In a highly competitive marketplace, one of the most significant challenges that companies and major brands face today is distinguishing themselves as a social agent. Gone are the days where being “environmentally friendly” automatically added value in a largely niche market for socially responsible corporate behavior. Today’s consumer is highly discerning, increasingly concerned with things like supply and production chain sustainability and product recyclability, and highly allergic to ethical claims that are inauthentic, vague or misleading. That consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products and services is an understatement. More and more, consumers expect companies to dedicate themselves to making a positive social or environmental impact on society as a baseline, and want to be able to trust them to prioritize ethics on their end. It’s no new idea that consumer brands that have not embraced sustainability and CSR initiatives are at risk on many fronts. But creating the kind of value that grabs the attention of consumers also requires legwork beyond simply “doing good.” Leading industrial adhesive manufacturer Henkel has found a way to work sustainability into their brand DNA, rather than something that they simply “do.” In partnership with my company TerraCycle, Henkel is the first to offer a recycling solution for anaerobic adhesive packaging through the LOCTITE® Anaerobic Adhesive Recycling Program. Also the first time that TerraCycle is recycling this category, Henkel is a pioneer in their use of our sustainability platform in more ways than one. Henkel is our only recycling program sponsor that has created their own branded Zero Waste Box, a custom recycling solution from TerraCycle that allows consumers to recycle hundreds of waste streams through category specific boxes. Participants in the program can now purchase a postage-paid recycling box branded with Henkel’s copy, colors and logo that they fill with empty LOCTITE adhesive containers to send to TerraCycle for processing. Offering a custom, branded recycling solution adds value for current and potential customers by communicating that solving for its difficult-to-recycle anaerobic adhesive containers is part of who they are. In a currently inefficient global waste management infrastructure, companies like Henkel see the massive ROI potential for putting forth the resources to make their previously unrecyclable product and packaging waste nationally recyclable. By setting their own bar on sustainability and keeping it high, companies add value by pioneering environmental stewardship. Leveraging environmentally sound and socially responsible processes in the marketplace is in direct relation to how brands communicate to their consumer and differentiate offerings from those of brand competitors. USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified certifications, for example, are recognizable (often on-pack) demonstrations of a brand’s commitment to meeting necessary production and labeling requirements, indicating to consumers a certain promise of quality and incentivizing more brands to meet and exceed those standards.

This month, TerraCycle celebrates the important milestone of a decade Eliminating the Idea of Waste through free recycling programs and custom recycling solutions in Canada. Since opening in 2006, TerraCycle Canada has engaged two million people to recycle, diverting 150 million units of difficult-to-recycle waste from landfills and raising over $400,000 for charity.

In The Huffington Post, TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky explains the benefits that come with integrating sustainable solutions into branding strategies. While consumers are willing to pay a pretty penny for sustainable products and services, they also expect companies to commit to making a positive social or environmental impact on society. In The Huffington Post, TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky explains the benefits that come with integrating sustainable solutions into branding strategies. The Huffington Post has more: In a highly competitive marketplace, one of the most significant challenges that companies and major brands face today is distinguishing themselves as a social agent. Gone are the days where being “environmentally friendly” automatically added value in a largely niche market for socially responsible corporate behavior. Today’s consumer is highly discerning, increasingly concerned with things like supply and production chain sustainability and product recyclability, and highly allergic to ethical claims that are inauthentic, vague or misleading. That consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products and services is an understatement. More and more, consumers expect companies to dedicate themselves to making a positive social or environmental impact on society as a baseline, and want to be able to trust them to prioritize ethics on their end. It’s no new idea that consumer brands that have not embraced sustainability and CSR initiatives are at risk on many fronts. But creating the kind of value that grabs the attention of consumers also requires legwork beyond simply “doing good.”

In a highly competitive marketplace, one of the most significant challenges that companies and major brands face today is distinguishing themselves as a social agent. Gone are the days where being “environmentally friendly” automatically added value in a largely niche market for socially responsible corporate behavior. Today’s consumer is highly discerning, increasingly concerned with things like supply and production chain sustainability and product recyclability, and highly allergic to ethical claims that are inauthentic, vague or misleading.   That consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products and services is an understatement. More and more, consumers expect companies to dedicate themselves to making a positive social or environmental impact on society as a baseline, and want to be able to trust them to prioritize ethics on their end. It’s no new idea that consumer brands that have not embraced sustainability and CSR initiatives are at risk on many fronts. But creating the kind of value that grabs the attention of consumers also requires legwork beyond simply “doing good.”   Leading industrial adhesive manufacturer Henkel has found a way to work sustainability into their brand DNA, rather than something that they simply “do.” In partnership with my company TerraCycle, Henkel is the first to offer a recycling solution for anaerobic adhesive packaging through the LOCTITE® Anaerobic Adhesive Recycling Program. Also the first time that TerraCycle is recycling this category, Henkel is a pioneer in their use of our sustainability platform in more ways than one.   Henkel is our only recycling program sponsor that has created their own branded Zero Waste Box, a custom recycling solution from TerraCycle that allows consumers to recycle hundreds of waste streams through category specific boxes. Participants in the program can now purchase a postage-paid recycling box branded with Henkel’s copy, colors and logo that they fill with empty LOCTITE adhesive containers to send to TerraCycle for processing.   Offering a custom, branded recycling solution adds value for current and potential customers by communicating that solving for its difficult-to-recycle anaerobic adhesive containers is part of who they are. In a currently inefficient global waste management infrastructure, companies like Henkel see the massive ROI potential for putting forth the resources to make their previously unrecyclable product and packaging waste nationally recyclable. By setting their own bar on sustainability and keeping it high, companies add value by pioneering environmental stewardship.   Leveraging environmentally sound and socially responsible processes in the marketplace is in direct relation to how brands communicate to their consumer and differentiate offerings from those of brand competitors. USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified certifications, for example, are recognizable (often on-pack) demonstrations of a brand’s commitment to meeting necessary production and labeling requirements, indicating to consumers a certain promise of quality and incentivizing more brands to meet and exceed those standards.   Ultimately, when companies attempt to integrate sustainable enterprise into their branding strategy, transparency is essential. Establishing environmental initiatives is complex, but in order to inspire brand loyalty and trust, those green endeavors must authentically benefit the environment. Branding existing and emerging sustainability solutions is one method for communicating company accountability in a highly visible, valuable way for consumers, scaling for relevance and resilience in a changing marketplace.

In today’s world, the basic model for the production of goods is linear: Natural resources are extracted and turned into products that are used for a limited time. While some of these products are recycled, most eventually end up in the world’s landfills.  This model is becoming increasingly unsustainable and expensive for businesses. Commodity prices rose more than 150 percent between 2002 and 2010 and an additional three billion middle-class consumers are expected to enter the global market by 2030. This unprecedented demand for goods and services, coupled with increasing resource scarcity and price volatility, is causing companies to move from a traditional “take-make-dispose” model to a more circular strategy. Closing the loop with innovative logistic solutions In recent years, I’ve seen companies like Dell, Patagonia and TerraCycle focus their sustainability efforts on implementing seamless take-back programs that make use of turnkey packaging, pickup services and pre-paid return labels. With approximately 97 percent of business leaders listing logistics as important to transitioning to a circular economy, partnering with intelligent logistic providers will be crucial for companies to implement cost-effective circular strategies. The future of the circular economy I recently had the opportunity to participate on a panel at GreenBiz VERGE 2016 with Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, and Kevin Zweier, VP of Transportation Practice at Chainalytics, to discuss trends shaping the future of the circular economy. In addition to the critical role of logistics, major takeaways from the discussions included:

Tailoring the solution

Companies trying to implement circular strategies face a “first-mile” challenge with re-using products and resources for future consumption. Each product in a company’s supply chain must be analyzed based on its unique characteristics from raw material to end-of-life. Circular planning must then be used to determine whether reclaimed products and resources should be transported back to a central hub facility or dealt with on a local level.

Education is key

To build mainstream acceptance and support for a realized circular economy, governments and businesses alike should prioritize educating consumers about circular principles, including which products can be reused, recycled or upgraded. By helping customers make easy decisions when they are done using a product, we can ensure valuable materials don’t end up in landfills.

We all have a role to play

While companies are investing in innovative partnerships and creating more sustainable solutions, there is also a need for customers and consumers to take advantage of these offerings so that these investments can be supported by a strong business case. One of the most common misconceptions about the circular economy is that it will be impossible to achieve. I believe that when companies invest and collaborate to implement “smarter” supply chains and give others an opportunity to participate, the notion of a circular economy can certainly be realized. 

Have you developed a sensitivity to baking soda in deodorant? After a year, I finally found a natural baking soda free deodorant that works. I started doing some research and learned that it is very common to become sensitized to baking soda. I read story after story about people that had become sensitized to baking soda because of their deodorant, often after long periods of time like me. The Search for a Natural Baking Soda Free Deodorant So I started a new search. One for a natural, baking soda free deodorant that would work. I tried several brands over the course of a year and nothing worked. I was getting tired of washing my arm pits multiple times a day to keep myself feeling and smelling fresh. Then Tom’s of Maine reached out and asked if I’d like to try some of their Long Lasting Natural Deodorant. I decided that since nothing else had worked, I’d give it a try. So they sent me a box of a few scents to try. My husband and I each grabbed a stick to test it out. And both my husband and I have found that Tom’s deodorants work too. They offer clinically proven, 24-hour odor protection using odor-fighting hops, the mineral zinc and only natural fragrances. In addition to its new and improved, best-selling deodorant, this leading natural personal care brand makes high quality natural toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, bar soap and baby care products. Tom’s of Maine’s packing is fully recyclable through local municipalities or the TerraCycle Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Brigade. In addition, they give 10% of profits back to helping people and the planet and they never test their products on animals.

...Os materiais são enviados para a empresa TerraCycle, em São Paulo, onde passarão por um processo de reciclagem, sendo transformados em itens como bancos, lixeiras, etc...

De acuerdo a datos difundidos por TerraCycle, una de las mayores empresas verdes dedicadas al reciclaje a nivel internacional, cada año se generan 5 mil millones de toneladas de desechos en el mundo, de los cuales sólo el 20% es reciclable. Mientras que el 80% restante termina en tiraderos, como sucede la mayoría de las veces en México, o son quemados y usados como combustibles, en el caso de algunos países europeos. Dos dificultades mayores tiene el reciclaje tal y como está concebido ahora: se genera excesiva basura y la que se crea está compuesta por materiales demasiado complejos. Y es que algunos envoltorios de alimentos contienen hasta 20 tipos de plástico diferentes, de tal forma que por muy buena voluntad que tengamos los ciudadanos, la mayoría de lo que se tira no puede utilizarse de nuevo, a pesar de que creamos lo contrario. Información enviada por TerraCycle a la redacción central de foroambiental.com.mx destaca que esta empresa surgió gracias a la iniciativa de Tom Szaky, alumno en la Universidad de Princeton, quien trabaja desde hace años para darle un giro a la anterior dinámica. TerraCycle empezó produciendo fertilizantes orgánicos mediante el embotellado de excrementos licuados de lombrices en botellas de refrescos usadas. Desde este comienzo poco prometedor, TerraCycle ha llegado a ser una de las empresas verdes de mayor crecimiento en el mundo. Actualmente, es una reconocida compañía internacional de supra reciclaje y reciclaje, que recolecta envolturas y productos difíciles de reciclar y los transforma en productos innovadores y económicos. Está ampliamente reconocida como líder mundial en la recolección y reutilización de residuos post-consumidor no reciclable. TerraCycle México El pasado mes de septiembre TerraCycle México cumplió 7 años recolectando y reciclando basura en todo el territorio nacional y por ese motivo la empresa hace un recordatorio de cómo podemos volvernos recolectores dentro del país y no sólo contribuir a mejorar nuestro ambiente, sino también a retribuir a otras asociaciones sin fines de lucro. ¿Cómo funciona? La operación está organizada en programas, cada uno de las cuales se centra en un producto particularmente difícil de reciclar, como envolturas de jabón, bolsas de pan, empaques de galletas, bolsas de botanas, productos de cuidado bucal y envolturas de pan dulce. Estos desechos pueden recolectarse en cajas de cualquier tamaño para su recolección. TerraCycle paga todos los gastos de envío, una vez enviados los desechos a la empresa, el recolector suma dinero a una cuenta individual ($0.25 por empaque), que es donado a organizaciones filantrópicas, escuelas y programas comunitarios. La basura recolectada (envolturas, sobres, tubos, etc.) es convertida en carteras, monederos, estuches mochilas o bolsas, que son fabricados por terceros y comercializados por la compañía. ¿Cómo convertirse en un Recolector? Varios equipos de recolección de residuos trabajan en los diferentes programas, tan sólo en México lo hacen en la actualidad 26 mil 862 personas. La dinámica para ser parte de este gran equipo es muy sencilla, sólo hay que ingresar a la páginaterracycle.com.mx y escoger los programas de recolección, que van desde bolsas de botanas, hasta productos de cuidado bucal. Ya iniciada la recolección, los participantes pueden ver en la página los puntos que van ganando y de esta forma convertirlos en dinero, que será destinado a la organización de su elección. Una gran ventaja de estos programas es que los recolectores pueden dar de alta cualquier asociación sin fines de lucro, escuela o hasta iglesia de su comunidad, esto para ver de una forma directa los beneficios de su donación. Cabe destacar que la cantidad más reciente que se ha donado en México asciende a 409 mil 936 pesos con 74 centavos. Algunas de las asociaciones que se han visto beneficiadas son las siguientes: 1. APANICAL (Asociación de Padres de Niños con Cáncer y Leucemia). Ubicada en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, que ha recibido 135 mil 360 pesos. 2. Escuela Secundaria 20 Juan F. Escamilla. Recibió 22 mil 999 pesos. Esta escuela se localiza en Monterrey, Nuevo León. 3. Escuela Francisco I. Madero. Ubicada en Mezquitic, Jalisco, la cual recibió 20 mil 29 pesos. 4. Operación Sonrisa. Ubicada en Zapopan, Jalisco. Recibió 16 mil 185 pesos. ¿Y tú, te atreves a hacer algo por el medio ambiente? Finalmente, TerraCycle recuerda que inició como una compañía de fertilizantes orgánicos y ha llegado a ser una de las empresas más importantes en productos ecológicos a nivel mundial. Su creador, Tom Szaky, tuvo el sueño de encontrar una nueva forma de ser responsables con el medio ambiente, beneficiar al planeta, a la gente y a su propio negocio. Las nuevas generaciones tienen mayor conciencia y preocupación por el uso y el futuro de los recursos naturales, sin embargo, aún queda mucho camino por recorrer, por lo que es indispensable que la población mexicana ponga de su parte para hacer del planeta un lugar más sustentable. Si nosotros no comenzamos un cambio hoy, ¿quién lo hará? Redacción: foroambiental.com.mx

Se cumplieron 7 años de existencia del proyecto de reciclado de envoltorios de alimentos, ello por parte de la empresa Terracycle, que de esta forma contribuye a una mejor educación ambiental de las nuevas generaciones, al ser este un programa enfocado en su mayoría los estudiantes. Cabe mencionar que cada año se generan 5,000 millones de toneladas de desechos en el mundo, de los cuales sólo el 20%es reciclable. El 80% restante termina en tiraderos como sucede la mayoría de las veces en México o son quemados y usados como combustibles en el caso de algunos países europeos. Dos dificultades mayores tiene el reciclaje tal y como está concebido ahora: se genera excesiva basura y la que se crea está compuesta por materiales demasiado complejos. Algunos envoltorios de alimentos contienen hasta 20 tipos de plástico diferentes. Así que por muy buena voluntad que tengan los ciudadanos, la mayoría de lo que se tira no puede utilizarse de nuevo, a pesar de que se crea lo contrario. Este concepto es idea del canadiense, Tom Szaky, quien creo la empresa TerraCycle, Inc. que empezó produciendo fertilizantes orgánicos mediante el embotellado de “excrementos licuados de lombrices” en botellas de refrescos usadas. Desde este comienzo esta empresa ha llegado a ser una de las empresas verdes de mayor crecimiento en el mundo. Hoy, TerraCycle es reconocida internacionalmente como marca de supra reciclaje y reciclaje que recolecta envolturas y productos difíciles de reciclar y los transforma en productos innovadores y económicos. La operación está organizada en programas, cada una de las cuales se centra en un producto en particular difícil de reciclar como envolturas de jabón, bolsas de pan, empaques de galletas, bolsas de botana, productos de cuidado bucal y envolturas de pan dulce. Estos desechos pueden recolectarse encajas de cualquier tamaño para su recolección. TerraCycle paga todos los gastos de envío, una vez enviados los desechos a la empresa, el recolector suma dinero a una cuenta individual (0.25 centavos de peso mexicano por empaque), que es donado a organizaciones filantrópicas, escuelas y programas comunitarios. La basura recolectada (envolturas, sobres, tubos, etc.) es convertida en carteras, monederos, estuches mochilas o bolsas, que son fabricados por terceros y comercializados por la compañía. Varios equipos de recolección de residuos se han puesto a trabajar en los diferentes programas que TerraCycle (26,862 personas alrededor de México). La dinámica para comenzar es muy sencilla; se debe ingresar a la página www.terracycle.com.mx y escoger los programas de recolección que van desde bolsas de botana hasta productos de cuidado bucal, una vez realizado este paso se comienza con la recolección, los recolectores podrán ver por medio de la página los puntos que van ganando y de esta forma convertirlos en dinero para la organización de su elección. Una gran ventaja de estos programas es que los recolectores pueden dar de alta cualquier asociación sin fines de lucro, escuela o hasta iglesia de su comunidad para ver de una forma directa los beneficios de su donación. La Cantidad más reciente que se ha logrado donar son 409 mil 936.74 pesos (20 mil 500 dólares). Algunas de las asociaciones que se han visto beneficiadas son las siguientes:

1. APANICAL (Asociación de Padres de Niños con Cáncer y Leucemia)- Ubicada en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, ha recibido 135,360 pesos.
2. Escuela Secundaria 20 Juan F. Escamilla- Recibió 22,999 pesos, esta escuela se localiza en Monterrey, Nuevo León.
3. Escuela Francisco I. Madero- En Mezquitic, Jalisco recibió 20,029 pesos.
4. Operación Sonrisa-En Zapopan, Jalisco recibió 16,185 pesos.