VTech to Launch Green Electronic Learning Products

TerraCycle Include Canada (English) Vtech/LeapFrog

VTech announced that it will launch a variety of green electronic learning products in 2021, which marks an important step for its sustainability commitment towards replacing fossil based plastics with sustainable alternatives by 2030. VTech’s eco-friendly products include three new vehicles in the popular Go! Go! Smart Wheels line made from plant-based plastic, and the Sort & Recycle Ride-on Truck™ made from reclaimed plastic. For LeapFrog products, in addition to a new Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot with vegetables and accessories made from plant-based plastic, VTech will source materials from responsibly managed forests certified by Forest Stewardship Council for two new wooden toys, Touch & Learn Nature ABC Board™ and Interactive Wooden Animal Puzzle. The introduction of sustainable product packaging for VTech toys is also well underway. Currently 94% of the packaging materials is recyclable, while 90% of the cardboard used in the packaging is recycled materials. VTech is also committed to eliminating fossil-based blister packaging and replacing it with plant-based alternative in 99% of the electronic learning products by 2025. In order to support circular economy initiatives in its major markets, VTech has engaged in various post-consumer packaging recycling programs in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Packaging recycling labels such as “How2Recycle” and “On-Pack Recycling” have also been placed on the product packaging of its electronic learning products for consumers’ easy reference. To encourage post-consumer product recycling, VTech has partnered with leading international recycling companies such as TerraCycle in the US and Electronic Products Recycling Association in Canada. It has also followed the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in Europe by adding product recycling labels on the product packaging. These recycling programs provide an easy way for consumers to recycle VTech’s electronic learning products in the respective countries. VTech’s ongoing efforts to develop eco-friendly products and packaging and continuous engagement in various post-consumer recycling programs in the major markets have demonstrated its commitment to the 5-year Sustainability Plan 2025 released on June 5, 2020. “VTech’s sustainability vision is to create sustainable value for the lives of people and protect the planet for the future generations,” said Dr. Allan Wong, Chairman and Group CEO of VTech Holdings Limited. “We are committed to using sustainable materials in our products and packaging and recycling them in a responsible way, using eco-friendly transportation modes in our supply chain management, increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing the consumption of natural resources in our production process.”

To learn more about VTech’s sustainability efforts and achievements, please visit https://www.vtech.com/en/sustainability/.

How to Properly Recycle Electronics, Styrofoam, Batteries and More

TerraCycle Include USA

From Styrofoam containers to batteries, there are several things that cannot be recycled through a personal recycling bin. “The vast majority of waste that cannot be recycled curbside in your blue bin is technically recyclable, it’s just not necessarily economically viable to do so,” says Alex Payne, a publicist at the private recycling company, Terracycle. So, how do these things get properly recycled? Several private businesses and organizations have created programs that accept these items, allowing them to reach facilities in which they can be processed into new materials. Before tossing your recyclables in the bin for the week, consider taking them to the organizations below.

Target

Target is helping customers do their part to help the environment through their recycling program. At the entrance of each store is a series of recycling bins. Each bin is designated to dispose of certain things. In fact, several of these bins allow for items to be disposed that cannot be recycled at home, such as electronics and ink cartridges. “In 2010, we launched a comprehensive guest-facing recycling program in our stores to bring our commitment to recycling out of the backroom and allow guests to be part of the process. We help guests recycle cans, glass, plastic bottles, plastic bags, ink cartridges, MP3 players and cell phones, making our recycling program one of the most robust in the industry,” a spokesperson for Target explains. Before making your next Target run, consider bringing your recyclables with you and placing them in the store’s complimentary recycling bins. four assorted-color trash bins beside gray wall

four assorted-color trash bins beside gray wall

Terracycle

Perfect for these socially-distanced times (or if you don’t live near a Target), Terracycle has an online recycling program that you can join from the comfort of your home. The private recycling company has partnered with several brands to create free, nationwide recycling programs. These programs were born from an idea that was the brainchild of Terracycle Founder and CEO, Tom Szaky. “TerraCycle’s free, brand sponsored recycling programs started in 2007 when Founder/CEO Tom Szaky pivoted away from vermicompost (the world’s first product made from and packaged entirely in waste) that initially established the company’s reputation. This shift came when Tom realized that he could make a larger impact by using product and packaging waste, deemed to have no value, to create new raw materials that could be sold to manufacturers to produce new products,” Payne tells Planet Home. From personal care products to balloons, a variety of products can be recycled through Terracycle’s program, and Payne says the registration process is relatively simple. “As a first step, participants can make an account on TerraCycle.com. Once signed up, they'll be able to download collection materials, request UPS shipping labels, track their recycling progress, and in many cases, raise money for their favorite school or non-profit with every shipment. Some programs even offer collection locations where consumers can visit to drop-off waste for recycling.” Not sure if the products you’re looking to recycle are Terracycle recycling program participants? Check out Terracycle’s Free Recycling Programs page to see if your items qualify. sprite plastic bottle on table

Foam Facts

While Styrofoam is often the material of choice used to make carryout boxes for food delivery, it can’t be recycled at home. Many recycling facilities do not accept Styrofoam because it is lightweight. In order for Styrofoam recycling to be profitable, a whole lot has to be recycled, so the expenses to ship and process it can be covered as well. In a nutshell, it’s too expensive for recycling facilities to process Styrofoam. However, Styrofoam recycling drop off locations have been developing across the country, and the organization Foam Facts is helping Americans find out where. At the bottom of their homepage, the organization has a map that pinpoints all of the organizations in the United States that accept Styrofoam. On the upper left hand corner of the map is a search engine that allows you to type in your location. Once you enter your town’s name, the map will show you the organizations near you that can take your Styrofoam, and you’re set! Never throw your Styrofoam in the recycling bin at home. Instead, collect your Styrofoam in a bag that can be taken to a Styrofoam drop off location at a later date. litter signage

Call2Recycle

Batteries are always a no-go when it comes to knowing what cannot be recycled in your personal bin. For nearly three decades, Call2Recycle has spearheaded the efforts of recycling batteries.Call2Recycle hosts drop off locations where people can drop off their used batteries at a local business. Not so keen on heading to a store to drop off your batteries? Not to worry! Call2Recycle also sells boxes for those who wish to participate in their shipping program. For more information on Call2Recycle’s shipping program, head to their online store to learn more about the process. four Duracell batteries

Think Before You Toss

Before making your next rounds of recycling, ask yourself, “Can these things be thrown in my recycling bin?” If not, there are many organizations both online and in your community that will accept these items. Wherever your comfort level lies with heading into the outside world, these recycling programs make recycling possible from anywhere!

I Tried to Reduce My Trash by 50%—Here's What Happened

TerraCycle Include USA Loop

Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we'll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day in January that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from going without a cellphone for 40 days to trying the polarizing low-rise pants trend. Name: Jacqueline Lee, Photo Editor What did you try? I tried to completely cut out plastic and reduce my household trash by 50%. Why did you want to try it? I think, like a lot of THE/THIRTY readers, I've become really conscious over the last few years about the detrimental effect our trash has on the environment, especially plastic pollution in the ocean, and I'd like to start taking control of my part of that. What do you hope to learn or accomplish through this? My hope is to make some significant and lasting changes to my everyday life. For that to be maintainable, I have to search out effective and affordable alternatives that also look pretty on my shelves. How much trash do you normally accumulate in a week? I've been gradually swapping things like cleaning products and laundry for more sustainable options, like buying concentrates or getting refills, but our house of two adults and two cats still creates a lot of trash in a week. We are lucky to have a curbside recycling program in our neighborhood, which means it's fairly easy to recycle the majority of glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum, but we still have products that are not recyclable or compostable. I really want to eliminate those from our life. What do you think will be a challenge for you? I think groceries will be the hardest area to cut down packaging on, especially with the pandemic meaning most stores have closed their refill dry goods sections. Oh, and giving up takeout is going to hurt! What do you think will be easy?

I'm hoping some updates to my bath and shower routine will make some easy changes. What are you looking forward to most in this challenge? I'm really excited to try out shampoo and conditioner bars! These are some of the things I've found that really help so far.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate ($16) I use this to clean pretty much every surface in my house, and this concentrated refill bottle has lasted for months and is recyclable.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Liquid Soap ($32) Dr. Bronner's uses recycled and recyclable packaging, so I use this soap to fill up all my hand soap dispensers and dishwashing liquid bottles.

Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent ($11) I switched to this just before Christmas when I had run out of detergent and had too many grocery bags to carry home already. It lasts just as long as a normal detergent bottle but is about one-third of the plastic.

Public Goods Walnut Scrubber Sponge ($4) I love these all-natural scrubber sponges from Public Goods. It took me ages to find a kitchen sponge that wasn’t wrapped in plastic packaging.

Unni Compostable Trash Bags ($17) If you just make one change, this is the one I would recommend.

Here's what happened:

How much trash did you accumulate? I was able to cut out plastics for the week (except for one cheat item), but we still had lots of recycling and compostable trash. What was the hardest part of this challenge? Resisting takeout after a busy day of work was about as much of a struggle as I expected! What was the easiest part? Switching out my shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel plastic bottles for bars that came wrapped in paper was such an easy change with the added plus that my bathroom permanently smells of lemongrass now. What were some surprising things you learned? I was really surprised by how much of our weekly rubbish was recyclable. When I checked on our local council's website, it had good and clear guidance on what to recycle. I also had no idea TerraCycle partnered with so many brands on mail-back recycling. It also has a new initiative called the Loop, where you lease the packaging of the product and return it for refills. Another thing I learned about recycling is that plastic has a limited recycle life, but glass and aluminum retain their integrity much longer, so they're much better choices of packaging to go for.

Are there any tricks that you picked up along the way? I discovered so many cute products to help work a sustainable lifestyle. There's a lot more choice than I was expecting. What would you do differently next time? I definitely made some real progress toward a 100% no-trash sustainable lifestyle. I think the only thing I would change up if I did this again next week is to hire myself a personal chef. Do you have any tips for someone who wants to try it? If you wanted to try this at home, try—every time you finish with a product, be it a toothbrush or a scrubbing brush—taking a look for an alternative replacement that is refillable, recyclable, or biodegradable and comes without excess packaging rather than setting a time limit on yourself. I was definitely excited by the choices in sustainable solutions compared to even just a year ago. Here are some of the tricks I learned and products I used.

For the Shower

There are so many great options for shampoo, cleanser, shower, and conditioner bars right now, and I would definitely recommend this change to everyone. Safety razors are another easy swap that worked for me.

By Humankind Shampoo ($15)

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar ($22)

HiBar Solid Shampoo Bar and Solid Conditioner Bar ($27)

Erno Laszlo White Marble Treatment Bar ($38)

Herbivore Botanicals Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar ($12)

Cleo+Coco Deodorant Bar Zero-Waste ($18)

Eu'Genia Shea 100% Pure Shea Butter Dermatological Formula ($20)

UpCircle Safety Razor ($30)

For Groceries

Some aspects of grocery shopping were definitely a challenge. Unpackaged fresh veggies from the farmers market or store was my first step. Then, getting fish and meat from the counter wrapped in paper helped cut back on a lot of plastic and cling wrap. I managed to find a local cheese delicatessen that wrapped the cheese in wax paper for me, and then, I made my own bread. Local is definitely the way to go for dry goods and household care. Companies like Precycle in Brooklyn and the Waste Less Shop in L.A. offer really great refill services. All in, getting groceries was definitely the most time-consuming part of trying to reduce my trash, and I'm not convinced I would cook so much in a normal week, but it was the area where I cut out the most waste.

Clover Organic Farms Organic 1% Low Fat Milk ($3)

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Flour, All-Purpose ($5)

Olipop Vintage Cola Sparkling Tonic ($31)

Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile With Lavender Tea ($4)

Amy's Kitchen Chunky Tomato Bisque ($3)

For Dental Care

Last year, I switched my single-use toothbrush for one with replaceable bristles and a solar-power battery charger, and I'm trying a toothpaste that comes in a recyclable aluminum tube. I haven't tried toothpaste tabs yet, but THE/THIRTY team is definitely a fan.

Quip Electric Toothbrush ($32)

The Waste Less Shop Silk Dental Floss ($7)

For My Morning Coffee

I've cut back on the daily coffee-shop run since we aren't able to bring in reusable cups right now. I switched to buying fresh ground coffee from my local shop to make at home. A lot of grocery store coffee is packaged in nonrecyclable materials, so it's worth searching out some reliable sustainable brands.

Tiny Footprint Coffee Nicaragua Segovia Dark Roast ($13)

Public Goods Organic Ground Coffee ($7)

More Sustainably Packaged Choices

Cleancult Liquid Hand Soap Refill ($22)

Public Goods Dental Floss ($6)

Mad Hippie Night Cream ($33)

Olas Oral Care Natural Bamboo Toothbrush ($8) Next up: I Tried HIIT Workouts for 30 Days Straight, and the Results Were Wild This article originally appeared on The Thirty

I Tried to Reduce My Trash by 50%—Here's What Happened

TerraCycle Include USA Loop

Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we'll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day in January that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from going without a cellphone for 40 days to trying the polarizing low-rise pants trend. Name: Jacqueline Lee, Photo Editor What did you try? I tried to completely cut out plastic and reduce my household trash by 50%. Why did you want to try it? I think, like a lot of THE/THIRTY readers, I've become really conscious over the last few years about the detrimental effect our trash has on the environment, especially plastic pollution in the ocean, and I'd like to start taking control of my part of that. What do you hope to learn or accomplish through this? My hope is to make some significant and lasting changes to my everyday life. For that to be maintainable, I have to search out effective and affordable alternatives that also look pretty on my shelves. How much trash do you normally accumulate in a week? I've been gradually swapping things like cleaning products and laundry for more sustainable options, like buying concentrates or getting refills, but our house of two adults and two cats still creates a lot of trash in a week. We are lucky to have a curbside recycling program in our neighborhood, which means it's fairly easy to recycle the majority of glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum, but we still have products that are not recyclable or compostable. I really want to eliminate those from our life. What do you think will be a challenge for you? I think groceries will be the hardest area to cut down packaging on, especially with the pandemic meaning most stores have closed their refill dry goods sections. Oh, and giving up takeout is going to hurt! What do you think will be easy?

I'm hoping some updates to my bath and shower routine will make some easy changes. What are you looking forward to most in this challenge? I'm really excited to try out shampoo and conditioner bars! These are some of the things I've found that really help so far.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate ($16) I use this to clean pretty much every surface in my house, and this concentrated refill bottle has lasted for months and is recyclable.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Liquid Soap ($32) Dr. Bronner's uses recycled and recyclable packaging, so I use this soap to fill up all my hand soap dispensers and dishwashing liquid bottles.

Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent ($11) I switched to this just before Christmas when I had run out of detergent and had too many grocery bags to carry home already. It lasts just as long as a normal detergent bottle but is about one-third of the plastic.

Public Goods Walnut Scrubber Sponge ($4) I love these all-natural scrubber sponges from Public Goods. It took me ages to find a kitchen sponge that wasn’t wrapped in plastic packaging.

Unni Compostable Trash Bags ($17) If you just make one change, this is the one I would recommend.