TERRACYCLE NEWS

ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®

Which juice containers can I recycle? When can I recycle batteries?

Dear Elizabeth, What kind of juice containers or boxes can I recycle?   Dear Reader, There are a few types of juice containers that are recyclable, and a few that are not depending on the types of plastic or liquid packaging board they are made out of. Juice boxes are recyclable with the curbside container recycling. They are made of aluminum, layers of paper, and plastic. Juice bottles made of plastic and glass are also recyclable.  Juice pouches such as Capri Suns are not recyclable at our local recycling facility. They should be placed in the trash or can be collected and mailed to TerraCycle, a company that takes hard to recycle items. Please remember to dispose of the straws in the trash and empty completely.

PLAY FOR TODAY, PLAY FOR TOMORROW: THE SHIFT TOWARD ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

RECYCLING, TERRACYCLING, CONSUMER CONVENIENCE, AND AWARENESS

One of the biggest problems toymakers face — and that is noticed by parents — is the difficulty in recycling both toys and their packaging waste. The massive popularity of surprise-and-reveal toys certainly lit a fire under parents to call for better waste management, and for MGA Entertainment (MGAE) — makers of L.O.L. Surprise! — the solution was a partnership with a company that already had experience tackling hard-to-process toys: TerraCycle.     The vast difference in materials used to create certain toys presents a problem when it comes to sorting and processing. TerraCycle can solve that, processing toys to be recycled into new creations, such as park benches, flower pots, and play spaces. The Hasbro Toy Recycling Program launched last year as a way for families to send well-loved toys and games to TerraCycle for processing.   Following partnerships with Hasbro and MGAE, ZURU inked a deal this spring to make its Bunch O Balloons 100% recyclable thanks to TerraCycle. Now, perhaps the biggest issue is consumer awareness and action, as parents will have to box their waste materials — both packaging and toys — and print shipping labels from the TerraCycle website before dropping their boxes off to be shipped back.  

How To Not Get Spooked By All The Plastic This Halloween

By Sandi Schwartz   Getting dressed up in silly costumes and indulging on tasty treats is a blast at any age, but all that fun comes with an environmental price each year when we celebrate Halloween. Have you ever stopped to notice all the plastic involved with Halloween? Plastic trick-or-treat bags. Plastic pumpkins. Plastic decorations. Plastic costumes. Plastic candy wrappers. All of that plastic can surely add up. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 30 per cent of municipal solid waste in the U.S. comes from packaging, including those pesky Halloween candy wrappers.   Fortunately, by tweaking a few of our Halloween traditions, we can reduce the amount of plastic used and wasted during this time of year. These tips give you the opportunity to get creative and show others how Halloween can be celebrated minus all of that petrifying plastic.   Costumes   If you head over to a party store or those pop-up Halloween shops to search for the perfect character to dress up as, you will be inundated by cheap plastic costumes wrapped in plastic bags. Although it may be easy to just grab one, these costumes are wasteful and require resources that increase carbon dioxide emissions. Check out some of these much greener ways to dress up.  
  • Borrow from family and friends. Many families have a bin filled with costumes and accessories that are just collecting dust. Get some family members and friends together in the beginning of October and do a costume share. Before you know it, you will be mixing and matching some unique pieces into inventive costumes. Besides saving money, you will be reusing items and giving old costumes a new life.
  • Make your own. Just think how meaningful it will be if you design your own costume for yourself and kids. This doesn¹t have to be difficult. Go hunting for fun clothing and accessories at a thrift shop. During this time of year, many thrift stores set up a whole section dedicated to dress-up costumes. You can also look around your house for materials you can reuse, such as old t-shirts, buttons, wrapping paper, food containers, bottle caps, etc. Need ideas? Google and Pinterest are your friends.
  • Rent a costume. Consider renting a costume from a local costume shop or checking out the many costume rental companies online.
  • Make a statement. If you really want to go all out for the environment, choose a meaningful costume using plastic waste materials to raise awareness about the plastic problem. For example, dress up as the Great Pacific garbage patch or fill clear plastic bags with the cleaned garbage you collected for a month to represent your monthly waste. If you are crafty, make your costume completely out of plastic bags, bottle caps, cups, food containers, and food wrappers. These ideas can provide a meaningful learning experience and an opportunity to get people thinking about taking action.
§ Decorations   Everyone wants to out-spook their neighbour with the best Halloween decorations, but be aware of the endless plastic décor at the store. Typical Halloween decorations often include synthetic spiderwebs, black plastic spider rings, plastic pumpkins and skeletons, and more.   There are so many plastic-free decoration options to use as alternatives. First, look for ghosts, witches, and other decorations made from paper or cardboard since they will decompose much faster than plastic. You can also cut them out yourself; try hanging some black paper bats to frighten your guests. Next, go a bit more natural and choose edible and compostable decorations like colourful gourds, sunflowers, dried fall leaves, wheat, or even a bale of hay. And, of course, you can¹t go wrong with carving pumpkins into all types of jack-o-lanterns to set the mood.   Another way to go green this Halloween is to reuse materials you already have. Weave a spider web with some old natural twine. Make a ghost by stuffing a towel in a white sheet, tying with string, and hanging it in a tree or near a door. Add a scarecrow to your yard using some old shabby clothes and a jack-o-lantern head. Finally, challenge your family and friends to use Halloween wrappers from previous years to create custom Halloween decorations to be used in future years.   Trick-Or-Treating   One of the most frustrating Halloween traditions is using plastic bags or plastic pumpkins to collect candy while trick-or-treating. There are so many other options to choose from rather than plastic. Try using cloth bags, pillowcases, and natural wooden or wicker baskets. You can even coordinate with your costume, such as a basket for a Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz costume or a pillowcase when dressed up as a baby.   Treats   Then there¹s those bite-sized, individually-wrapped treats that really cause a plastic waste problem. Unfortunately, most candy wrappers are not easily recyclable because they are made from a mix of materials, including polypropylene, aluminum foil, and paper. It is very tedious “and not worth the effort or cost” to recover each separate component for recycling. Some companies are working on developing bio-based candy wrappers for their products that are biodegradable, compostable, and do not rely on oil-based materials. Mars has partnered with Rodenburg Biopolymers to develop this type of eco-friendly candy wrapper, but it is only available in Europe so far. While we wait for North American candy wrappers to go green, here are some ways that you can cut back on plastic candy wrapper waste during your Halloween festivities:  
  • Choose non-plastic wrapped candy. Look for candy wrapped in paper boxes or foil so they can be recycled. Some ideas for plastic-free candies include Smarties, Hershey kisses, and chocolates wrapped in pumpkin-looking foil.
  • Find other types of goodies to give out. Skip the plastic-wrapped sugary candy altogether and opt for something more interesting and creative to hand out to the kids: friendship bracelets made from thread, Halloween-themed pencils and notepads, Mad Libs, or colouring books.
  • Recycle candy wrappers. Recycle your candy wrappers by participating in Terracycle¹s Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box (teracycle.com/en-CA). This is how it works: choose the size box you need, purchase it, throw your used wrappers in it, and ship it when filled. The collected waste is separated into fibres that are recycled or composted and plastics that are molded into new plastic products.
  • Reuse candy wrappers. Artists are now getting really creative with waste products. You can find items like artwork, clothing, handbags, wallets, and jewelry made from candy wrappers. Donate your wrappers to an artist or try your hand at making a masterpiece.
 

TerraCycle reports boosted sales and income numbers

A company that focuses on hard-to-recycle plastic materials says new partnerships with brand owners and increased sales of mail-in recycling boxes drove better financial results during the first half of 2019.   New Jersey-headquartered TerraCycle US reported $11.2 million in net sales during the first six months of the year, up 18.8% over the same period in 2018. Its income before taxes was $2.3 million, up 174.7%. Its gross profit margin was 56.5%, up from 45.2% from a year ago.   The semi-annual report was filed on Sept. 24 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). TerraCycle reports financial information to the SEC because it launched a $25 million stock offering last year. As of Sept. 24, 2019, the company has raised over $9 million from the sale of the securities.   TerraCycle collects difficult-to-recycle materials mostly via mail-in in programs. Much of what it handles are mixes of scrap HDPE/PET and PP/PE.   The company aggregates and sorts material before sending it to reclaimers, which generally process it into pellets on behalf of TerraCycle. TerraCycle then sells the pellets to manufacturers for injection molding or extruding into containers or plastic lumber.   In rare cases, the plastics reclaimer will outright buy the scrap materials from TerraCycle. For example, Pennsylvania-based reclaimer Ultra-Poly, which also does toll processing for TerraCycle, has outright purchased certain PP and PE blends from the company.   Most of TerraCycle’s revenue comes from four separate operating segments. The following are first half 2019 financial numbers broken down by segment (income numbers are before taxes):  

Sponsored Waste Collection Programs

  • Net sales: $4.4 million, up 45%
  • Income: $1.8 million, up 108%
  This TerraCycle segment is also called “brand partnerships” or “brand sponsored collection programs.” Through it, brand owners pay the shipping, sorting and processing costs incurred when consumers mail their products to TerraCycle for recycling.   Consumers receive charity points they can use to make donations to nonprofit groups.   To drive the 2019 sales increase in this segment, TerraCycle signed deals with the following companies to launch programs: Calbee, Earth Animal, Gillette, LOL Surprise, Limelife by Alcone, Mountain House, Weleda, Martini & Rossi Frose, and Herbal Essences.  

Zero Waste boxes

  • Net sales: $2.8 million, up 61.8%
  • Income: $1 million, up 98.8%
  This division focuses on selling prepaid shipping boxes to consumers who want to mail in recyclables not sponsored by a brand owner. The price of the box covers the costs of material handling and processing.   TerraCycle also provides private-label box services for companies and distributors that seek to offer a recycling option as part of their sale or service.   During the first half of the year, sales of boxes through the website continued to grow and now average $300,000 per month, according to TerraCycle.   Additionally, the company signed new partnerships to provide private-label boxes for the following companies: Williams and Sonoma (for recycling of coffee capsules), Dillard’s (beauty products), Vans (footwear), GrainPro (feed bags), Reebok (clothing), GPJ Experiential Marketing (name tags and lanyards), Nature Valley (candy and snack wrappers), Barilla (plastic packaging and compost), HBI International (cigarette waste).  

Material sales

  • Net sales: $273,000, down 80.4%
  • Income: Loss of $845,000, down 54.8%
  This segment is responsible for selling recyclables (usually plastics) collected through the sponsored waste and Zero Waste boxes programs.   TerraCycle attributed the large decrease in material sales during the first half of 2019 to the timing of closing large deals. “While two larger sales were finalized in the first half of 2018, we [were] in the process of completing equally large deals in the second half of 2019, which will put us in line or potentially above the total revenue of the prior year,” according to TerraCycle.   This year, this segment also launched its largest retail recycling program, working with Walmart to collect car seats at 4,200 stores.   Company staff have continued to find buyers for TerraCycle’s recovered materials faster than predicted and budgeted, according to the company. “This performance has produced savings in expected cost of revenues and reduces budgeted warehouse spend,” according to the semi-annual report.

Regulated waste:

  • Net sales: $3.5 million, down 5.3%
  • Income: Loss of $11,000, down 104%
  This segment manages lamps and bulbs, batteries, scrap electronics, organic waste, medical waste and other materials.   This decrease was “partially impacted by the disruption of moving to new systems to integrate with the rest of the company.” TerraCycle on Oct. 31, 2017 acquired Chicago-based Air Cycle Corporation for $3.3 million and used it to launch the current regulated waste division.   A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on October 1.

13 products that will help you switch to a plastic-free life

In this day and age, many of us are hoping to adopt a minimalist lifestyle by owning less and, therefore, producing less waste. For many, the single biggest waste category is single-use plastic products. Although some are safe to use, a number of plastic products are actually extremely harmful to the environment—and ultimately, to our health when they break down into microplastic particles.   At first, I was anxious about the thought of going plastic-free—as someone who keeps her schedule tight, I didn’t have the confidence that I could always remember to bring a reusable cup or a glass straw with me at all times. But with some creativity and reliable products, making the switch was easier than I thought. Here’s what I used.  

1. A set of reusable stretch lids to replace cling wraps 

  I have to admit I’ve long used a ton of cling wrap because of its convenience. But when I came to the realization that those cling wraps are terrible for the environment, I felt guilty. Thankfully, I found these reusable silicone stretch lids that can seal my cans and jars air-tight. To reuse, just rinse them under water. There are six sizes to choose from, which covers almost all typical household needs, from proofing bread dough overnight to keeping leftovers separated from other foods in the fridge.    

2. Our favorite reusable straws that you’ll never forget to bring along

Our favorite reusable straws, the Hummingbird, ranked top in our tests. Our favorite reusable straws, the Hummingbird, ranked top in our tests. (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)   Our favorite reusable straws, the Hummingbird glass straws are great alternatives to the single-serve plastic straws that are typically offered at restaurants. Although eco-conscious coffee shops are replacing plastic straws with paper ones, they still have an impact on  the environment and they easily break in half. The Hummingbird straw is lightweight and easy-to-wash, which means I can carry it anywhere.  

3. A reusable sandwich bag that also holds snacks on the go 

The lunchskins sandwich bags are a great alternative to Ziplocs. The lunchskins sandwich bags are a great alternative to Ziplocs. (Photo: Lunchskins)   A classic PB&J sandwich sitting in one of those single-use Ziploc bags just seems sadder than one wrapped in our favorite reusable sandwich bags. The Lunchskins have different patterns to choose from and they’re all absolutely adorable. This bag is the perfect size for packing sandwiches without the need to squish anything—no matter how thick your sandwich is. They’re dishwasher safe but also extremely easy to clean if you prefer hand-washing them.  

4. This bento box with a cult following 

The Monbento lunch box is the only thing i bring to work for lunch. The Monbento lunch box is the only thing i bring to work for lunch. (Photo: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser)   Packing lunch doesn’t have to mean a sad salad. Featuring a two-tiered design, this Monbento lunch box lets you bring a number of cold and hot dishes to work or school, making lunch more enjoyable. Plus, there are options to add a stackable cutlery set, sauce cups that fit in the boxes without taking up too much space, and cute lunch bags that make them easy to carry around. All materials in the Monbento boxes are biodegradable plastic or silicone.  

5. Top-rated glass food storage containers for grocery shopping 

The Pyrex food storage containers are our favorite in the roundup. The Pyrex food storage containers are our favorite in the roundup. (Photo: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser)   One of the biggest challenges to living plastic-free is dodging all the “plastic traps” at grocery stores. Meat-packaging, single-use produce bags, and all sorts of pantry items made me feel like achieving my plastic-free week would be mission-impossible. However, I found an easy solution when I started to bring my own containers instead of picking up pre-packaged cuts. The butcher will subtract the container tare to get to the gross weight of the meat, which is done on an electronic scale.   In our testing of the best food storage containers, we fell in love with these glassware containers that are perfect for keeping food safe and fresh. They’re not only a great alternative to the grocery store plastic packaging, but also perfect for meal-prepping.  

6. An organic cotton mesh bag that’s better than store plastic bags

ThIS organic cotton mesh bag holds up to a few pounds of fruits and vegetables. This organic cotton mesh bag holds up to a few pounds of fruits and vegetables. (Photo: Amazon)   Although an increasing number of stores have been switching to biodegradable plastic produce bags, I’ve found they’re way too flimsy to hold anything substantial. One time I put an ear of corn into a store-provided bag and the cob immediately fell through it. This organic cotton mesh bag can hold up to three pounds of fruits and vegetables, and its stretchy material makes sure that it can fit large items.  

7. A produce bag that catches small items 

For produce that are smaller in size, these bags can help. For produce that are smaller in size, these bags can help. (Photo: Getty Images)   While it’s easy to fit a butternut squash or three large tomatoes in a mesh bag, small vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts and green beans, can’t be securely held in cotton mesh bags. These reusable produce bags are lightweight, featuring tiny breathable mesh that allows some necessary airflow to prolong the lifespan of fresh produce.  

8. Our favorite water bottle that helped me ditch single-use bottled water  

Our favorite water bottle, the Hydro Flask, keeps the water cool. Our favorite water bottle, the Hydro Flask, keeps the water cool. (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar / Hydro Flask)   If you’re hoping to break the bottled water habit, the Hydro Flask can help. Our favorite water bottle, the Hydro Flask scored high marks in a range of tests: It’s portable, versatile, durable, and well-designed. It’s the top performer in our temperature tests, too, keeping ice largely unmelted well past the 24-hour mark. Its patented double-wall vacuum enables the bottle to keep water cold, keep hot beverages hot, and prevents condensation from forming on the outside, keeping it slip-free, and safe to store in bags alongside papers and laptops.  

9. A stainless steel travel mug to keep my drinks warm

For people who like their caffeinated drinks warm, the Zojirushi mug is perfect. For people who like their caffeinated drinks warm, the Zojirushi mug is perfect. (Photo: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar)   Before I pledged to go plastic-free, I had been a loyal fan of our favorite travel mug, the Zojirushi stainless steel mug, because of its impeccable insulation and lightweight design. Whether I was on a long commute or I brought it on a hiking trip, this inexpensive mug kept my drinks at the desired temperature at all times. The trim build also allows it to seamlessly slip into cup holders and bags.  

10. A set of mason jars to replace most household plastic uses

A set of mason jars can be versatile. A set of mason jars can be versatile. (Photo: Getty Images / Olga Miltsova)   Mason jars are a durable and reliable alternative to using Ziploc bags for storing dry pantry goods. Additionally, they’re so versatile that you can use them for canning, storing jam, and making desserts. Bring these mason jars on grocery shopping trips, and you’ll find the store employees happily helping you fill the jars with nuts and cereal.  

11. Solid bar shampoo and conditioners that are full of organic ingredients

These solid bar shampoo and conditioner can keep your hair clean and smooth. These solid bar shampoo and conditioner can keep your hair clean and smooth. (Photo: Aspen Kay Naturals)   I sometimes fail to notice how much plastic waste I produce outside of my kitchen. In fact, I never thought about the environmental impact I had caused by using bottled shampoo and conditioner. Using all organic, natural herbs, Aspen Kay Naturals is able to provide something more eco-friendly than the liquid version of haircare. Unlike the more common brands we’ve seen in stores, this shampoo is 100% soap-free, which means its gentle on the hair and scalp as no harsh cleaners, detergent, or silicone is included in the formula.  

12. Beeswax wraps to keep produce fresh 

Bee's wax wraps are amazing for keeping produce fresh. Bee's wax wraps are amazing for keeping produce fresh. (Photo: Amazon)   To stop using plastic wraps for half-cut lemons, onions, and other produce, I started putting these hand-crafted beeswax wraps to the test. Even after multiple uses, the beeswax wraps excellently retained the freshness of the foods I wrapped in them. They’re also odor-free, which is better than their plastic counterparts.  

13. Use composting bin instead of plastic trash bags 

Compost bins can help you reduce waste. Compost bins can help you reduce waste. (Photo: Amazon)   Much of the produce we toss away each year ends up in landfills, which produce a large amount of the greenhouse gas  methane. To reduce the use of trash bags, I started composting the daily food scraps, finger nails, hair, and tissue paper, which are otherwise destined to non-recyclable waste. With a little research, I was able to properly compost my waste without creating an unpleasant smell or attracting small animals. Plus, if done right, I can use the compost to enrich my soil for growing fruits and vegetables in a few months.  

What should I do with the plastic I swapped out? 

  I started researching what to do with the plastic packaging I’ve just swapped out. TerraCycle, a free plastic recycling platform, offers instructions for every type of recycling work. The site lists a growing number of participating businesses that allows me to send the cleaned, recyclable packaging back, free of charge.   For example, if I accumulate a good amount of Barilla pasta packaging, I can sign up the Barilla program and get a free shipping label to return the emptied bags and boxes. Once they receive the packaging, I’ll get reward points that can be used toward donating to non-profit organizations or schools of my choice. If you don’t want to separate the packaging, TerraCycle offers Zero Waste Box (purchase required) to recycle almost any type of waste.  

My final takeaway    

  Admittedly, there were still areas that I could use some improvements while attempting to achieve a plastic-free life: I brushed my teeth with plastic toothbrush heads and used makeup remover wipes wrapped in plastic packaging. These instances serve as a reminder of how ubiquitous plastic products are in our daily lives, and how challenging it can be to cut them out completely. To live completely plastic-free may still be a long shot for me, but it’s no longer some far-fetched, unachievable idea.

Purging Plastics

Most of my life has been lived by an ocean—a vast expanse of sparkling blue where I’ve gazed into the unknown more times than I could ever count, marveled at the swirly sunsets, and walked in the uprush at dawn. No matter where I am in the world, a beach feels homey; the water, familiar. It’s only recently that I’ve realized I am not doing enough to protect our struggling oceans, or our world, from the imminent threat of climate change and plastic pollution. The future of plastic recyclability is uncertain or, at the very least, unpredictable and I found myself feeling confused, frustrated, and anxious, not knowing how, or even if, I could make the slightest difference.   Many of us, myself included, have a narrow view of plastic waste—just seeing what we are creating ourselves, in our own homes, and not zooming out to take in the bigger picture. Each time you consume something out of single-use plastic from now on, think about how many other people on the planet are doing the same thing at the same moment and imagine all those billions of water bottles or coffee cup lids or takeout containers being discarded. Where are they all going?   The news is not good: most of our plastics—yes, even the plastics that we think we are recycling—are still ending up in landfills or oceans. According to a 2014 paper called "Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans" by oceanographer Marcus Eriksen, more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans. Researchers at the University of Georgia found that by 2015, humans had generated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics, 6.3 billion tons of which had already become waste. Of that waste, only 9 percent was recycled, 12 percent was incinerated, and 79 percent accumulated in landfills or the environment.   It can be a hard pill to swallow for many consumers to learn that their recycling efforts have been for naught. And it can be even harder to learn that the most impactful thing we can do now is not to recycle and reuse but to reduce—or, in an ideal world, eliminate—our purchases of new plastics. Speaking with some friends about it ultimately led to an “I know, I know” eye roll, which I empathize with because I’ve been in that role too, but ignoring the problem won’t solve anything. It’s our responsibility to seek out the solutions and find out what we can do, at least on the most basic level—at home. It’s not just someone else’s responsibility to deal with since we’ve participated in the problem—so let’s participate in the positive change too. Believe it or not, there are organizations that want our old toothbrushes, wetsuits, and shampoo bottles. We can find a place to responsibly recycle the things that we’ve already accumulated, but to say that it won’t require effort would be a lie. It’s going to take work.   STOP THE SINGLE-USE   I went entirely no-plastic for the purposes of this article, thinking it couldn’t really be that difficult. The biggest challenge I faced was certainly with single-use plastic. I couldn’t purchase most of the convenience foods I realized I relied on day-to-day like cottage cheese, yogurt, cereal, oat milk (or any dairy or alternative milk due to either a plastic top or spout), tortillas, cheese wrapped in plastic film, protein or greens powders, wellness shots, hummus, tofu, tempeh, pre-washed lettuces and herbs, berries, bags of nuts and seeds, cartons of vegetable stock, bags of grains and beans, and almost anything from the frozen aisle. The more annoying challenges were the completely unnecessarily plastic-wrapped vegetables like cucumbers, cauliflower, tomatoes, or mushrooms. And even more annoying, or totally obnoxious, were the plastic stickers that adorned every single lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, avocado, banana, and other produce—this is the point where I almost gave up. I stood there thinking, all I want is a damn lemon and I can’t get one damn lemon without there being plastic involved?! I thought we were doomed as a society. I snapped a photo and frustratingly texted my sister that there was no hope. At the time, my little outburst didn’t feel as dramatic as it now looks on paper. I also had to steer clear of the salad bar, deli case, and any prepackaged meals. At my favorite local grocer, the single-use containers at the deli are biodegradable but the lids are plastic—huge bummer.   If you’re wondering what I actually walked out of the market with, here’s the list: local eggs (packaged in cartons made from recycled paper and pulp or cardboard), glass jars of nut butters, local fruit jam, olives and pickles, honey, maple syrup, olive oil, and fresh vegetables and fruits without stickers or packaging.   I found solace in going to the Santa Monica Farmers Market early on Wednesday mornings. Of course, I brought my own market tote and lots of small reusable cloth produce bags which I used for all sorts of things like green beans, dried beans and legumes, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, and herbs, and only purchased that which had zero plastic involved. I walked away with sticker-free citrus fruits, stone fruits, and unwrapped cucumbers, mushrooms, lettuces, and herbs. The only time this didn’t work for me is when I had a last-minute need to cook dinner for a small group of friends and struggled—but succeeded!—in staying plastic-free at the grocery store closest to my house. As long as I planned appropriately, a trip to the farmers’ market once per week served to provide the majority of the food I needed.   Not being able to rely on convenience foods, like the 6-ounce containers of my favorite cottage cheese or pre-packaged tortillas or sliced sprouted bread, completely changed the way I eat. I couldn’t find a plastic-free almond milk, so I stopped adding it to my coffee. I started eating local eggs for breakfast with a bit of local butter and chopped herbs from my own garden. I’d keep a few big salads ready to go in plastic-free containers, which consisted only of locally-grown lettuces and other vegetables, dried nuts and seeds from bulk bins, and homemade dressing that I kept in a mini glass jar, in my refrigerator—and that’s lunch. Snacks—like pickles, olives, or granola—are all kept in reusable silicone storage bags or glass jars.   To stay prepared, the trunk of my car contains all the essentials: grocery totes, cloth produce bags, bamboo utensils, one or two glass food containers for leftovers from restaurants, and a reusable plastic-free water bottle and coffee cup. Once I got into a routine, it became easy to stick to a zero-plastic lifestyle, but there are definitely times when it’s very challenging.   I’m a proponent of plant-based eating but I have a weak spot for cheese. Going to the cheese counter at any local grocer left me despondent, however, because every single variety used plastic in some manner. I did some homework and was pleasantly surprised that every cheese store I called, including Andrew’s Cheese Shop in Santa Monica and The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, allow customers to bring in their own containers for taking their cheeses home. I also found that local, independently owned markets and shops are more likely to accept foreign containers since they may not have corporate guidelines to contend with.   Other stores, like Sustain LA in Highland Park, make shopping a breeze. Founder Leslie VanKeuren Campbell has done all the hard work and customers get to reap the rewards. The store offers refill stations to fill your reusable containers with household cleaners, body care products, and bulk goods from sustainable sources. Their refill stations also pop up at farmers’ markets around Los Angeles, so keep up with them to plan a visit.   THE PROBLEM WITH TAKEOUT   I almost never get food delivered, but I do occasionally pick up takeout from a few nearby restaurants. I now know that there are really very few restaurants which actually provide sustainable takeout containers—many that we believe to be eco-friendly are actually a mixture of paper and plastic, making them very difficult to recycle. Same goes for single-use coffee cups and butcher paper. Restaurants often refuse to pack takeout orders in a customer’s own container for fear of cross-contamination, so I decided that going to a restaurant would now only involve sitting down and eating a meal on a real plate. I kept a clean glass food container in my handbag to take leftovers home with me, which was never a problem.   In July, California passed a new law that allows restaurants the option of following some new guidelines to accept a customer’s containers for this purpose, but it’s still up to the restaurant to determine whether or not it’s a practice they want to adopt. As Monica Heffron, executive project manager at the Rustic Canyon Family of Restaurants, tells me, it’s not as simple as we might believe it to be. “We…are definitely analyzing the best way to incorporate this more into our operations to cut down on single-use packaging, but it’s not something that can be done overnight and requires a good amount of thought and planning on our end to ensure our process is as safe and effective as possible. The new regulations are an exciting change to see, though, if they represent a larger shift in the mindset of how people look at takeout and packaging in general,” she says.   As someone who was a caterer, I know how much single-use plastic can go into both sourcing and preparing food. I cringe when I think about the amount of plastic wrap I’d go through in one day—now I use beeswax wraps (see below for a DIY version) and reuseable containers only. The Rustic Canyon restaurant group is located in Santa Monica, a city that has set their own admirable sustainability goals, so I asked Monica if the restaurants have set goals beyond what the city mandates. She shares, “We put a huge amount of thought and consideration into our vendors to make sure we’re sourcing seasonal, local, organic ingredients whenever we can. Quality of ingredient is a top priority on every level, especially regarding sustainability. A lot of people only think about what happens in the restaurant, but a lot of it happens before products even reach the kitchen, so being mindful of where one’s ingredients come from is very important to us. We also work closely with the Surfrider Foundation to stay certified as part of their Ocean Friendly Restaurants program – their feedback is a huge help to us in improving our operations to make sure we’re as environmentally-friendly as possible.”   A THOUGHTFUL PURGE    One major concern I have about the plastic-free movement is the idea that we need to immediately toss all the plastic in our homes right into the dumpster. I’ve seen more than a few seemingly well-meaning people on social media go on plastic purges, where they’ll rummage through their refrigerator, pantry, and the rest of the house only to toss full bottles of condiments, unopened yogurts, food storage containers, shampoos, and other items right into the trash, exclaiming that they want a plastic-free home. On the contrary, we should be finding creative ways to reuse or properly recycle all the existing plastic in our homes in an effort to reduce what ends up in landfills and oceans.   I reached out to Brigit Binns, an accomplished cookbook author and owner of the unique culinary retreat Refugio in Paso Robles, to chat about our mutual frustrations and see what she’s doing to reduce her footprint. For starters, she’s made a point to entertain more thoughtfully—no single-use anything. Yes, cleaning up requires more effort, but what’s an extra 5 minutes when it makes such a huge impact? We agree that companies and manufacturers need to be taking more responsibility and communicate more with consumers about how to recycle or send back their products. She says, “without the motivation of money or profit, corporations have less incentive to put in the effort and want to recycle.” Brigit goes on to tell me how many times she’s reached out to companies to ask if they’ll accept containers back for recycling or even just get advice on how to recycle a particular type of plastic. “These companies need to be more responsive—there’s no personal touch or conversation and customers are just left in the dark,” she says. Companies should hear from their customers in droves and start to feel the pressure of us all wanting to see change and greater involvement from the folks who created these items in the first place. At the end of the day, it seems that we can only control our own purchases, our own waste, and our own impact.   Not all manufacturers are on the wrong side of things, of course. A growing number are finding ways to be innovative while also profiting from recycling plastics—turning water bottles into shoes, abandoned fishing nets into sunglasses, and yogurt cups into toothbrushes. I’ve seen examples of plastics being recycled into bike paths, roads, and even housing—I’m hopeful we’ll see many more positive examples like this in the coming years.   TerraCycle.com is a fantastic resource for finding free recycling programs in your area—we’re talking everything from contact lenses and toothpaste tubes to cigarette filters and dog food bags. Again, it just takes effort on our part to figure it all out and make it happen. Yes, it’ll mean saving all of these little items we are so accustomed to tossing into the trash and transporting them to the proper location. I urge local business owners and homeowners associations to offer to be drop-off points for any number of recyclable items. Visit TerraCycle’s website to learn more and get involved.   JUST TAKE A FIRST STEP   For anyone wondering how they can start to make a change: we all need to take stock of how, when, and why we use plastic. Start with the worst offenders. For you, that may mean rethinking a daily takeout or salad bar habit, or maybe it means giving up plastic water bottles and only using a reusable bottle. Just start somewhere. Accept that the plastic in our homes is now part of this planet—let’s just all do our part to make the best of this. The answer is not to purge all the plastic from our homes and go about the day, rather it is to simply be aware and do our best to implement positive change from this moment forward. So finish the plastic bottle of ketchup in the refrigerator, but next time search for a homemade ketchup recipe and store it in a glass jar or only purchase ketchup sold in glass bottles and make sure it’s properly cleaned and recycled. Start small, get friends and family involved, and the movement will grow exponentially.   Don’t forget to speak out and let companies know that you want to see them participating in efforts to find alternative and sustainable packaging. If they don’t hear from their customers, there’s little pressure to make a big change. Take it upon yourself to be part of the conversation and help instill change in how we all prepare, purchase, and consume food.   I’ve noticed that much of the resistance to ditching plastic is simply fear of the unknown. Many of us are so locked into our routines that we just don’t know where to start. Our modern lifestyles beg for convenient, single-use, time-saving, stress-free packaging so we can focus on other things—things that we deem more important. But I ask you, what is more important than this? ◆

Sustainable Packaging: The Reuse Revolution

TerraCycle’s Loop leads the charge as brands, retailers and consumers all express a desire to reduce packaging waste https://assets1.consumergoods.com/styles/content_sm/s3/2019-09/P%26G_-_Tide.jpg?itok=FfpB_Qhs TerraCycle launched its Loop initiative in the spring, giving consumer packaged goods brands a platform to have their products delivered in reusable containers, as in the old days of the milkman bringing glass bottles to the doorstep. What followed was a small pilot in the Northeast that quickly garnered a waiting list of 90,000 consumers requesting the service.   “If we tried to launch [Loop] five years ago, I don’t know if it would’ve worked,” says Anthony Rossi, the program’s global vice president of business development. “But if there’s one thing we’ve seen so far, it’s that the consumer is now ready.”   A recent Nielsen survey found that 75% of consumers globally would “definitely” or “probably” change their consumption habits if doing so would have a positive effect on the environment; nearly half of U.S. consumers said likewise.   “And these consumers are putting their dollars where their values are, spending $128.5 billion on sustainable fast-moving consumer products this year,” says Kyle McKinley, vice president of design solutions at Nielsen. “Since 2014, these influential shoppers have grown sustainable product sales by nearly 20%, with a compound growth rate that’s four times larger than conventional products.” Nielsen expects sustainable-friendly shoppers in the U.S to spend upward of $150 billion on sustainable goods by 2021.

Good for Business

  Reducing waste isn’t just good for the world, it’s good for business. With consumers showing signs of wanting to play their role in reducing waste, brands and retailers are motivated to develop more sustainable goods and packaging options. Just this summer, a coalition of industry companies including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and SAP founded the Brands for Good coalition; separately, a host of CPGs, retailers and packaging providers formed the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. (Neither group responded to requests for an interview.)   Participants in the Brands for Good coalition are making commitments to embed social purpose into their brand promises and products; to use brand influence to make sustainable living accessible for consumers; and to collaborate with other players to change behavior to create a positive impact on the planet. Each company will launch its own projects with that shared mission in mind.   P&G played an integral role in the launch of Loop and is one of more than 100 brands already working with the platform. Three years ago, the CPG giant stood side by side with TerraCycle at the World Economic Forum to discuss its use of ocean plastics in Head & Shoulders bottles, and at that time began discussing the idea of reusable services. It has since also launched Tide Purclean, a plant-based liquid detergent, and has an overall goal to make all product packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.   Other major CPGs such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, General Mills, Unilever and Diageo, to name a few, have set similar public goals in an effort to reduce global waste by making packaging more recyclable.

Making a Commitment

  Nestle, another founding Loop partner, has “committed to making 100% of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025,” says Elizabell Marquez, director of marketing for the company’s Haagen-Dazs brand. The Nestle Institute of Packaging Sciences was created last year to advance these efforts, she notes. https://assets1.consumergoods.com/styles/content_sm/s3/2019-09/The_Clorox_Company_-_Disinfecting_Wipes1.jpg?itok=0AoUJ0yH

  Clorox Co., also a Loop partner, is expected this month to announce an “ambitious product and packaging-related sustainability strategy as part of our broader environmental, social and governance strategy,” promises Andrea Rudert, associate director, corporate responsibility. Clorox previously set a goal to improve the sustainability of half of its product portfolio by 2020, with 2011 being the baseline year.   “We surpassed that goal two years early,” Rudert says. “In fact, as of the end of our 2019 fiscal year, we made sustainability improvements to 58% of our product portfolio.” The company has recyclable primary packaging for 92% of its lineup.   Other manufacturers making sustainable commitments include SC Johnson, which last spring launched Windex in special packaging at Target, Walmart and other retailers. The bottles are made from 100% recycled ocean plastic and are non-toxic and cruelty-free.   Windex is also planning this fall to launch a “Social Plastic” bottle that will include recycled ocean-bound social plastic sourced by Plastic Bank from Haiti, the Philippines and Indonesia. The effort is designed to help the environment but also provide social benefits to people living below the poverty line in those nations, according to a company release.   SC Johnson also expanded Windex’s concentrate cleaner offerings into products from such brands as Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout and Fantastik. The concentrate refill bottles use 80% less plastic compared to a brand new, larger trigger bottle; consumers mix tap water with the concentrate into a reusable trigger bottle to significantly reduce plastic waste.   Elsewhere, Hasbro will phase out the use of plastics in its packaging beginning in 2020, doing away with the polybags, elastic bands, shrink wrap, window sheets and blister packs that have long been part of the toy buying experience. The company eliminated wire ties from packaging in 2010, and has been working with TerraCycle to recycle materials from old toys and games to make innovative social spaces and items like play areas, flowerpots and park benches.   Yet another TerraCycle partner, Colgate-Palmolive, has been recycling used toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes into playground materials. The company also recently unveiled a recyclable toothpaste tube that will launch in 2020 via the Tom’s of Maine brand but extend to all brands by 2025. The tube uses the “number 2” plastic commonly found in soda bottles.

In the Loop

  With TerraCycle’s two-decade-long history of working with brands to eliminate waste, it’s no surprise the company was able to partner up with manufacturers such as P&G, Unilever, Bic, Mars and Danone to launch a strategy around reusable packaging. TerraCycle began as a solution to help brands recycle products that aren’t recycled at traditional facilities, such as cigarette butts, chip bags and various personal care products. That remains the company’s largest operation. Second to that effort is working with brands to integrate recycled content into its packaging, as it did through the aforementioned efforts with P&G’s Head & Shoulders on the ocean plastics and Colgate for playground materials.   TerraCycle’s newest business unit is Loop, which Rossi describes as “dusting off the idea of the milkman and bringing it to any product that’s single-use today.” Loop is, in fact, a way to completely eliminate packaging waste. “Recycling is a Band-Aid on a cut, and what we need to do is attack the problem at its core. And the problem is single use and disposability.”   Nestle became a founding partner of Loop because the concept presents an “innovative and disruptive approach to changing how products are packaged – and delivered – and how consumers enjoy them,” says Marquez.   The short of it: Shoppers buy a brand’s durable, reusable (and exclusive) Loop packaging, which gets delivered through Loop in a special tote bag. When the contents are up for a refill, the user puts the packaging back in the Loop bag for free pickup; Loop then sanitizes the packaging to be refilled by the brand and shipped back to the user.   Kroger and Walgreens in the U.S, as well as Carrefour and Tesco in Europe, are Loop’s current retail partners. They help sell and distribute the Loop platform, with consumers signing up for Loop through the retailers.   A key element to the model is the brand’s involvement with the packaging. While Loop helps brands develop containers that can be used hundreds of times, can be sanitized and are strong enough to withstand the frequent shipping, they remain the brand’s asset.   Nestle, for example, owns the sleek, steel Haagen-Dazs container it developed for Loop, which Marquez says is a way to show that sustainability can be delivered in upscale, premium wrapping. The stainless steel container is etched with the familiar Haagen-Dazs tapestry, carries double lining for extra cooling and has an easy twist-off top, she explains.   “Loop is encouraging participating brands to create durable and reusable packaging designs that are more visually appealing,” says Rudert at Clorox. “The hope is that consumers will keep products on their countertops because they are ‘show off’ worthy.”   Clorox teamed with Loop for its pilot launch, testing a container for Clorox disinfecting wipes and a bottle for Hidden Valley Original Ranch dressing. (Glad food protection products are in the works.) Other Loop packaging examples include a simple, white container for Mars pet food; a Nature’s Path granola jar; and P&G’s range of chic steel or glass bottles for Tide, Crest mouthwash and other products.   “A lot of times, innovation in sustainability is perceived to start with these smaller, grassroots brands, and we keep sustainability on the fringes and we target that eco-friendly person,” Loop’s Rossi says. “What’s exciting about Loop is we’re trying to make sustainability irresistible to everyone. We’re working with big national brands and big national retailers, because for us to have the positive environmental impact that we want to have, sustainability can’t be kept to the fringes of society. It needs to be in everyone’s house.” https://assets1.consumergoods.com/styles/content_sm/s3/2019-09/Nestle-Haagen_Dazs_Lifestyle-TEASER_0.jpg?itok=rkO8tmbw

Going Forward

  Rossi’s somewhat Utopian vision is to see Loop operating nationwide, in every ZIP code, within five years. In the meantime, he encourages brands to think about incorporating more recycling into the design process. For example, if a detergent brand has decided to use “number 2” plastic (one of the most recyclable materials) but designs it in black, that’s a color that recycling machines often don’t pick up.   The Rochester Institute of Technology has been studying sustainability in packaging since the 1980s, says Dan Johnson, professor and chair of the school’s department of packaging science. Its efforts take a full supply chain view, examining issues such as transportation energy and product damage, not just material use and formats.   “Brands need to remember that not all successes in sustainability need to be customer-focused,” Johnson says, adding that consumer behavior around sustainability can be a bit of a wild card. “A good deal of the wins are only detectable by packaging geeks like our faculty, but [those actions] may be the largest contributor to meeting corporate sustainability goals around packaging.”   Johnson is inspired by some of the brand activity out there today, but warns that “economic and technical challenges in the recycling process are creating a shortage of both quality recycled raw material and credible outlets for collected recyclables. Thankfully, this gap in technology is beginning to be addressed by advances in areas like chemical recycling and advanced mechanical sortation technology.”   Back on the consumer-facing front lines, Nielsen’s McKinley says brands must stay true to who they are when considering their sustainable packaging designs. “As you act on collective sustainability needs in an authentic way for your brand, leverage the tools you already have: everyday analytics, innovation testing, consumer resonance and more.”   Clorox’s Rudert adds that brands and retailers should continue to raise greater consumer awareness on the urgent need for more sustainable commerce models. “When consumers are willing to pay for these products, companies will be incentivized to invest in the innovations needed to create sustainable change.”

What happened to recycling?

We used to be able to sell our waste, but now nobody wants it – some places are even shipping it back to us   By Morf Morford Tacoma Daily Index   It would be easy to make the argument that people have always recycled.   Who doesn’t have parents or grandparents who save or re-use jars, containers or egg cartons?   How many of us remember a childhood where it was common to pick up or return soft drink bottles to a local grocery store?   Anyone still have milk delivered in a box on your front porch?   You can still buy milk at a few stores in glass bottles that can be returned for a deposit.   And how many of us, especially in Tacoma, religiously bring reusable bags with us each time we go grocery shopping?   And what about big stores like Costco that reuse boxes instead of using shopping bags?   Since so many of us have recycling as an almost ingrained habit, why is it a problem?   Why is garbage ending up in our oceans and waterways at record numbers, choking fish and wildlife and even, at the micro level entering our food chain in everything from salt (1*) to salmon?  (2*)   Some even say that nano-particles of plastic are in our blood.   You would not think picking up after ourselves would be so difficult.   And most of us would never imagine that so much of our garbage not only is not recycled but ends up in our food and water.   Even most of what is, at least by most of us, recycled, ends up in the waste stream. And like any stream, the waste stream keeps moving.   Some companies – and some entire countries – are taking on recycling in a serious way.  (3*)   And they need to – especially when it comes to plastics. By several estimates, if we continue our current practices, by weight there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.   Only about 5% of plastic is recycled. The rest ends up just about anywhere.   There are a couple of problems with plastics that set them apart from any other garbage; first, they are just about everywhere – and on (or in) everything from shoes to food and drinks. Ever try going a day without handling plastic products? I can’t do it.   Another problem is that many of these plastic products are so convenient that we can’t imagine life without them.   What would replace plastic produce bags for example? Or shrink wrap on all kinds of products from fresh produce to industrial and building products?   Yet another problem is that there are many kinds of plastic designed for very specific uses – and that require a completely different recycle strategy.   Toothpaste tubes for example, are very different from other types of plastic. We all use them, but what should we do with them?   It turns out that Colgate has a program to reuse all tooth related products from toothpaste tubes to toothbrushes and floss containers. You can find more about their program here – https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/colgate#how-it-works.   On a nationwide level, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland have overall recycling rates above 50%.   The USA, nationwide has a recycle rate of about 35%.   If you want to check out a film documentary on the ever-presence of plastic, you can use most public libraries to see one here.   Better than recycling is the re-use of containers. Some stores allow you to bring in and use your own containers. Here’s a partial list of stores in Washington – https://www.litterless.com/bulk-food-guide/washington.   We used to sell our plastic waste to several countries, but that was when we were a bit more diligent in our screening of what went into our recycle bin. Now, no one wants our garbage, and some, like Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines are even sending it back.   To see more on what happened to recycling and what to do about it, I recommend this article (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/17/recycled-plastic-america-global-crisis) or this one (https://www.homepreservationmanual.com/who-killed-recycling-in-america/).     To keep updates on Tacoma recycling policies, keep an eye on this website -https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/environmentalservices/solid_waste/recycling.   When it comes to paper for example, you can recycle newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, clean paper bags (handles are OK; remove receipts), white and colored paper (lined, copier, computer; staples are ok), mail and envelopes (any color; window envelopes are ok)   Do not include: Paper towels; napkins; coffee cups; paper plates; wet, greasy, or soiled paper; paper with wax or plastic coating – these are not recyclable and should go in the garbage.   In short, do what your momma always told you – clean up after yourself.

13 products that will help you switch to a plastic-free life

In this day and age, many of us are hoping to adopt a minimalist lifestyle by owning less and, therefore, producing less waste. For many, the single biggest waste category is single-use plastic products. Although some are safe to use, a number of plastic products are actually extremely harmful to the environment—and ultimately, to our health when they break down into microplastic particles.         cid:image001.png@01D57906.6741D530 At first, I was anxious about the thought of going plastic-free—as someone who keeps her schedule tight, I didn’t have the confidence that I could always remember to bring a reusable cup or a glass straw with me at all times. But with some creativity and reliable products, making the switch was easier than I thought. Here’s what I used.

1. A set of reusable stretch lids to replace cling wraps 

cid:image002.png@01D57906.6741D530 I have to admit I’ve long used a ton of cling wrap because of its convenience. But when I came to the realization that those cling wraps are terrible for the environment, I felt guilty. Thankfully, I found these reusable silicone stretch lids that can seal my cans and jars air-tight. To reuse, just rinse them under water. There are six sizes to choose from, which covers almost all typical household needs, from proofing bread dough overnight to keeping leftovers separated from other foods in the fridge.

2. Our favorite reusable straws that you’ll never forget to bring along

Our favorite reusable straws, the Hummingbird, ranked top in our tests. Our favorite reusable straws, the Hummingbird glass straws are great alternatives to the single-serve plastic straws that are typically offered at restaurants. Although eco-conscious coffee shops are replacing plastic straws with paper ones, they still have an impact on  the environment and they easily break in half. The Hummingbird straw is lightweight and easy-to-wash, which means I can carry it anywhere.

3. A reusable sandwich bag that also holds snacks on the go 

The lunchskins sandwich bags are a great alternative to Ziplocs. A classic PB&J sandwich sitting in one of those single-use Ziploc bags just seems sadder than one wrapped in our favorite reusable sandwich bags. The Lunchskins have different patterns to choose from and they’re all absolutely adorable. This bag is the perfect size for packing sandwiches without the need to squish anything—no matter how thick your sandwich is. They’re dishwasher safe but also extremely easy to clean if you prefer hand-washing them. The Monbento lunch box is the only thing i bring to work for lunch. Packing lunch doesn’t have to mean a sad salad. Featuring a two-tiered design, this Monbento lunch box lets you bring a number of cold and hot dishes to work or school, making lunch more enjoyable. Plus, there are options to add a stackable cutlery set, sauce cups that fit in the boxes without taking up too much space, and cute lunch bags that make them easy to carry around. All materials in the Monbento boxes are biodegradable plastic or silicone. 5. Top-rated glass food storage containers for grocery shopping The Pyrex food storage containers are our favorite in the roundup. One of the biggest challenges to living plastic-free is dodging all the “plastic traps” at grocery stores. Meat-packaging, single-use produce bags, and all sorts of pantry items made me feel like achieving my plastic-free week would be mission-impossible. However, I found an easy solution when I started to bring my own containers instead of picking up pre-packaged cuts. The butcher will subtract the container tare to get to the gross weight of the meat, which is done on an electronic scale.   In our testing of the best food storage containers, we fell in love with these glassware containers that are perfect for keeping food safe and fresh. They’re not only a great alternative to the grocery store plastic packaging, but also perfect for meal-prepping.

6. An organic cotton mesh bag that’s better than store plastic bags

ThIS organic cotton mesh bag holds up to a few pounds of fruits and vegetables. Although an increasing number of stores have been switching to biodegradable plastic produce bags, I’ve found they’re way too flimsy to hold anything substantial. One time I put an ear of corn into a store-provided bag and the cob immediately fell through it. This organic cotton mesh bag can hold up to three pounds of fruits and vegetables, and its stretchy material makes sure that it can fit large items.

7. A produce bag that catches small items 

For produce that are smaller in size, these bags can help. While it’s easy to fit a butternut squash or three large tomatoes in a mesh bag, small vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts and green beans, can’t be securely held in cotton mesh bags. These reusable produce bags are lightweight, featuring tiny breathable mesh that allows some necessary airflow to prolong the lifespan of fresh produce.

8. Our favorite water bottle that helped me ditch single-use bottled water  

Our favorite water bottle, the Hydro Flask, keeps the water cool. If you’re hoping to break the bottled water habit, the Hydro Flask can help. Our favorite water bottle, the Hydro Flask scored high marks in a range of tests: It’s portable, versatile, durable, and well-designed. It’s the top performer in our temperature tests, too, keeping ice largely unmelted well past the 24-hour mark. Its patented double-wall vacuum enables the bottle to keep water cold, keep hot beverages hot, and prevents condensation from forming on the outside, keeping it slip-free, and safe to store in bags alongside papers and laptops.

9. A stainless steel travel mug to keep my drinks warm

For people who like their caffeinated drinks warm, the Zojirushi mug is perfect. Before I pledged to go plastic-free, I had been a loyal fan of our favorite travel mug, the Zojirushi stainless steel mug, because of its impeccable insulation and lightweight design. Whether I was on a long commute or I brought it on a hiking trip, this inexpensive mug kept my drinks at the desired temperature at all times. The trim build also allows it to seamlessly slip into cup holders and bags.

10. A set of mason jars to replace most household plastic uses

A set of mason jars can be versatile. Mason jars are a durable and reliable alternative to using Ziploc bags for storing dry pantry goods. Additionally, they’re so versatile that you can use them for canning, storing jam, and making desserts. Bring these mason jars on grocery shopping trips, and you’ll find the store employees happily helping you fill the jars with nuts and cereal.

11. Solid bar shampoo and conditioners that are full of organic ingredients

These solid bar shampoo and conditioner can keep your hair clean and smooth. I sometimes fail to notice how much plastic waste I produce outside of my kitchen. In fact, I never thought about the environmental impact I had caused by using bottled shampoo and conditioner. Using all organic, natural herbs, Aspen Kay Naturals is able to provide something more eco-friendly than the liquid version of haircare. Unlike the more common brands we’ve seen in stores, this shampoo is 100% soap-free, which means its gentle on the hair and scalp as no harsh cleaners, detergent, or silicone is included in the formula.

12. Beeswax wraps to keep produce fresh 

Bee's wax wraps are amazing for keeping produce fresh. To stop using plastic wraps for half-cut lemons, onions, and other produce, I started putting these hand-crafted beeswax wraps to the test. Even after multiple uses, the beeswax wraps excellently retained the freshness of the foods I wrapped in them. They’re also odor-free, which is better than their plastic counterparts.

13. Use composting bin instead of plastic trash bags 

Compost bins can help you reduce waste. Much of the produce we toss away each year ends up in landfills, which produce a large amount of the greenhouse gas  methane. To reduce the use of trash bags, I started composting the daily food scraps, finger nails, hair, and tissue paper, which are otherwise destined to non-recyclable waste. With a little research, I was able to properly compost my waste without creating an unpleasant smell or attracting small animals. Plus, if done right, I can use the compost to enrich my soil for growing fruits and vegetables in a few months.  

What should I do with the plastic I swapped out? 

  I started researching what to do with the plastic packaging I’ve just swapped out. TerraCycle, a free plastic recycling platform, offers instructions for every type of recycling work. The site lists a growing number of participating businesses that allows me to send the cleaned, recyclable packaging back, free of charge.   For example, if I accumulate a good amount of Barilla pasta packaging, I can sign up the Barilla program and get a free shipping label to return the emptied bags and boxes. Once they receive the packaging, I’ll get reward points that can be used toward donating to non-profit organizations or schools of my choice. If you don’t want to separate the packaging, TerraCycle offers Zero Waste Box (purchase required) to recycle almost any type of waste.  

My final takeaway    

  Admittedly, there were still areas that I could use some improvements while attempting to achieve a plastic-free life: I brushed my teeth with plastic toothbrush heads and used makeup remover wipes wrapped in plastic packaging. These instances serve as a reminder of how ubiquitous plastic products are in our daily lives, and how challenging it can be to cut them out completely. To live completely plastic-free may still be a long shot for me, but it’s no longer some far-fetched, unachievable idea.

RB, TerraCycle partner to recycle health, hygiene products

Global health and hygiene company Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB), which makes popular consumer brands including Mucinex and Enfamil and is headquartered in the U.K., has announced it entered into a partnership with TerraCycle, Trenton, New Jersey, to offer consumers with a simple, free way to recycle their consumer goods packaging. According to a news release from TerraCycle, the RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program will accept packaging waste from all brands of vitamins and supplements, upper respiratory, sexual health and well-being, infant formula and child nutrition, personal care items and foot care items.   The Healthy You, Healthy Planet partnership with TerraCycle to recycle all health and nutrition packaging is the next step in achieving RB’s global commitments to support a more sustainable future, which also includes reducing product packaging and eliminating waste through innovation, according to a news release from TerraCycle.   “At RB, we know how important protecting the future of our planet is to our consumers so we’ve partnered with TerraCycle to make it simple for anyone to take an active interest in the environment and recycle their packaging waste,” says Nitish Kapoor, executive vice president of RB North America Health Brands. “People buy millions of RB health products from brands like Enfamil and Mucinex every week, so offering free, national recyclability for the packaging is simply the right thing to do. This program is part of RB's ongoing commitment to creating a circular economy, which also includes making 100 percent of our packaging recyclable or reusable, while using at least 25 percent recycled plastic content in our packaging by 2025.”   Through the RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program, packaging waste from the following categories will be recycled, including:  
  • vitamins, minerals and supplements packaging, such as blister packs, tubes, bottles, cans, boxes, caps and lids
  • sexual health and well-being packaging, such as tubes, bottles, wrappers, cans, boxes, caps and lids;
  • cough, cold, flu, sore throat and nasal care packaging, such as bottles, tubes, spray bottles, blister packs, caps and lids;
  • infant formula and child nutrition packaging, such as tubs, bottles, wrappers, cans, boxes, caps and lids; and,
  • personal care and foot care packaging, such as tubes, bottles, caps, lids and other plastic packaging.
  From vitamin bottles and caps to infant formula tubs, TerraCycle will clean and melt the collected product packaging into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. The RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, day care, fitness facility, health care office, office or community organization.   “At TerraCycle, our mission has always been to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and its recycling initiatives like the RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program that drive awareness of single-use packaging epidemic. These programs elicit positive change in the consumer and ultimately lead to the preservation of our environment for future generations to come,” says Tom Szaky, TerraCycle CEO.   TerraCycle financial results   Trenton-based TerraCycle US Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of international recycling leader TerraCycle Inc., has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2019, ending June 30. The company’s revenue rose to $11.2 million, representing a 16 percent year-over-year growth over second quarter of 2018 revenues of $9.5 million, TerraCycle reports in a news release. Net income more than doubled to $1.8 million, marking 67 percent year-over-year growth over the second quarter of 2018’s net income of $603,000.   During the first two quarters of 2019, the company surpassed its prior year’s total number of new contracts and new programs. Additionally, the company reports that it’s continuing to invest in its workforce, increasing its U.S.-based staff by 10 percent over the prior year.   In addition, TerraCycle’s Regulation A capital raise is approaching $10 million, the company reports.  TerraCycle has attracted investment in its Regulation A offering from ITOCHU Corp., a 100-year-old, $50 billion revenue Japanese trading company. ITOCHU, a large broker of plastic, will work with TerraCycle to expand the market for postconsumer plastics and in particular will develop and sell plastics that come from generally nonrecycled waste streams.   "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,” says 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.”   Using third-party logistics and facilities, TerraCycle converts collected waste into raw materials that are sold to and used by manufacturers to create new products. Examples of waste streams collected and recycled by TerraCycle include chip bags, coffee capsules, cigarette butts, oral care, beauty care, writing utensils and more than 100 other waste streams in the U.S., TerraCycle reports in a news release on its second-quarter earnings.