TERRACYCLE NEWS

ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®

Make Your Post-Covid Office Return as Easy, Eco-Friendly as Possible

TRENTON, NJ -- As the United States turns a corner with the pandemic, workers are being asked to abandon their quarantine bubbles and return to the workplaces they left well over a year ago. However, many are returning to very different office environments as companies trash now unnecessary office equipment in response to either economic-related personnel cuts or employees’ widespread adoption of remote or hybrid schedules, as 44 percent of total U.S. workers are, according to Statista. Just as TerraCycle provided innovative recycling solutions for the surplus of otherwise unrecyclable personal protective equipment (PPE) produced during the pandemic, the international recycling leader is back again with convenient solutions to address this new influx of unwanted office supplies. TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes provide a convenient recycling solution for nearly every conceivable piece of office waste which are generally not recyclable through most towns’ conventional recycling facilities. When placed in high-traffic areas like breakrooms or kitchens, Zero Waste Boxes provide psychic income to eco-minded employees and deliver an environmentally-friendly alternative to landfilling in the form of recycling — all while discouraging clutter throughout any newly renovated office. To recycle common forms of unwanted office supplies, TerraCycle offers the following Zero Waste Boxes:
Office Supplies Zero Waste Box – to recycle tape dispensers, desk organizers, card and document filers, binders, calendars, labels, staplers, hole punchers, dividers, paper cutters, correction supplies, pens/pencils/markers, fasteners, paper clips, staples, binder clips and sticker and label sheet backing. Not a solution for e-waste like electronic staplers and label making machines. Office Separation Zero Waste Box – to recycle art supplies, books and magazines, eye wear, cleaning accessories, fabrics and clothing, interior home furnishings, media storage, office supplies, paper packaging, pet products (non-food), plastic packaging, plastic cards and shipping materials. Media Storage Zero Waste Box – To recycle any object or device capable of storing data (ie. audio, video) in analog or digital format including records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs, Blu Ray discs, floppy disks, memory sticks and external hard drives. E-Waste Zero Waste Box – To recycle any household or office e-waste including home phones, cell phones, computer cables and accessories, keyboards, VCR/DVD players, hand-held computers, digital music players, pagers, radios, cameras, video recorders, TVs, laptops, desktop computers and monitors, printers and scanners, digital cameras, copiers, typewriters, fax machines, stereos, tuners and turntables and receivers and speakers. When full, the boxes can be returned to TerraCycle for processing and the collected waste will be cleaned, melted and remolded to make new products.
TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, created the Zero Waste Box program to provide solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste that cannot be recycled through TerraCycle’s brand-sponsored, national recycling programs or via standard municipal recycling. “No matter if you’re implementing a hybrid schedule or if you’re planning to return to the office in full-force this fall, our workplaces will likely begin to look a lot different compared to how we left them,” says Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle. “TerraCycle’s goal is to make this transition as easy and as environmentally-friendly as possible by giving your business the power to divert waste from landfills through our turn-key Zero Waste recycling solutions.” TerraCycle works with major manufacturers and retailers to recycle products and packaging that would normally be thrown away. To learn more about TerraCycle and its innovative recycling solutions, visit www.terracycle.com.

Beauty Industry Attempts Shift Toward Sustainable Packaging

Beauty brands and retailers are partnering with recycling programs and banning single-use products as consumers become more conscious of sustainability. image.png Beauty brands are looking to shift away from traditional packaging toward biodegradable, plastic-free and refillable options as consumer demand for sustainability grows more intense. Increasingly turning to biodegradable, plastic-free or refillable options for products, brands are pivoting toward limiting their waste. Retailer Credo Beauty upped the ante last year by banning all single-use products, including sample packettes and sheet masks. Nordstrom has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty beauty products, while Ulta Beauty has partnered with TerraCycle subsidiary Loop as a part of its conscious beauty program. Brands like Burt's Bees, Ren Clean Skincare and The Body Shop have also partnered with Loop. Experts say consumers are responding increasingly to alternate ways of receiving - and storing - beauty products. Credo credited the pandemic for the shift in attitude. "There has been a total behavioral reset from a customer standpoint, and they really want to know information, and they want to be empowered with information," said Annie Jackson, cofounder and chief executive officer of Credo Beauty. "If we were having a conversation with a customer that you can just throw [packaging] in your blue bin, she would be, like, 'Why are you bugging me?' Today, she really wants to know, and she feels empowered by that information." When the retailer first banned single-use products, which include single-use sampling materials and products such as makeup remover wipes, peel pads and sheet masks, Jackson said collaboration with brands was imperative. "Whenever we do something like that, we have calls with about 80 percent of our brand community, and we come together and share resources," she said. As a result, Credo cofounded Pact, a nonprofit beauty recycling program with fellow industry stakeholders like Hudson's Bay, Mob Beauty and Element Packaging. The program educates consumers on which pieces of their packaging can be recycled, and how. One of Mob Beauty's cofounders, Victor Casale, said reception has been strong. "On Earth Day, we launched our membership program. We have been approached by every major retailer in the beauty space in North America, and we have been approached by about 100 brands," Casale said. When Casale cofounded Mob Beauty, all of the products were designed around their refillable palettes, made of PCR plastic. "If you're trying to change your packaging or change course, it's easier to start a brand than to restage one. It's really expensive for young, indie brands," said Alisha Gallagher, cofounder of Mob Beauty. "We have a commitment that if we don't have a sustainable packaging solution, we won't launch the product." Gallagher posited that refillable packaging was more sustainable in the economical sense, too. "When you're buying into the refill system, you're actually getting better value long-term for the product you're purchasing," she said. "At least half of the cost of a single-use disposable product is the packaging that you throw away, and then repurchase. Getting that out of our system allows us to put in the expensive, PCR materials that allow the product to be of value, and sell if not for the same, then less than the competitor." Even brands whose bread and butter comes from single-use products are clueing into consumers' changing needs. The clinical skin care brand 111Skin, which was founded by plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides, earlier this year launched its first multiuse mask lines to accompany its cult-favorite sheet mask assortment in a move away from the single-use format. The line, which includes six products that range in price from $135 to $150, is reflective of turning tides with more sophisticated beauty consumers. "When we first started 10 years ago, sustainability was not on the forefront, it was more about the quality of the product," said Eva Alexandridis, CEO of 111Skin. "Our clients are very in-tune with what is sustainable," Alexandridis continued. "We keep trying to innovate with our paper packaging. There are clients out there that would not want to use single-use products, and others are OK if it is biodegradable and done in a sustainable fashion. All of our biocellulose masks are biodegradable and fully recyclable, and we want to give choices to our clients."

No butts about it: BBWC helps to rid Belfast of cigarette litter

Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition's environmental efforts include collecting and recycling toxic cigarette butts to reduce pollution in city streets and, ultimately, in Belfast Bay. image.png BELFAST — Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition continues to bring in the butts in its efforts to rid city streets of the world’s most littered item. According to TerraCycle, its partner in the process, BBWC collected 2.15 pounds of cigarette butts in August alone, “which by our calculations amounts to 2,150 butts,” a company spokesperson said. BBWC has teamed up with TerraCycle, a leader in repurposing complex waste streams, to recycle the toxic litter.
The butts come primarily from the 14 “Butt Butler” receptacles BBWC has placed throughout the city of Belfast, making it easy for community members to divert cigarette waste from the community’s streets and ecosystems. This latest shipment to Terracycle is in addition to the 95,400 cigarette butts collected in May, together with other refuse, during the annual Keeping Belfast Maine Beautiful cleanup event. BBWC packed and mailed several boxes of the collected butts to TerraCycle the next day. After being shipped to TerraCycle, which is based in New Jersey, the waste collected through the BBWC “Butt Busters” program is processed into plastic pellets for use in a variety of recycled products, including shipping pallets, ashtrays and park benches. The remaining tobacco is composted. “Cigarette butts surround the street drains which carry them directly into the bay, poisoning all living things there,” said Debbie Murphy, a Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition representative. “Also, the unsightliness of the streets with this litter is disgusting.” Cigarette filters are made of a plastic that absorbs nicotine, heavy metals and various chemicals that are the products of smoking tobacco and the additives in a cigarette. Around the world, people litter more than 4.5 trillion cigarette butts every year. Depending on conditions, it can take anywhere from 18 months to 10 years for a cigarette filter to decompose. Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is trying to make a dent in the number of cigarette butts left behind across the local ecosystems with its participation in TerraCycle’s cigarette recycling program. BBWC is dedicated to conservation and stewardship of the natural and public resources of the Belfast Bay watershed through its involvement in various informational programs that advocate for protection of the environment. TerraCycle has collected hundreds of millions of cigarette butts globally. Additionally, through its various recycling programs, it has engaged over 202 million people across 20 countries to collect and recycle billions of pieces of waste that were otherwise non-recyclable, all while raising over $44 million dollars for charities.

City of Trenton and TerraCycle Celebrate Property Transfer for Redevelopment

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Trenton, N.J. – Mayor W. Reed Gusciora announced today the transfer of two vacant city lots on New York Ave to TerraCycle, a global waste innovation company located in 22 countries that is looking to expand its operations in the Capital City. A closing ceremony took place Aug. 30, 2021, right outside TerraCycle headquarters in Trenton. Mayor Gusciora was joined by TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky, City Council Vice President Marge Caldwell-Wilson, Greater Trenton CEO George Sowa, and the new Trenton Director of Housing and Economic Development C. Andre Daniels. After growing rapidly during the pandemic and adding 150 jobs, TerraCycle is seeking additional space for its expanding team. As a major local employer, the City of Trenton has worked with TerraCycle to transfer two vacant lots on New York Ave adjacent to TerraCycle headquarters so it can continue to grow in the Capital City. A resolution authorizing the transaction was previously approved by City Council in September 2020. “TerraCycle has always been serious about its commitment to the Capital City, and its vision of repurposing recyclable materials worldwide speaks directly to Trenton’s industrial past,” said Mayor Gusciora. “This is one of many ways Trenton is working with its business community to help return underutilized properties to the tax rolls and promote further employment and economic activity.” “We’ve been proud to call Trenton our home for almost two decades and by working with the city and Mayor Gusciora, we look forward to continuing to do so for decades to come,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle Founder and CEO. “Anyone looking to locate their business in the Northeast should absolutely consider Trenton as a place to put down their roots.” “I am very excited about the expansion of this innovative Green waste management company that has a strong commitment to the City of Trenton,” said Council Vice President Caldwell-Wilson. “I hope that they can continue to expand their facility in Trenton’s North Ward. TerraCycle hires local, is committed to the community, and welcomes our artists to apply their talents on their building. These are the types of employers that we need to invest in our city.” “TerraCycle is a global leader in sustainability that remains committed to Trenton and the surrounding communities,” said George Sowa, CEO of Greater Trenton.  “TerraCycle does well by doing good and the world is a better and more sustainable place as a result.” About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with manufacturers to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.

Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 9/1/2021

By Pete Oneglia | September 1, 2021, 12:01 am | in News
The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be on break for the Labor Day weekend Friday through Monday, and will be back on Tuesday. The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 951,803 cases and 24,151 confirmed fatalities (and 140,163 probable cases and 2,731 probable fatalities) as of Tuesday (an increase of 1,642 confirmed cases, 610 probable cases, and 19 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.11. There have been 11,511,492 COVID-19 vaccinations administered (with 5,584,996 people fully vaccinated). Governor Murphy directed flags to half-staff today in honor of the late Nicholas Felice, former Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. The Murphy Administration expanded distribution of the anti-overdose drug naloxone and launched the NJ Overdose Data Dashboard. Acting AG Bruck announced the indictments of two bus company owners for providing false information to school districts. Rep. Gottheimer sent a letter to NY Governor Hochul voicing opposition to NY’s proposed congestion pricing tax. Kean University forged an education partnership with the NY Jets. Commuters throughout New Jersey are slowly starting to return to work outside the home, and NJ TRANSIT wants to reassure its customers that during the pandemic it has consistently been making strides in the way riders can safely, comfortably, and efficiently transition back to mass transit. (sponsored content) ICYMI: Murphy says school mask mandate isn’t a ‘polite suggestion’; school, state employees will be required to get vaccinated; Afghan refugees will be coming to New Jersey; Passaic Surrogate Toledo criminally charged; Booker addressed the Afghan crisis; demonstrators protested outside Gottheimer’s office
NJDSC Chairman Jones is bringing in House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to a breakfast event honoring CD10 Rep. Payne, who’s gearing up for a primary battle next year with progressive Imani Oakley. NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette has COVID-19, according to Politico NJ. The Murphy Administration fired back at allegations made by former NJDOH official Neuwirth in new court documents, according to Politico NJ. NJ101.5 radio host Bill Spadea launched the non-profit ‘The Common Cause Club’, according to SaveJersey. ICYMI: NJCA released endorsements; Ciattarelli reasserts line of attack over the Murphy Administration’s ‘serial mistreatment of women‘; Murphy throws elbow at Ciattarelli; Machinists endorsed Murphy; NOW-NJ made endorsements; Guardian was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans.
The state’s Redistricting Commission will hold its first organizational meeting today, as the high-stakes process of redrawing the congressional districts begins. Several Democratic Senators have begun pushing Governor Murphy to utilize federal funds to offset the coming UI payroll tax increase. Assemblywoman Jasey called on county colleges to implement COVID-19 vaccine or testing mandates. The NJ Conservation Foundation announced new leadership. Food and Water Watch applauded Woodbridge and North Brunswick for adopting bold clean energy plans. Reformers are eying the state Supreme Court in a push for shorter prison terms for juvenile offenders, according to NJ Monitor. Download and read Insider NJ’s 2021 Insider 100: Policymakers publication. ICYMI: Murphy took action on legislation; Murphy announced McWhite CRC Diversity officer; Murphy announced Giblin as deputy chief counsel
Insider NJ Compliance Corner: Political Law Update for Banks, Utilities, Insurance Companies and Regulated Industries The Corporation for New Jersey Local Media will launch an annual Byrne-Kean dinner to benefit non-profit journalism. Steve Adubato and Dr. Ben Dworkin discusses citizenship, voting, and policy issues facing New Jersey (video). 50 years after President Kennedy appealed to self-sacrifice, the politicization of facemasks and other measures has impacts on both national and state politics. New Jersey’s blue state status doesn’t inhibit segregation in schools. The Christie-Murphy commonality in facing extraordinary external, devastating threats.
In Chatham Township, a key issue in the contested committee race revolves around the Nazis and Elie Wiesel.   In Phillipsburg, Council President McVey resigned following ethics charges that he misused the 911 system, according to Lehigh Valley Live; the GOP has already tapped Peter Marino to replace McVey on the November ballot. Local Democrats applauded the resignation announcement as the ‘right thing to do’, but called for further resignations. In Jersey City, Councilman Solomon released his Safe Streets plan. In Farmingdale, a grand jury declined to indict an officer in a fatal police encounter. In Trenton, the city and TerraCycle announced the transfer of two vacant lots for redevelopment. In Bayonne, Councilwoman Nadrowski called on Hudson County to drop eminent domain proceedings relating to Bayonne Medical Center, according to Hudson County View. In Bound Brook, the town may remove the fire company from the fire department, according to MyCentralJersey. In Denville, the town was named the best family-friendly suburb in the nation, according to the Daily Record. In Emerson, work at a development begins as lawsuits continue, according to the Bergen Record. In Middletown, schools have a delayed opening after mold was found, according to the Asbury Park Press. In Seaside Heights, the town received $1M from the state to tear down old buildings, according to the Asbury Park Press. In Wayne, an arbiter says the town can mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees and police, according to NorthJersey.com. In West Caldwell, the local Democratic candidate were endorsed by Rep. Sherrill.
Insider NJ reporter Fred Snowflack writes ‘Ciattarelli Banking on One-Issue Voters‘ Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg writes ‘The America that Sirhan Wrought‘ Insider NJ columnist Bob Hennelly writes ‘Who Lost Afghanistan? Did We Ever Really Have it? Three NJ Reps Knew the Answer a Decade Ago‘ Insider NJ reporter Christine Sloan writes ‘Sherrill Eager to Flag Cases of Vulnerable Afghan Women Leaders‘ and ‘The Long-Persecuted Hazara People Need Special Status‘ and ‘The World Must Rally to the Cause of Afghan Women‘ AROUND THE WEB: Murphy says census numbers not yet ‘official’ Colleen O’Dea, NJ Spotlight The 2020 census redistricting data New Jersey received earlier this month gives the two bipartisan commissions charged with redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries clear missions: to reshape districts around population growth that occurred over the last decade, which was almost exclusively in urban areas and their surrounding suburbs. Chris Christie set to return to same stage where he was once begged to run for president Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Nearly a decade after a woman tearfully begged former Gov. Chris Christie to run for president after a speech he gave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Christie is set to return. Murphy teases possible vaccine mandate for N.J. school kids Matt Rooney, Save Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared that vaccine mandates were “on the table” for students during Tuesday’s presser, Save Jerseyans, a step beyond the current mask mandate. Princeton University releases report on the handling of human remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing Krystal Knapp, Planet Princeton Princeton University officials have released a 56-page report on the handling of human remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing. Davis comes out in support of Cunningham’s catalytic converter bill after rash of Bayonne thefts John Heinis, Hudson County View Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has come out in support of state Senator Sandra Cunningham’s (D-31) bill to limit the sale of catalytic converters after a rash of thefts in the Peninsula City. Under the British system, President Biden would be toast | Mulshine Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger As a loyal American it pains me to admit it, but the British press does a better job of covering our politics than we do. Murphy’s mask mandate for schools draws some parental opposition Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight Most of New Jersey’s schools are reopening for full in-person instruction next week. But Gov. Phil Murphy’s order that children should wear face masks on their return to school is a source of some conflict. Most parents support the idea of kids being masked in school. But opposition has been voiced in some school districts. Residents urged to destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, as 5 more NJ counties quarantined William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record Five more New Jersey counties were added to the state Department of Agriculture quarantine zone for the spotted lanternfly on Monday. Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex and Union were added to a list of eight previously quarantined counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset and Warren. Want proof that Medicare is broken? Nearly 20% of American seniors have no teeth. | Moran Tom Moran, Star-Ledger When Franklin Roosevelt signed the law establishing Social Security in 1935, it denied benefits to farmworkers and domestic servants, where Black workers were concentrated, along with seamen, doctors, lawyers, ministers, and anyone who worked in the non-profit sector. From Ground Zero to Guantanamo, Iraq and Malaysia: The search for legacy of 9/11 | Kelly Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com That morning, I stood in silence on a dock in Jersey City and watched the brown smoke blot the golden sun and smear the cloudless blue sky. Across the choppy, gray Hudson, the twin towers of the World Trade Center had just fallen. A massive beam, shaped like a trident spear, had plunged into the concrete façade of a nearby building. News helicopters streaked overhead. Ferries dodged each other as they rushed to bring survivors to safety. Many refusing the vaccine in NJ are not antivaxxers (Opinion) Dennis Malloy, NJ1015 It’s become a pejorative to call someone an “antivaxxer.” It’s meant to demean and indicate that the person is too stupid or delusional to believe in the science of vaccines. You’ll find that most people refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccines are fully vaccinated against deadly diseases and vaccinate their children with the required vaccines. For hospitality sector crushed by hiring crisis, there’s big sigh of relief — and a little hope Tom Bergeron, roi-nj.com When Dana Lancellotti got word that Gov. Phil Murphy was going to announce the state would not continue the $300 supplemental unemployment bonus, she admitted she breathed a small size of relief. As head of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association, she said the extra benefit has played a part — perhaps just a small part — in the industry’s struggle to find much-needed workers as it tries to rebound. Congratulations: The 2021 NJBIZ Forty Under 40 NJBIZ Staff If 50 is the new 40, then the honorees for the NJBIZ Forty Under 40 Awards are really just getting started, and what a way to kick things off. Chosen by an independent panel of judges following an open nomination process, the individuals recognized on this year’s list contribute to their own industries – spanning health care, finance, sports, law, education and more – as leaders and founders, partners, executives and above all trailblazers. And, their achievements and continuing efforts are also felt throughout the Garden State community at large.

TerraCycle Marks Trenton Expansion

Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora has announced the transfer of two vacant city lots on New York Avenue to TerraCycle, a global waste innovation company located in 22 countries that is looking to expand its operations in Trenton.
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Greater Trenton CEO George Sowa, Council Vice President Marge Caldwell-Wilson, Mayor Reed Gusciora, TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky, Housing and Economic Development Director C. Andre Daniels at the ceremony marking the transfer of two city-owned lots.
A closing ceremony took place August 30 outside TerraCycle headquarters in Trenton. Gusciora was joined by TerraCycle founder and CEO Tom Szaky, City Council Vice President Marge Caldwell-Wilson, Greater Trenton CEO George Sowa, and the new Trenton Director of Housing and Economic Development C. Andre Daniels.
After growing rapidly during the pandemic and adding 150 jobs, TerraCycle is seeking additional space for its expanding team. As a major local employer, the City of Trenton has worked with TerraCycle to transfer two vacant lots on New York Avenue adjacent to TerraCycle headquarters so it can continue to grow in the Capital City. A resolution authorizing the transaction was previously approved by City Council in September 2020. “TerraCycle has always been serious about its commitment to the Capital City, and its vision of repurposing recyclable materials worldwide speaks directly to Trenton’s industrial past,” Gusciora said. “This is one of many ways Trenton is working with its business community to help return underutilized properties to the tax rolls and promote further employment and economic activity.”
“We’ve been proud to call Trenton our home for almost two decades and by working with the city and Mayor Gusciora, we look forward to continuing to do so for decades to come,” Szaky said. “Anyone looking to locate their business in the Northeast should absolutely consider Trenton as a place to put down their roots.”
“I am very excited about the expansion of this innovative Green waste management company that has a strong commitment to the City of Trenton,” said Caldwell-Wilson. “I hope that they can continue to expand their facility in Trenton’s North Ward. TerraCycle hires local, is committed to the community, and welcomes our artists to apply their talents on their building. These are the types of employers that we need to invest in our city.” “TerraCycle is a global leader in sustainability that remains committed to Trenton and the surrounding communities,” Sowa said. “TerraCycle does well by doing good and the world is a better and more sustainable place as a result.” image.png
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora with artist Dean Innocenzi and his recently completed mural of Trenton-born Olympic champion Athing Mu on the walls outside TerraCycle.

Herbal Essences and TerraCycle ready to ‘Renew the Forest’

© Taiyou Nomachi / Getty Images

Herbal Essences and Terracycle are delivering on their Spring commitment to give back to nature through their Renew the Forest initiative.

This fall, the hair care product brand and international waste management company will donate 20 park benches made from recycled hair care packaging and plant 61,329 trees throughout the U.S. in partnership with The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees reforestation campaign.

The benches, upcycled from bottles collected through the ongoing Herbal Essences Recycling Program, will be installed in the Independence Lake Preserve in California, the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in Ohio, and the Morgan Swamp Preserve in Ohio.

Turning beach plastic into trees

In celebration of Earth month in April 2021, Herbal Essences pledged to plant one tree for every two bottles of select bio:renew shampoo or conditioner purchased at Walmart in the U.S.  The initiative sought to seed eco-awareness among consumers and surpassed its 58,000-tree goal, Herbal Essences parent-company Procter & Gamble announced in a statement.

“We are proud to partner with TerraCycle and The Nature Conservancy to carry out business practices that directly enhance natural environments for communities to enjoy,” said Rachel Zipperian, senior scientist at Herbal Essences, noting that “plants underpin all life on Earth, and tangible renewal is necessary to sustain biodiversity.”

The bio:renew bottles themselves are a product of a 2019 Herbal Essences and TerraCycle partnership to create the hair care brand’s first recyclable shampoo and conditioner packaging made from beach plastic.

“Part of Herbal Essences’ bio:renew collection, these innovative bottles helped demonstrate the potential of some of our most mismanaged resources, like plastics collected from beaches, and demonstrate its inherent value,” TerraCycle CEO and Founder Tom Szaky told Cosmetics Design-USA.

Innovative collaboration and actionable sustainability

Despite the growing recycling and reuse movement in the personal care industry, Szaky notes that: “More innovative collaborations and actionable sustainability commitments from brands across the beauty industry are needed to make the largest impact possible in the time we have left.”

Initiatives like Renew the Forest take waste management a step further by giving back to nature and educating community about the journey of waste along the supply chain.  Szaky says that it is these types of partnerships that are making “it simple to be a protector of the planet and to help preserve the natural beauty of the environment for future generations.”

Since its beginnings in 2001, Terracyle has also teamed with Garnier to build community gardens, Colgate to donate recycled plastic playgrounds to schools, Bausch + Lomb to convert contact lens materials into custom training modules for the Guide Dog Foundation, and Gillette, CVS and Fisher House Foundation to recycle razors into a playground for a military medical center.

Conagra is bringing a new fall popcorn flavour to Canada

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With more people meeting their entertainment needs indoors, it’s perhaps no surprise that a new popcorn flavour – the quintessential TV- and movie-watching snack – is coming to market. Colourful Conagra brand Angie’s Boomchickapop is launching a limited time Salty Maple Flavoured Kettle Corn, already available stateside, in Sobeys, Save On Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Federated Co-op stores. According to Andrea Stodart, marketing director for snacks at Conagra Brands, the Salted Maple’s vibrant packaging, which features a plethora of maple leaves, emphasises its premium status, she says, while also highlighting its clean, simple ingredients. The brand is going to continue to stand out in the local market by bringing a wealth of better-for-you attributes, she says. image.png
When it comes to targeting its core demo of “modern health consumers,” it’s again using its “Poptimism” portmanteau messaging, as according to Stodart, it’s a big-hearted brand that believes in a world where such positivity should be shared and celebrated. The brand is coming to Canada with a “fall for Maple” seasonality pitchhelping consumers re-create positive memories around the popular season. There’s also a sustainability component to the launch. “You can also note that we have a national partnership with TerraCycle that enables consumers to recycle their typically non-recyclable packaging, free of charge,” she says, with a call out on back of pack. The recycling program is currently available across 564 stores. Throughout the summer, Conagra has been bringing its Poptimism x Boomchickapop campaign to life across various platforms including TV, social and digital. Conagra more broadly has been impressing upon Canadians its “local” value proposition, emphasizing, for example, that Gardein products are prepared in British Columbia and Hunt’s Tomatoes and Angie’s Boomchickapop are prepared in Ontario (see, below). M&K Media, Per Se Brand Experience and Harbinger Communications worked on the SKU launch