Pack Rat sets high bar for businesses to follow Many businesses reside in buildings several stories high, but Packrat Outdoor Center in Fayetteville operates out of a building with a different kind of story — a mission-driven story of sustainable design. In an interview through email with Faebyan Whittle, director of sustainability at Packrat, that behind-the-scenes story emerged as an inspirational beacon that other businesses could follow.   Built in 2002 by co-owner couple Scott and Carolyn Crook, the huge log cabin is constructed of Loblolly pine trees killed in a forest fire in Kootenai National Forest in Montana. Because of their love for the outdoors, the owners didn’t want to cut down living trees for their building. Scott also hired mules to haul the logs from the forest without destroying the new growth emerging after the fire. According to Whittle, “our wood floors are made from second-grade cabin wood that would have normally been thrown away, and most of our wood fixtures are also constructed from reclaimed wood.”   Electricity usage was another concern. “Along with natural lighting from the skylights, we have energy efficient lighting throughout the building and water saving faucets.” Carolyn researched various options for solar panels and hired local company Richter Solar in 2014 to install 348 solar arrays. “Pack Rat has saved 300,000 kg of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the air from coal plants. That’s the equivalent of removing 45 vehicles off the road for an entire year!”   While the pond and small island were originally built to provide a place for customers to test out kayaks and canoes, it’s also a filter for runoff water from the non-porous pavement. Since the early 2000s, the pond and island have been a nesting ground for families of geese. Usually just one goose family occupies the territory, but occasionally two families will share it. Whittle has seen six goose family generations hatched on the island since she’s worked at Packrat. “When Scott and Carolyn were designing the green space for our location, they were inspired to leave as much of the natural environment as possible, cutting down only the bare minimum of trees, and planting new ones to provide natural habitat for the animals that already live here.”   Through a partnership with TerraCycle and Adventure Subaru, anyone can recycle snack wrappers (from foods like energy bars frequently consumed by hikers) and disposable cups, lids and straws at Packrat. Ask at the front desk if you’re not sure if your items can be added to the bin. Whittle explained that Packrat has an “in-store waste diversion rate of nearly 90% because we work first to reduce the waste we create (we don’t need a waste solution if the waste stream doesn’t exist), then we figure out how to keep it out of a landfill through composting, recycling, and up-cycling.”   Shipping products is a huge part of the problem, and Packrat strives to address it. “A big environmental impact in the outdoor retail industry is the No. 4 plastic bags each item is shipped in from overseas — the amount can be staggering. Just this year we have recycled nine football fields of this plastic.” The packaging for products designed to help people enjoy the outdoors ultimately becomes composite decking material upon which people can spend more time outdoors, a happy ending to the cycle. With this model, competing businesses are collaborators, not enemies. “We have also partnered this year with Gear Head on Dickson Street to recycle their plastic bags.”   Sadly, Scott passed away this summer, leaving a legacy of sustainability. The store is now 46 years old and continues to put people and planet before profit, hosting trail maintenance and cleanup events and fundraisers. Since 2016, the store has raised over $75,000 for local nonprofits. Do a “green” approach and charity work make the store less profitable? The answer is no. “Our store is sustainable and profitable,” Whittle said. To be both is necessary; on the one hand, businesses that don’t make a profit aren’t businesses, but businesses that aren’t sustainable will eventually cease to exist once the natural resources are depleted.   Packrat is hosting its second annual fundraiser, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, next weekend. Tickets are $25 and benefit the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance. On Oct. 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center, attendees can enjoy films that “inspire advocacy, conservation, preservation and environmental awareness” as well as live music, free food, a silent auction and art gallery. For more information, contact Packrat Outdoor Center at 521-6340.   Amanda Bancroft is a writer, artist, and naturalist living in an off-grid tiny house on Kessler Mountain. She and her husband Ryan blog about their adventures and offer tips to those wanting to make a difference at www.RipplesBlog.org.

Five things you didn't know you can recycle on campus

October 03, 2019   Waste Reduction Week in Canada takes place this October 21 to 27. The annual national campaign increases awareness around sustainable and responsible consumption habits. We’re sharing how you can recycle five commonly-found items with Ryerson’s Facilities Services and Sustainability team in Facilities Management and Development (FMD).   By recycling these items properly, you help to ensure they don’t end up in landfills. In some cases, the items can either be refurbished for reuse or taken apart so its components can be reused in the manufacture of other products.  

Rechargeable and single-use batteries

Batteries contain toxic metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and nickel, so it’s important to recycle them properly to keep them from entering landfills and further harming the environment. Properly recycling batteries allows for the chemicals and metals they are made of to be potentially reused rather than leaching out and contaminating groundwater supply.   Once you’re done with them, bring used batteries to one of the campuses’ battery recycling stations. To find a station near you, visit campus maps and select “Battery recycling stations” from the legend.   If you would like to suggest a location for an additional battery recycling station, please contact the FMD Help Desk.  

Electronic devices with storage systems

For Ryerson-owned electronic devices with storage systems (e.g. computers, smartphones, external harddrive, etc.), faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Computing and Communications (CCS) Help Desk for guidance wiping confidential information.   Once your device is wiped and ready for disposal, please submit a service request to FMD to arrange for your item’s pickup by a member of the FMD team.   Tip: We ask that you not place electronic devices in hallways or stairwells while waiting for pickup. We find garbage in the wrong place invites more garbage in the wrong place, plus you might be blocking passageways and fire exit pathways.  

Used ink and toner cartridges

Much like batteries, ink and toner cartridges contain toxic chemicals that can harm the environment if they end up in landfills. Follow these steps to correctly dispose of your ink and toner cartridges:  

1. Place the old cartridge in the original plastic bag and box it arrived in, if retained. Otherwise, place the old cartridge in the new cartridge packaging. It’s important that the toner is bagged to prevent leakage.
2. Use the return label provided in the box. If no label is provided or if it has been lost, follow the link for your brand to access the appropriate printable label.

o    Brother: Navigate to the “Brother Canada Cartridge Collection Program” section and enter your cartridge item number to generate the correct label. o    Canon: Complete the form to generate a new label for each cartridge return. o    Hewlett-Packard (HP): Enter your details to print or order postage-paid shipping materials. o    Kyocera: Select “Ontario” to access the correct “Print a Return Label” form. o    Lexmark: You can print this label or you may choose to leave Lexmark cartridge boxes labeless. Shipping and Receiving has labels for Lexmark only.

3. Reseal the box with tape.
4. Bring the sealed, labelled box to Ryerson Central Receiving location at 105 Bond Street, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alternatively, you can request a pickup from the Ryerson mail delivery staff for your area.

  If you are using a printer or fax machine not labelled with a CCS tag, try searching online for the brand and “cartridge recycling” for details. Most companies have free-of-charge recycling programs.  

Pens, markers and other writing utensils

In partnership with Staples Canada and TerraCycle, you can recycle your used writing utensils like pens (including felt tip pens), highlighters, markers, correction fluid pots, correction tapes, mechanical pencils and eraser pens regardless of their brand or composition on campus. What’s more, for every writing instrument recycled, $0.02 will be donated to Earth Day Canada!   Once collected, the writing instruments are separated by material composition, then cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products, including patio furniture. Learn more about the recycling process of writing utensils through this program.   Once you’re done with your writing utensils, follow these steps:   1.    Find a box (e.g. office supplies, shoebox, etc.). 2.    Download the Staples Recycling Accepted Waste Poster and attach it to the box. 3.    Put the box in a common space in your area (e.g. photocopy room, front desk, etc.) and tell your colleagues about it. 4.    When the box is full, seal it with tape and bring it to Ryerson Central Receiving location at 105 Bond Street, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alternatively, you can request a pickup from the Ryerson mail delivery staff for your area. They will return it to Staples for recycling.   Note: Wooden pencils, chalk, glue sticks, erasers, rulers or other cutting objects are not eligible for this program.  

Old textbooks and course packs

  On the lower ground floor of the Student Campus Centre (SCC) outside of CopyRITE Printing Service, you will find a “Textbooks for Change” dropbox where you can donate post-secondary textbooks, study guides, course packs, foreign language textbooks and other study materials that are less than 15 years old. This program is made possible by Textbooks for Change and allows for the materials to either be reused by students or recycled efficiently.   Stay tuned for more initiatives as part of Waste Reduction Week in Canada 2019, including catching us at the Environment and Urban Sustainability Students' Association Sustainability Fair on October 25, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Learning Centre (SLC).

Colgate designs the first recyclable toothpaste tube. “Our ultimate goal here is to convert the tube industry,” says Tom Heaslip, worldwide director of global packaging at Colgate-Palmolive, headquartered in New York City. Colgate is the first company to successfully design a recyclable toothpaste tube. The tube has gained Critical Guidance Recognition from the Washington-based Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), making it the first oral and personal care tube to earn this APR recognition.   Colgate used APR’s high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle-to-bottle protocol to evaluate the effects of adding a new item to the HDPE bottle recycling stream. Although meeting the bottle-to-bottle protocol was not mandatory to receive the recognition, it provided additional data and displayed Colgate’s confidence that the tube would perform well in the recycling stream, says John Standish, APR technical director.   “This is a groundbreaking activity,” says Steve Alexander, president of the APR. “This is a seminal event in potentially [creating] recyclable tubes across the spectrum. [Colgate is] taking historically nonrecyclable packaging types and setting a standard for others to follow.”   Colgate spent five years redesigning the tube, and now it can be recovered through municipal recycling programs.  

Building a better tube

  Although traditional toothpaste tubes are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a recyclable plastic, Heaslip says it is nearly impossible to recycle them because an aluminum layer is present. “The layer that is a problem is an aluminum foil core to the laminate that is then surrounded by plastic materials. The combination of the aluminum and the plastic render this nonrecyclable under any normal streams of recycling.”   Designing a recyclable toothpaste tube is not as straightforward as removing the aluminum layer and creating a tube made completely from plastic. Heaslip says all-plastic tubes already exist, but Colgate needed to create tubes that could be recycled within existing recycling streams.   “All-plastic tubes do exist in the market today,” he says. “It’s the challenge of using plastic resins that are compatible with existing recycle streams.”   In the U.S., Heaslip says, that means using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or HDPE.   “We did try PET tubes in the past, but they are not very tube-like; it ends up being more like a very thin bottle than an actual tube,” Heaslip adds. “That is why we settled on HDPE, because it is more naturally made into a tube. The characteristics of the HDPE stream are much more friendly toward performance attributes like consumer hand feel.”   Using LDPE to make tubes ensures the tube is soft and pliable; Colgate was looking for an alternative material that would be able to retain these positive attributes.  

A sustainable future

  Colgate, New York City, works with other companies and organizations that prioritize sustainability to accomplish its own sustainability goals, garner support for recycling and strive for a circular economy.   Ann Tracy, vice president of global sustainability, environmental and occupational health sciences and supply chain strategy at Colgate, says, “We’re committed to using less plastic and more recycled material in our packaging. We’re helping to strengthen recycling by supporting the Closed Loop Fund and other efforts. And we’re exploring new ingredients and models, including TerraCycle’s Loop initiative, for reusable, refillable packaging.”   TerraCycle, Trenton, New Jersey, and Colgate have created a free recycling program for oral care product packaging, including toothpaste cartons, toothbrushes and floss containers. The products are recycled into new eco-friendly products, such as playgrounds and picnic tables.   Closed Loop Partners, New York City, is an investment firm that focuses on building a circular economy. Its Closed Loop Fund provides capital to cities and companies that want to achieve their sustainability goals. In 2014, Colgate became one of the initial investors in the fund.   By supporting these companies, as well as other companies and initiatives, Colgate says it aims to promote a sustainable future.   Because HDPE normally is not compatible with Colgate’s performance standards, Heaslip says the company experimented with different formulas before finding one that provided the necessary elements for consumers to use the product comfortably and for the tube to be recycled successfully.   “The trick was getting the right recipe of resins in order to end up in a structure that felt like a normal toothpaste tube,” Heaslip says. “The first tube we are putting out is nine layers. We are already working on the second generation, which will be 13 layers. As we optimize, we will probably stick between a seven-to-13-layer range. The initial launch will be with a nine-layer laminate.”   Changing the number of layers of HDPE affects the level of protection for the product, the performance of the tube-making and tube-filling equipment and the aggregated resin specifications, which was the basis for the APR recognition.   “Using more layers allows for a greater level of fine-tuning toward optimal performance against our specifications,” Heaslip says.   Although Colgate switched from LDPE to HDPE, he guarantees the product will be just as functional. “When it comes to performance attributes of the tubes, we maintained all of our existing test standards. That was a goal and a priority from the beginning. We did not want to see any negative trend, whether that was in physical performance or consumer reaction to it.”  

Tracking results

  Outside of choosing which resin should be used to create the tubes, Colgate took several other steps to achieve the recyclability standard. Colgate worked with the APR and followed its Design Guide.   “There were several partners that we were actively involved with,” Heaslip says. “First and foremost, the APR, making sure that we fully understood and met all their guidance. Without their partnership and guidance on this, it would have been very difficult to do on our own.”   Alexander explains APR’s role in helping Colgate achieve its recyclable tube. “It is the same role we play for the industry as a whole. If companies are serious about making their packaging recyclable, the APR Design Guide is really the industry standard. If you want your packaging to be recyclable, that is the document you need. We play that role for many companies.”   Colgate worked with the APR for five years to attain its goal. “What [the Design Guide] has allowed Colgate to do over the years, because this was a five-year effort on their part, was give them a benchmark upon which to refer as they developed the package. If they were trying to develop a package so it is recyclable, they would do some work on it and then refer back to the guide,” Alexander says.   Standish says the five years it took Colgate to achieve its goal of a recyclable toothpaste tube was “not unusually long.” He explains, “Technical innovation can be challenging and complex. A consumer packaging product has to meet many demanding criteria to satisfy 100 percent of the technical and consumer requirements.”   To track the tubes throughout the sorting process, Colgate used radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. This allowed the company to know if the tubes got sorted properly at material recovery facilities (MRFs). The tagged tubes were tested at three MRFs in North America. “We tested our two main sizes of our tubes via the APR Size Sortability Protocol. [The tubes] were deemed ‘Preferred,’ requiring a rate at 90 percent or above,” says Anne Bedarf, packaging sustainability manager at Colgate.   “When optically sorted, our tubes were sorted and baled successfully with colored HDPE,” Bedarf continues. “We saw the same with manual sorting systems but also learned that some sorters removed the tubes thinking they were a contaminant. We recognize the need for widespread education and partnership with MRFs and their recycling supply chains, and we are partnering with several organizations to address that need.”   Following the sorting tests, the tubes were reprocessed at an APR-approved lab. “The tubes were reprocessed at up to a 50 percent level—50 percent tube flakes and 50 percent control HDPE bottle flakes—with the yield close to 100 percent,” she says.  

Seeking wider adoption

  Alexander explains that Colgate’s recyclable tube creates the opportunity for other companies to follow suit. Prior to Colgate’s accomplishment, no precedent had been set.   Now, other toothpaste tube manufacturers can follow the same steps Colgate did. “There is no more excuse for people to say that they are making tubes that are not recyclable,” he says.   “The full intent is that this is not just a Colgate project, but we are working to get all tubes converted,” Heaslip says. “We are fully engaged with the industry with the full intent on working with our competitors in a precompetitive nature to evolve the whole industry to get to this point.”   Even though Colgate has set a standard, other brands and companies might not be ready to take that step. Therefore, Alexander says, it is crucial to alert consumers that not all tubes are recyclable.   “We certainly applaud and encourage what Colgate has done, but we have to make sure the message gets out that not every tube is recyclable. Otherwise, you are going to be throwing tubes in, and it will be contaminating the stream even more. And that is what recyclers don’t need; they don’t need more contamination,” he says.  

Expanding its plans

  Going forward, Heaslip says Colgate plans to continue its sustainability efforts. “For 2020, we have three commitments. One is 100-percent-recyclable packaging in three of our categories: personal care products, home care products and pet nutrition products. We will have 50 percent recycled content. We will be using zero PVC (polyvinyl chloride),” he says.   By 2025, Heaslip says Colgate’s oral care packaging will be added to its 100-percent-recyclable goal, expanding it to the company’s entire business.   The author, based in Cleveland, interned with the Recycling Today Media Group.

Parceria da Jappa de Itatiba e a TerraCycle continua valendo para o programa nacional de reciclagem, uma iniciativa pioneira no mundo que utiliza esponjas como matéria-prima para fabricar novos produtos. O programa completou cinco anos e no Brasil já reciclou mais de 1 milhão e meio de esponjas. A proposta é para que as esponjas utilizadas por exemplo, para lavar as louças não sejam descartadas com o lixo comum, mas que sejam enviados para o programa onde passarão por um processo de reciclagem, conforme falou Sócrates Piovani, presidente da Ong Jappa – Jacaré Vivo Associação para Preservação Ambiental.

A Escola Crescer e Aprender e a Emeb Alceu de Toledo Pontes iniciam a campanha de reciclagem de materiais de escrita através de uma parceria entre o Instituto NOA, mantenedor do projeto Escolas do Bem, do qual as duas instituições de ensino fazem parte, e a empresa Terracycle.

A big green wave is breaking in our bathrooms. And it's not just about finding organic formulas. Today, consumers demand a lot more : transparency on the origin of ingredients, respect for harvesters, reduction of the impact on the environment, a recycling program "zero waste" ... All with formulas always more sensory! More than an awareness, a real philosophy now advocated by many brands that multiply commitments for both the well-being of the skin and for that of the planet. Welcome to the era of "Clean Beauty".  

Commitment 1: I offer the best to my skin

  Why ? To bring him maximum benefits with safe formulas.   With natural ingredients Plant oil , butter, essential oils , hydrolats or herbal extracts: the skin loves! And for good reason, they are more in affinity with her than synthetic molecules. Rich in vitamins, nutrients, fatty acids and even minerals, the ingredients from nature are real benefit concentrates . In addition, they are usually integrated into formulas without controversial components such as silicones or some preservatives, that's good!   And what for? For everything ! Today you will find soothing, purifying or anti-aging formulas for body, face and hair.   With simple compositions The trend of formulas that use a limited number of ingredients is gaining ground. The goal: to reduce the risk of intolerance but also to offer maximum transparency by eliminating controversial or superfluous components. Without perfume, without alcohol, without silicone or paraben, these products advocate the return to the essential but especially an effectiveness adapted to all the skins, even sensitive .   And where do I find them? Essentially in face or body care for fragile skin.  

Commitment 2: I preserve nature

  Why ? To limit the consequences of the products I use on the land and oceans.   With respectful solar filters Every year 14,000 tonnes of sunscreens are poured into the oceans *. In order to limit their impact on the aquatic environment and in particular on coral reefs, some brands have decided to develop solar products without using controversial filters such as oxybenzone, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. in the form of nano-particles . These products are also often more resistant to water and have a high biodegradability.   And protection side? No worries, the formulas are just as effective against the sun's rays. They display indices 30 to 50 and UVA protection like the others.   With biodegradable formulas This is the product itself and not the packaging. For the moment, this mainly concerns rinsed formulas such as shower gels , facial cleansers or shampoos . They are said to be "biodegradable" if after their use, they can be transformed naturally by micro-organisms (in CO2 for example).   And for the other types produced? Some brands are already working on biodegradable formulas for body milks, for example, which can also leave residues during the shower.  

Commitment 3: I reduce my impact on the environment

  Why ? To minimize waste and consume more reasonably.   With products made in France The made in France is on the rise and that's good for the environment. Choosing a product manufactured closer to the place where its ingredients are grown, and therefore reduce the transport required for its development, is significantly reduce its carbon footprint. It is also a good way to support local production, sustainable supply chains and the protection of the diversity of flora.   And for me it changes what? Choosing cosmetics made in France is also ensuring the traceability and consistent quality of natural ingredients that contains the formula of your care.   With recyclable packaging Many brands are engaged in this fight. First to reduce waste but also to reduce the consumption of raw material. The aim is to encourage packaging made from recycled materials , to limit their weight or single use parts (spatulas), to replace cellophane with a compostable material. Some brands also participate in programs like TerraCycle. They make it possible to recycle unsupported packaging by conventional channels such as "travel" formats.   And to go further? Visit the Loop Zero Waste eCommerce site which, associated with some brands, offers a new consumer model by offering returnable, reusable or recyclable packaging.

Stock Offering

TerraCycle, 121 New York Avenue, Trenton 08638. 609-393-4252. Tom Szaky, CEO. www.terracycle.com.   Terracycle, the Trenton-based company that recycles unusual products and creates reusable containers for consumer products, has raised $10 million from a stock offering, according to its latest quarterly report. The company hopes to raise $20 million to fuel growth through a “regulation A” offering that allows the general public to invest (U.S. 1, July 4, 2019).   The company also reported $11.2 million quarterly revenues.   As part of the stock offering TerraCycle has attracted investment in its Regulation A offering from ITOCHU Corporation, a 100-year-old, $50 billion revenue Japanese trading company. According to a press release, ITOCHU, one of the largest brokers of plastic worldwide, will work with TerraCycle to expand the market for post-consumer plastics, and in particular to develop and sell plastics that come from products that are usually not recycled.   The company also expanded its workforce by 10 percent.   “Our mission at TerraCycle has always been to eliminate waste, recycle the unrecyclable, and use our innovative business solutions to minimize human impact on the planet,” said TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky. “During the course of our 18-year history we’ve successfully translated our passion for what we do into an established company built on a strong financial foundation with sustained earnings and growth.”

Such a daring initiative, the new Loop shopping platform is all about reusable/refillable packaging. In June, TerraCycle CEO and Loop inventor Tom Szaky enthralled a standing-room-only audience during EastPack 2019 with his insights into the consumer dynamics fueling sustainability today—and Loop’s answer to circular economy challenges. Since its launch, Loop activities continue as it rolls out to new locations and welcomes new partners. At MinnPack 2019, on Thurs., Oct. 24, from 2:15 to 3:00 p.m., Anthony Rossi, vp, global business development at Loop, will give us another update in his presentation “Consumer Packaging: Why Big Brands are Revisiting the Milkman Model.”

Reducing landfill waste is the focus of the annual Keep Golden Isles Beautiful 2019 School Recycling Challenge and the public is invited to support local schools in this Oct. 7-18 endeavor.   Partners in Education, PTAs, businesses and members of the public are invited to take part in the challenge as well by collecting and donating used oral care products, pens/highlighters/markers and cereal bags to participating local public, private and home schools and institutions of higher education. Simply contact Keep Golden Isles Beautiful to verify a school’s challenge participation and then arrange to drop collected items by the school Oct. 7-18.   The collected items will be recycled via TerraCycle, an organization focusing on non-traditional recycling and eliminating the idea of waste.   The challenge is made possible by a Hello GoodBuy community grant.   For challenge information, to verify school participation or to register for the 2019 School Recycling Challenge, contact Keep Golden Isles Beautiful at info.kbgib@gmail.com or 912/279.1490.