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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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.

And as you know, we currently have 23 pets! It all started when Cassidy surprised us with a puppy, Athena, when Scarlet was four and Des was one. Last spring, we brought home our puppy, Astro. And we also got Luna, our gorgeous cat, over the summer after we had lost our other one. Through all of this, we currently have 20 chickens as well but they’re outdoor pets. We name, love, and care for every animal in our household. And we want what’s best for them all.  

Build a Better Bowl For Your Dog With Earthborn Holistic Unrefined:

  The organization thought Astro’s litter might be “Mini-Huskies” – Husky/Pomeranians or some sort of Husky mixes. Soon after we got him, we realized there was nothing Husky about him. Nothing! And not only that, but his body grew longer rather than taller. He looked like a sure Corgi for a while and then changed again. We had some suspicions but ran a DNA test that revealed all sorts of surprises! It turns out that our “Mini Husky” was largely Chihuahua, as well as Pomeranian and Shepherd. What an unlikely combo! No matter what he is, we love him BIG!     As for Athena, she’s another story to tell! True to the stuff of childhood dreams, my husband surprised us with a puppy. Again, we had no idea it was going to happen. He had found her on a rescue site months earlier and kept the secret through the whole adoption and fostering process. Athena came from Alabama. We thought my husband was at work, but he was actually headed to Vermont to meet the rescue transport. We were sick at home and then he came to the front door her little face peeking out of his coat. Seriously a shining moment in life! So, let’s be real. Even the classiest of canines, which I certainly don’t have, are a little unrefined. They’re dogs! They eat off the floor, chase their own tails, and roll in mud. And don’t get me started on porcupines and skunks! All that aside, their quirks are why we love them. Everything they provide far outweighs a little mud and tail-chasing! In fact, I love those things because they mean PLAY and HUMOR! I celebrate my fun and wild dogs by giving them a new dog food product line – UNREFINED. And you’re going to want to hear all about this.    

Why we love it:

• This food is made with fresh, sustainably-sourced proteins, and ancient grains simply harvested from family farms.
• Did I mention it’s made with freshly picked, nutrient-rich superfoods?
• UNREFINED is enriched with Taurine, an amino acid that helps to support your dog’s health.
• And it’s for all life stages – you can feed it to adult dogs and puppies too.

• Earthborn Holistic is a family-owned company with four kitchens in the US, and has never had a recall. EVER! Do I need to say that twice??
• Athena has seen a cardiologist so we’re sensitive to her needs. That’s why we love that Earthborn Holistic only uses the good stuff. They don’t use the foods on Athena’s no fly list, like peas, lentils, legumes, chicken, potatoes, by-products, fillers, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives.
• They also use innovative sustainability. Their PlantBag® contains up to 40% plant-based plastic, made from Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, and their plant-based plastic has a negative carbon footprint. NEGATIVE.
• And UNREFINED’s packaging is BPA-free and 100% recyclable through TerraCycle® and the Earthborn ReBorn program. And over 630,000 bags have been recycled and over $40,000 has been donated to pet charities. WHOA.

         

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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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.  

A few years ago, looking for solutions for some everyday items, I discovered TerraCycle boxes . These boxes available for purchase online or at Bureau en gros met a need especially that for the need that I had at that moment, I could simply go to Bureau en gros and drop off my pens and ink cartridges. No cost and no hassle!    TerraCycle was founded by Tom Szaky in 2001. While a student at Princeton University, he created the company to divert waste from landfills. Quickly, TerraCycle has become the world leader in the collection and processing of hard-to-recycle waste. Currently operating in more than 20 countries, TerraCycle reaches more than 200 million people. This project gives a second life to billions of pieces of waste. Zero Waste Boxes allow us to create recycling solutions for almost all kinds of waste! These boxes can be ordered in different sizes. Thanks to Terracycle coffee pods, used pens, plastic gloves, batteries, etc. have a recycling solution which has the effect of diverting billions of waste from landfilling and incineration. To learn more about the company: Terracycle.ca

RB has established a way to recover difficult-to-recycle packages in the healthcare and personal care markets Does cold and flu season inevitably generate packaging waste? Consumer brands can step up to treat people and planet, as TerraCycle and Loop CEO Tom Szaky enlightens us. A new example is the RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program, a national network for health-and-wellness package recovery.   Cough, cold and flu season is right around the corner, and in a world of year-on-year population growth, over-the-counter (OTC) wellness is only expanding. Millions of people annually manage seasonal symptoms with health products available without a prescription, items available at most convenience retailers, supermarkets and pharmacy stores at affordable prices and easy-to-use configurations. Packaging plays a huge role in this. Single-use plastics make pill jars, blister packs, syrup bottles, and throat and nose sprays easy to sell and buy—and we’ve also seen many prescription medicines move into the OTC space with user-friendly packaging. Of course, with the lower value production materials bringing down costs to purchase, most of this lightweighted packaging is typically non-recyclable through public programs. In a world of increasing sustainability concerns (not to mention, the changes in ailment and allergy season due to climate), raising the bar on circularity for the cough, cold and flu industries now can create new value propositions in the face of environmental uncertainty.   In sickness and in health: Consumer staples OTC cough, cold and flu drugs are considered consumer staples (that is, things people need year-round)—which is a category expected to grow 8.5% to a $491 billion industry by 2024. Due in large part to packaging technologies, manufacturers are able to deliver on the value propositions for everyday wellness, which (similar to food and beverage) include insurance of quality, ease of use and accessibility (both financial and geographic). Packaging in this space must be tamper-resistant; convenient; easy to open and close by adults (but difficult for young children to get into); space-saving; not prone to breakage in transport, on shelves or in use; and inexpensive enough to not drive up the cost of the product. In fact, many prescription medicines and medical-grade drug delivery devices (items such as pre-filled syringes, auto-injectors and nasal sprays) have crossed over from script-only into the OTC space thanks to single-use packaging.   A clogged system But the current state of global recycling aside, most of the packaging techniques used in the OTC space are non-recyclable. Small sizes, colored plastic, multi-layer and compositional components (such as tamper-resistant seals, blister packs, sachets and aseptic pouches), and shrink wraps are not economical to recycle. Costing money to collect and separate, recycling systems have not evolved to handle these items efficiently, and the materials have low value in the market. Nevertheless, the current track for single-use cough/cold/flu packaging is landfilling or incineration—and entirely loses out on their value as a material resource —and entirely loses out on their value as a material resource. Nearly all the new, virgin plastic produced is made to be used just once, then thrown away. What if even a fraction of the 280 million metric tons produced annually were captured to be recycled, and suitable markets found for the material so that they flow smoothly within the system?   Business can keep the system well Now and in the future, businesses and brands are in the strongest position to impact the supply chain. The bigger the business, the bigger the impact. RB, makers of popular consumer brands Mucinex, Enfamil and Airborne, are one of the latest conglomerates to work with TerraCycle on solving for these breaks in the materials economy through the Healthy You, Healthy Planet partnership. As part of its sustainability commitments to remove or reduce use of plastic packaging and invest in research into alternative materials, the corporation’s brand-sponsored, national recycling program with TerraCycle solves for difficult-to-recycle cough, cold, flu, sore throat and nasal care packaging, in addition to packaging for the following categories, from any brand: • Vitamins, minerals and supplements • Sexual health and well-being • Infant formula and child nutrition • Personal care and foot care From blister packs to baby formula tubes, even condom wrappers and personal care product tubes, the program accepts the many, varied types of packaging that deliver the products we use in everyday life. It also allows retail stores, colleges, gyms and other organizations to sign up as a public drop-off site and build up the recycling network. RB is also part of our new Loop platform, moving products from disposable packaging into the reusable, durable space. It is challenging for products in the health-and-wellness category to go refillable due to the issues of sterilization and reduced “toss-and-go” convenience upfront, the very reasons the category benefits from single-use packaging. But, as RB is proving, it can be done.   Healthy you, healthy planet What is good for the body, delivered in single-use packaging with no recycling solution, isn't always good for the planet, but what’s good for the planet is almost always good for us. Remedies for single-use packaging include recycling, but the key will always be reduction. Researching, developing, investing in and supporting better health care and personal wellness options is a much larger issue than the consumer goods industry, but they are related. The world will never not need products and services to keep us well, so it is imperative that the industry work to do better for the health and sustainability of its systems.

Two more companies have formed partnerships with Trenton-based recycler TerraCycle. Consumers of RB products like Mucinex, Airborne, and Durex, and of Zuru Bunch of Balloons products, can recycle packaging for free by sending them in to TerraCycle.   Consumers will be able to recycle packaging waste from all RB brands of vitamins and supplements, upper respiratory, sexual health & well-being, as well as infant formula & child nutrition, personal care and foot care. Vitamin bottles and caps to infant formula tubs will be cleaned and melted into remoldable hard plastic to make new recycled products. “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,” said RB North America Health Brands Executive Vice President Nitish Kapoor in a statement.   Through the Zuru recycling program, consumers can send in their water and party balloons, stems, and packaging waste with a prepaid shipping label to also be melted into remoldable plastic.

Global health and hygiene company RB, maker of popular consumer brands including Mucinex and Enfamil, announced today their partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle to offer consumers a simple and completely free way to recycle their consumer goods packaging.   The RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program will accept packaging waste from all brands of vitamins and supplements, upper respiratory, sexual health & well-being, as well as infant formula & child nutrition, personal care and foot care.   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.   “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,” said Nitish Kapoor, Executive Vice President, 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% of our packaging recyclable or reusable, while using at least 25% recycled plastic content in our packaging by 2025.”   Through the RB Health & Nutrition Recycling Program, packaging waste from the following categories will be recycled:   Vitamins, minerals and supplements packaging (Ex: MegaRed & Airborne): blister packs, tubes, bottles, cans, boxes, caps and lids Sexual health and well-being packaging (Ex: K-Y & Durex): tubes, bottles, wrappers, cans, boxes, caps and lids Cough, cold, flu, sore throat, and nasal care packaging (Ex. Mucinex & Delsym): bottles, tubes, spray bottles, blister packs, caps and lids Infant formula and child nutrition packaging (Ex: Enfamil): tubs, bottles, wrappers, cans, boxes, cap, and lids Personal care and foot care packaging: 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.   “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,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle CEO. “Since our founding, TerraCycle has made it our objective to recycle the unrecyclable, while diverting waste from landfills and local communities. It’s partnerships like the one we enjoy with RB that truly make a difference and make it possible.”

TerraCycle Adds Loop To Its Circular Economy Repertoire

Older readers may remember the days when the milkman would take away your empty milk bottles and replace them with full ones. CocaCola and hundreds of other products came in reusable containers. Commerce operated on what was known as the circular economy principle — the packaging that protected consumer products got returned to the source, cleaned, and used again and again. Then came plastics, those space age wonders that allowed anything and everything to be packaged in single use containers that were simply discarded. Corporations loved them because they were cheap and relieved them of the burden of collecting all those glass bottles and reusing them. What used to be considered a necessary part of doing business now became somebody else’s problem. As usual when an economic model allows companies to privatize the profits but socialize the costs, profits soared. Society, unfortunately, has not been so lucky. Today, millions of tons of plastics are resting for all eternity in landfills or floating in the world’s oceans. Pictures of plastic waste have been circulating on the internet for the past few years, showing mounds of plastics washed up on beaches on some of the world’s most remote islands. Microplastics have been found in the deepest parts of the ocean an atop the highest mountains. The public is finally recognizing that plastic waste is a huge problem that is getting worse by the day. TerraCycle is a global company that sees a business opportunity in promoting a circular economy. “We have found that nearly everything we touch can be recycled and collect typically non-recyclable items through national, first-of-their-kind recycling platforms,” it says on its website. “Leading companies work with us to take hard-to-recycle materials from our programs, such as ocean plastic, and turn them into new products, and our new Loop platform aims to change the way the world shops with favorite brands in refillable packaging offered with convenience and style.”

Introducing Loop

Credit: Loop

Recently, TerraCycle created a wholly owned subsidiary called Loop. “We envision the future of how we consume as a place where we receive higher quality, better designed products, that we can “throw in a bin” when they are finished with no cleaning, no sorting, and no hassle. But instead of that bin being a trash or recycling bin, it’s a Loop reuse bin, where everything is cleaned and goes around again and again. The future is not just about sustainability, it’s about a better life, where we can access breakthrough sustainability unconsciously.” At the latest World Economic Forum meeting, Loop announced it had formed circular economy partnerships with Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Mars, Clorox, Coca-Cola, Mondelēz, and Danone. Customers can order products from a variety of companies that are shipped to them in returnable and reusable containers packed inside a reusable blue Loop container. When the products are consumed, the containers are placed inside a similar Loop container, picked up by UPS or other package delivery service, and returned to the point of origin for re-use. Customers pay a modest service fee of the use of the Loop container. CleanTechnica reader Jessica Feinleib uses the Loop service and can’t say enough good things about it. “This is a great clean tech idea,” she says. Taming the torrent of single use plastic containers is vital to reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. According to an article from EDF on Medium, the International Energy Agency claims in a recent study that the manufacture of plastics will be one of the biggest drivers of an increase in the use of petroleum between now and 2050. In other words, we can all start driving electric cars but oil production — and the carbon emissions from oil — will continue to rise unless we do something about our insatiable appetite for single use plastics. In the final analysis, destroying the world for the sake of convenience is a monumentally dumb idea.  

"The most rewarding aspect is being able to do what I set out to do--having a business that has purpose." CEO Tom Szaky teaches us how to recycle virtually everything and live a zero-waste lifestyle  

The Reduce Single-Use project has placed black bins outside of Omega, Nu, and Kappa dorms for students to properly recycle solo-style cups. A new partnership with TerraCycle has given Eckerd's community a chance to correctly recycle their weekend staples: red solo cups.   “It's a company that basically is specialized in recycling products that are hard to recycle,” Professor of Marine Science and Biology Shannon Gowans said.   TerraCycle uses a special upcycling system to recycle products in an environmentally friendly way. This system reduces the carbon footprint that other major recycling processes create. Reduce Single-Use Project Intern Angelina Kossoff, a junior environmental studies major, is excited to partner with this organization.   “[TerraCycle] uses a circular method,” Kossoff said. “So we're using upcycling, and then recycling, and it will never go into a landfill or incinerator or anything. It uses the waste to create new materials and products.”   There are now seven special black bins across campus labeled with laminated signs and green lids that students can dispose their solo cups in.   “You can just put your solo cup in, it doesn't actually even need to be clean,” Kossoff said. “Then when we have a large enough [amount], they pay for the shipping label, and then we send it to them. And that's just a good way to recycle and reuse these materials.”   The Reduce Single-Use team hopes to eventually expand the partnership to other hard-to-recycle products common for students. They encourage students to watch their emails for surveys to get their opinions about what other products are common on campus and hard to recycle.   “There's a bunch of different ones,” Kossoff said. “There's one for laundry detergent, there’s one for toothpaste. So we're gonna work and figure out which ones will work best for people on campus.”   The team is also hoping that this initiative will encourage students to stop their use of plastic solo-style cups.   “I'm excited because it's an interim,” Reduce Single-Use Project Intern Trish Schranck said. “We are hoping, obviously, that solo cups will eventually leave our campus entirely. But until then, this is a nice intermediate step for students who are still engaging in using solo cups, to be able to dispose of them in a way that gives them a second life. So that's what I really love.”   TerraCycle is an organization started by a student from Princeton University, Tom Szaky, in 2001, according to their website.   There are unique benefits the organization provides, according to Gowans. It encourages more businesses to recycle materials that are harder to recycle.   “Some businesses are actually sponsoring the cost of recycling, and the shipping, which can be big,” Gowans said.   Schranck is interested to see how this branch of the project impacts the Eckerd community as a whole, not just those that are already environmental activists.   “It's a really great opportunity for students who aren't necessarily interested in recycling, to start thinking about recycling, because it's a party option. And if that's more of their lifestyle, then that's an exciting way to get in to recycling,” Schranck said.   This new initiative adds to the many changes, like more reusable alternatives, less plastic bags, and more, that the Reduce Single-Use project has implemented on Eckerd’s campus.