has allowed Gucci to win over a younger demographic and give the younger generation an entry point into a taste for luxury at an affordable price.

4) Developing textile innovations.

With a sense of urgency to reduce the textile industries environmental impact, designers are gravitating toward innovative materials that will change the way your clothes are made. While coffee, pineapple, and bananas sound like items you would find at your resort vacation’s breakfast, they are in fact natural resources that are used to create fabrics that are shaking up the textile industry. Rather than throwing away coffee grounds, coffee ground fibers can be used to make performance wear with anti-odor qualities, UV ray protection, and quick drying time. Coffee grounds' second life embracing circular thinking. Sustainability has brought a wave of knowledge, advocacy, and innovation to the fashion space. From businesses rethinking their product offering and customers re-thinking their purchasing habits, the future of fashion is certainly changing for the better. As we collectively move forward with a conscious consumption mindset, circularity will be a big part of the future of fashion.
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