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Don Francisco’s & Café La Llave Espresso Capsules Variety Pack 50-Count Now $13.39 (Was $21.99)

image.png Amazon has the Don Francisco’s & Café La Llave Espresso Capsules Variety Pack 10 Each, Recyclable Coffee Pods (50 Count) Compatible With Nespresso Original Brewers priced at $21.99. Clip the coupon and check out using Subscribe & Save to get this for only $13.39 with free shipping.  
  • ENJOY EACH OF OUR FOUR ESPRESSO CAPSULE VARIETIES; Café La Llave, Old Havana, Clasico, Organico. Discover your favorite!
  • RECYCLABLE COFFEE PODS: We have partnered with TerraCycle for a recycling program that makes Don Francisco’s Coffee Pods recyclable through terracycle.com
  • COMPATIBLE WITH NESPRESSO ORIGINAL BREWERS: specially engineered for Nespresso Original Line brewers to deliver a high-quality and consistent espresso, shot after shot. Not compatible with Nespresso Vertuo brewers. *Not affiliated with Nespresso.
  • FOUR GENERATIONS STRONG: Our family’s expertise extends more than 140 years and is headquartered outside of Los Angeles in the city of Vernon.
  • Enjoy each of our four espresso capsule varieties; 10 Cafe La Llave, 10 old Havana, 20 CLASICO and 10 ORGANICO. Discover your favorite!
  • BLENDED, ROASTED and PACKED at Our Zero-Waste-To-Landfill Roastery in Los Angeles
  • Specialty: Kosher
To get this deal:

Bliss Launches New Way To Care For Your Skin & Clean The Planet

TRENTON, N.J: Bliss, a clean, cruelty-free, spa-powered skincare brand has partnered with international recycling leader, TerraCycle, to make the packaging for its line of personal care products nationally recyclable in the United States.
As an added incentive, for every shipment of Bliss waste sent to TerraCycle, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. We know that our shoppers care not only about what they're putting on their bodies, but also the implications their choices have on the environment and world around them, says Meri Baregamian, CEO of Bliss. We are thrilled to be entering this partnership with TerraCycle to ensure that our products are not only efficacious, but environmentally friendly. This marks one of Bliss' key sustainability initiatives and we are excited to continue evolving our products to be cleaner and more sustainable. Through the Bliss Recycling Program, consumers can now send in all Bliss personal care products and packaging including flexible and rigid plastic, pumps, sprays, packets, pouches, tubes, jars, and complex closures to be recycled for free. Participation is easy simply sign up on the TerraCycle program page https//www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/bliss and mail in the packaging waste using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. All Bliss products are 100% cruelty-free and free from more than 1,300 harmful ingredients that consumers do not want on their skin or body. Bliss believes that taking care of each other and the environment are fundamental to achieving a higher state of happy. Through the launch of this recycling program, Bliss is achieving their goal of helping everyone experience unapologetic happiness by guiding consumers to focus not only on the wellness of the skin, but on the wellness of the planet, said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. Beginning on November 15th for National Recycling Day, the Bliss Recycling Program will be open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. For more information on TerraCycle's recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.

Contact Lens Companies Adapt Corporate and Product Manufacturing Sustainability Goals

NEW YORK—Around the world and increasing in the U.S., major contact lens companies have continued to articulate and escalate their commitment to sustainability goals and are communicating those messages more frequently to both providers and patients. As VM has reported, according to the AOA, many patients are unaware that there is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of their worn contact lenses. The organization cited a 2018 Arizona State University study which found “as many as 1 in 5 contact lens wearers dispose of their lenses down the sink or toilet, contributing an estimated 6 to 10 metric tons of plastic lenses to U.S. wastewater each year. Furthermore, those lenses break down into microplastics at treatment plants, posing a risk to marine organisms and the food supply, researchers claimed.   Earlier this month, Bausch + Lomb reported that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. “As a leader in the eye health industry and the originator of the first soft contact lens, we are proud to provide the ONE by ONE Recycling program to contact lens wearers to help prevent these used materials from ending up in our environment,” said John Ferris, general manager, U.S. Vision Care, Bausch + Lomb. “In addition, as part of our overall approach to sustainability, we continually evaluate the full life cycle of our lenses. In fact, many of our contact lenses, including Biotrue ONEday daily disposables, are manufactured in facilities that have adopted zero-waste-to-landfill initiatives and have achieved diversion rates of 94 percent to 99 percent during the past few years, further supporting our long-standing commitment to doing all we can to lessen our company’s overall environmental footprint.” Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight. More details are posted at www.BauschRecycles.com In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. CooperVision continues to expand its commitment to sustainability as a company. Its parent company, The Cooper Companies, has aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global framework and action plan intended to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity and peace for all by 2030. In addition, CooperVision is manufacturing its clarity 1 day lenses at its LEEDS certified facility in Costa Rica, a tropical country that has transformed itself to 98 percent renewable energy sources. The Alajuela facility, which hosted a visit from some 20 ECPs over a year ago also highlighted initiatives the company has underway as part of its stepped-up efforts toward sustainability, including recycling efforts and packaging programs, too. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care also has initiated contact lens recycling programs in Europe with TerraCycle, has revamped its contact lens packaging and its efforts are part of a broader company-wide position embracing sustainability as it impacts energy, company waste reduction, manufacturing systems, and other investments. The company’s website emphasizes the company’s goals as part of its corporate social responsibility missions. Read more about it at www.jjvision.com/corporate-social-responsibility. At Alcon, the company has developed and issued a sustainable packaging guide for their packing design teams, utilized best practice packaging case examples, shared among designers across the company. Alcon has also made sure the company’s design and development program ensures products are manufactured and placed on the market in conformance with global product-related legislation, including EU Medical Device Regulation, REACH, RoHS, Packaging Waste and global equivalents. To help bolster awareness around proper contact lens disposal, the AOA’s Contact Lens and Cornea Section (CLCS) developed a resource to help doctors educate their patients.

3 essential keynotes from virtual expo Spark Change

In a year of heretofore unseen changes, a little inspiration can go a long way. Over the past several months, Spark Change has provided a virtual platform for inspiration driven by a series of keynote addresses centered on some of the most pressing and relevant themes affecting the natural products industry today.   These themes—Mission-driven Business, Modern Health and Organic and Regenerative—served as the focal points of the three community events that took place during the online trade show. The community events created both a space for deep inspiration and the sense of community that is so important to our industry.   For those that may have missed these talks or who wish to watch them again, it’s still possible to head over to the Spark Change platform for a reprise. Not yet registered for Spark Change? It’s not too late to register here.   In the meantime, below are synopses of three keynote talks that are already helping Spark Change in the natural products industry.     During his empassioned keynote,Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle, emphasized the importance of committing to sustainable packaging solutions as a business—whether on the retail, manufacturing, distribution or consumer front—in a talk centered on “Eliminating the idea of waste.”     Nutrition pioneer and award-winning dietitian Kate Geagan of Kate Geagan Sustainable Nutrition has spent much of her career studying the intersection of human health and nutrition, good food and how we can transform our food system to be more sustainable and regenerative on a daily basis. In her fascinating keynote Geagan delves into what modern health means to today’s consumers.     Former U.S. Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan is joined by Debra Eschmeyer, the former executive director of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Initiative and senior policy advisor at the White House, during this keynote. In it the two trailblazers discuss strides made in the organic industry over the past 30 years and the importance of bringing back a broad-based coalition involving environmental and consumer groups, among others, as we look to the future of organics.

How Cannabis Can! is Navigating Recycling in a Newly-Legal Industry

The cannabis industry is forcing businesses in every sector from finance to waste to rapidly adapt to evolving state regulations while adhering to the federal government's stance on the plant.   The rush to open business doors as the United States progresses on the legalization front has left little time to set up the mechanisms needed for waste collection and recycling.   A former Cleveland Clinic practitioner with two decades of family and occupational medicine experience, Dr. Bridget Williams became discontented with the pharmaceutical approach of traditional medicine. She made a leap into the cannabis space with Green Harvest Health (GHH) and is determined to find a solution to the industry's waste dilemma. Cannabis was legalized in the state for medicinal use in 2016, and Ohio's first dispensary debuted in January 2019.   “I opened up my own offices with cannabis and CBD and then tried incorporating holistic practices as well,” Williams explains. “I was interested in really supporting the community that has supported our efforts.”   Shortly after opening her clinic, Dr. Williams - along with Ally Reaves, founder, Midwest CannaWomen and Solomon Oyeyemi, owner, Green Ideas and Wellness - launched Cannabis Can!, a nonprofit that is, among other efforts, working to establish a sustainable recycling system for the state. In a recent conversation, Dr. Williams and Waste360 outlined how legalization is impacting waste collection efforts and what progress is being made to create a recycling model for cannabis in Ohio.         Waste360: There are communities across Ohio that don't have any kind of recycling program. Coupled with the fact that cannabis is still banned on a federal level, the issue of what to do with the industry's waste presents a host of problems. Has there been any progress made since 2019 in terms of being able to recycle cannabis or take that waste and put it toward use?   Dr. Williams: In 2019, when we first got started, the number of plastics and packaging that's related to [cannabis] sales – and we're not talking about just even the cannabis flower, but all the processing units as well – that are sold, were about over a million just from the manufactured product and probably over almost 3 million units of cannabis packaging from the plant material. So, nearly 5 million units of packaging have been produced and it is growing every day from sales.   Cannabis Can! is a nonprofit project under GHH Community Foundation. We are a group of cannabis businesses as well as cannabis business supporters that want to work collectively and network to serve the communities that are serving us here in Ohio. And so, before the recycling program came up, we ran two different food collection campaigns, raising over $5,000 of money and then over a half-ton of food.   In the short time that we've been an organization, we realized that a big problem that we were facing was the recycling issue, that there are aspects of the packaging, which is recyclable, but a great deal of it is non-recyclable pieces, including batteries. We wanted to see if we could find a solution to this issue. So, we started doing our research, looking to see what our options were. When we realized how big of a problem that was, we really wanted to not just do a campaign but actually develop a program that could serve the entire state. So, we were looking for recycling organizations that helped not only recycle non-recyclables but also recycle cannabis-related industry recyclables because everyone doesn't do that as well. And that's how we got in touch with TerraCycle, which is out of New Jersey. And that's basically what they do. They have a huge program out in Canada, where they are recycling packaging for a large group of dispensaries out there, and they are really excited to get involved with us down here in Ohio. So, we approached the Board of Pharmacy, which is the governing body for a great deal of the cannabis industry here, and they're really interested in what we have suggested and presented to them. And we're in the midst of writing our final proposal to them to actually be able to get the program started, and then actually raise the money to be able to fund the program.   Waste360: What are the challenges and the opportunities that starting a recycling program from scratch presents?   Dr. Williams: This is going to be an incredible opportunity for all in the medical cannabis industry. I think Ohio is really trying to create a stellar program that is well maintained. We have a number of restrictions, but I think what our restrictions offer is a well-controlled program. So, we're excited to add this into what could be very beneficial for the state. So, some of our challenges are creating a program from scratch and looking at residuals or being able to make sure that we are avoiding any concerns about any illegal behavior that might be related to residuals in cannabis packaging. So, we have to make sure that everything's secure and safe. And then we're also raising the money to be able to fund the program itself. One of the benefits of this is that being a nonprofit, we're looking for small and large donations that will be able to fund the recycling program. And then it's also a tax write-off for these corporations being that it’s coming through a nonprofit organization.   I'm working with a group that's outside of Ohio, and we're working with the [Drug Enforcement Administration] DEA to make sure that if we're transporting any material at all, but it's still considered legal. So these are some of the things that have come up, but that we're actually working through and getting some really positive feedback from the DEA, from the state and from TerraCycle as well. We're at the point that we're creating the proposal to then get the final word and then start creating our fundraising program. That's one of the other things that we're looking at - grants for recycling programs that would support such a large effort.   Waste360: What other states have you been researching that already have something established?   Dr. Williams: TerraCycle is in a number of different states on a smaller scale. Not as far as a statewide program, I think what we've looked at probably a little bit closer is what they're doing in Canada. They have a large group of dispensaries that are doing something similar where they are starting with batteries and in phases. Other aspects of recycling, including the residuals and a phased program makes sense, and phasing in is what we're able to do. So we're looking at the plastics, the biowaste, the metal, as the program grows. That's what we've looked at the closest. Based on the proposal, it's obviously going to be very detailed and thorough, just based on the legality and all the intricacies of the cannabis industry.   Waste360: How long do you think this phasing will take, and how is it going to be implemented?   Dr. Williams: That is really dependent on the state. It could possibly be six months to a year before we would implement the next phase. When you're talking about a recycling program, it's not just about putting out a bin and hoping people show up with their materials. There's a great marketing campaign that has to go with that so that people know where to go, what they can bring, what they can even recycle still at home and what they need to bring to the dispensary to be able to recycle. Our plan is to have a bin in every dispensary in Ohio, which is going to end up being about 54 to start.   Waste360: Do you see patients asking for this type of option for recyclable packaging options, or a move towards sustainability in general?   Dr. Williams: Absolutely. We did a survey of the cannabis patients as well as the industry business owners, and 80% believe if there was a recycling program with cannabis and CBD packaging that 95% were willing to support and participate in the recycling program for Ohio.   Waste360: What are the next steps for the organization?   Dr. Williams: We're really in the midst of making sure that this effort is successful. So, creating the proposal, the fundraising and getting this project off the ground is a huge, huge effort for the organization, and that's going to be a great deal of our focus. As we go on, we're building more and more of what we consider collaborative networking. Cannabis can be a very competitive space, but we have the most optimistic, friendly and wonderful people that work with us. And it's creating more projects that really support Ohio. That's where our focus is – on supporting the Earth with recycling and supporting our communities by doing food donations. We would love to do more community projects that support the people around us as well. As we move forward, I think we'll continue to have a lot of growth and continue to do more and more projects that support the community.  

I Built A Quality Capsule Closet By Shopping Secondhand — Here’s How You Can, Too

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Like many people during the pandemic-induced shelter-in-place orders, I turned to improving my living space with all of the free time I suddenly found myself with. While many looked to revamping their at-home workspaces or repainting their living room, I cleaned out my clutter-filled closet — and then turned it into a capsule wardrobe.
As a writer that’s been covering fashion trends for years, shopping is not only my favorite pastime but also basically part of my job. Over the years, though, I had managed to collect so much clothing that it was causing me to feel like I was drowning in my own closet. And so, confined to the walls of my apartment, I decided it was time to give my wardrobe a makeover.
While I’ve always tried to keep sustainability in mind when shopping, by buying from ethical brands and shopping secondhand, I was still guilty of making a few fast fashion purchases each season. I often made impulse buys on a whim, which led to a closet full of clothing and accessories I wore once or, worse, never at all. With the pandemic, this became only more apparent: As I wore my new uniform of hoodies and bike shorts during most hours of spring, summer, and fall, my impulse buys gathered more dust in the back of the closet.
Inspired by fashion writer and influencer Stephanie Broek, I decided to create a capsule closet, a tightly curated and streamlined wardrobe made up of quality staples and statement pieces — one that I sourced as sustainably as possible. (I also had a move on the horizon, and my new closet space would be a far cry from the walk-in closet my husband and I were sharing, which I had already taken up 95 percent of.) And so I made a pledge to myself to quit shopping for new pieces entirely, promising to only buy secondhand and vintage pieces going forward.
After a week spent downsizing, a few months of sourcing “new” secondhand pieces, and a new physical closet later, I’m working with a wardrobe that's less than 50 percent of what it used to be, and 100 percent more wearable. Here’s how you can build a capsule wardrobe, too.

Assess what you already own

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The first step in creating a curated closet is assessing the pieces you already own. The idea is to build a wardrobe filled with clothing you’ll wear again and again. With that in mind, take a look at the contents of your wardrobe and decide what doesn't fit that description.
After taking out the pieces you hardly or no longer wear, decide: What can you resell (to make money to reinvest into your new wardrobe), and what can you donate? Bring your items to sell at stores like Buffalo Exchange (which also offers Sell-by-Mail program) or Crossroads Trading, or mail them to be sold virtually at places like thredUP. You can also sell the clothing yourself on platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Depop.
Before you think of tossing something just because it has a bit of wear and tear, consider taking the time to mend it. “It’s really important to fix nicer, classic items before buying new — for example, resoling a black bootie or fixing straps on a designer handbag,” says Cassandra Dittmer, a sustainable stylist, consultant, and expert. “Shifting your mindset to a place of taking care of what you already own is a powerful way to evolve as a consumer.” Fun fact: One of my favorite shoes is a pair of sculptural Marni sandals (pictured here) that I've gotten cleaned and resoled after finding them secondhand.
For pieces that may seem too far gone to salvage or donate, do some research on where you can bring them to be recycled (do not just throw them away as they’ll end up in landfills). Living in NYC, I drop off my unwanted clothing at donation bins from HELPSY, a textile recycling service that sorts through your old goods and recycles anything unwearable into rags for industrial use. If you don’t have a similar donation bin near you, look at store programs (ReformationH&M, and Levi’s are just some of the brands that will take clothing from any brand) that will recycle them for you. You can also pay to ship unwanted clothing and textiles to be recycled through programs like TerraCycle.
Once you’ve sorted through what you already have (and hopefully made a few bucks in the process), you’re ready to start rebuilding your wardrobe.

Fill the clothing gaps

Every capsule closet should have a variety of classic pieces that won’t ever go out of style. Think items that have remained staples for the last few decades: trench coats, crisp button-downs, cashmere sweaters, blue jeans, black boots, blazers, etc. “These are the items you can wear any given day from year to year that never look outdated,” says Liisa Jokinen, vintage expert and founder of vintage search engine Gem, a platform that indexes vintage and secondhand items from all over the world (more on it below). “You can never go wrong with these items, and they’re easy to mix with anything. They’ll also save your day when you feel like you have nothing to wear.”
After looking at what remained in your closet, fill in the missing gaps. The good news is that all of these timeless pieces are usually available in excess pre-loved at places ranging from affordable thrift stores to luxury consignment boutiques. Prioritize what you need first by seasons. Did you let go of a bunch of old fast fashion, not-so-warm winter coats ahead of the cold weather? Start by investing in one or two practical coats that work with everything, like a simple trench or understated peacoat.
Getting dressed should be fun, which is why your closet should also include statement pieces. In this case, opening yourself up to vintage can lead to many one-of-a-kind options. “Shopping vintage is one of the best ways to experiment with funky and unique silhouettes,” says Dittmer. “It’s a great way to explore different eras of fashion and boundaries within your own personal style.” But while you should have fun, do think about the wearability of the piece. “I would avoid anything that feels too costume-y, it’s easy to get carried away when you’re shopping secondhand. I try to remind myself, if this piece was new, would I still buy it, or am I only liking it because it’s vintage? I still make sure it’s something I would reach for without the vintage clout.”
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Jokinen recommends opting for statement items like jewelry, blouses, and shoes, or other “small accents that don’t make your whole outfit scream for attention.” This way, you can pair them with the classics you already own. “Think of combining the above-mentioned white blouse with a pair of dangling statement earrings, or blue jeans with a pair of shoes in a bright color.” For Dittmer, it’s all about subtle statement details, “like a pearl button or unique scallops.”
Of course, this doesn’t always have to be the case. If you find the perfect vintage floor-length sequined dress — something you probably wouldn’t wear every day, but you know you’d wear time and time again over the years — by all means, go for it, so long as it’s not an impulse purchase. My rule of thumb is: If I see something amazing in a shop or online that I can’t stop thinking about for a week or two, it’s worth buying. “The important thing to consider when shopping for statement pieces is that they should be purchased just as thoughtfully as your classic pieces,” says Dittmer.

What to invest in

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Owning a high-quality wardrobe doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend a fortune. Thanks to shopping vintage and secondhand over the years, I have amassed a collection of built-to-last pieces I would have never been able to afford new.
That said, there are some things worth investing in — things you’ll be able to wear for literally decades to come, or easily resell when you're done with them. “Anything from Chanel to Hermès, to Gucci — those are the pieces you can always resell. Not necessarily for profit, but you won’t lose out on all your money,” points out Jokinen.
A few months into quarantine, I fell in love with a vintage Gucci Boston bag that I found on The RealReal. Despite it being older with a bit of wear and tear, it was still in good condition. It was pricier than I wanted it to be, but I knew it would last me, as long as I took care of it, and be worth it in the end. Not only was it a classic style — a medium-sized barrel shape with two top handles — but modern iterations of this style still make their way down current Gucci runways. Even at a higher price than some of my other purchases this pandemic, I still ended up paying a quarter of what these bags go for today.
Labels aside, there are a couple of wardrobe staples that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on to ensure that they last season after season; according to Dittmer, “investing in quality shoes, denim, and basics is a good place to start.”
On the other hand, there are some items that aren’t worth shelling out for that you can easily score at a wallet-friendly price (and without running to your local Zara), such as trendier styles that probably won’t be as in-demand a year from now. “Most of the current trends are so easy to shop secondhand, as fashion is largely inspired by past decades,” says Jokinen. “Things go in circles. Plus, by shopping trends secondhand, you can create your own interpretation of them and stand out, which is the fun part!”
For example. one trend that’s been having a moment for a few seasons is the puff sleeve dress. Why spend on a pricy designer item — or a cheap fast fashion duplicate — when you can find plenty of show-stopping pieces straight from the ‘80s? Not only will they be one of a kind, but as Jokinen points out, the quality of pieces over 20 years old is much higher than of clothes produced today, so they’ll last you much longer. That said, do look at what the item is made from when deciding on a purchase. “I would avoid cheap and synthetic fabrications and focus on natural fibers,” says Dittmer.
Still, if you really want to buy something of-the-moment from a buzzy contemporary brand, it’s possible to do so secondhand. There are plenty of people selling their gently worn pieces on platforms like Vestiaire, Depop, and Series. That’s where I’ve managed to nab pristine Orseund Iris knits and a Stand Studio coat without having to drain my savings account. It just might take you longer to find the exact piece you want.

Where to shop secondhand

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With our ability to shop in person limited due to the pandemic, there's no longer the thrill of the physical hunt — digging through rack after rack in an overstuffed secondhand shop. However, we can thank the internet gods for giving us access to vintage and consignments from all over the globe and the ability to search exactly what we’re looking for. My new favorite way to shop is through Gem, a platform that aggregates a whopping 30 million products through major luxury designer consignment retailers, online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, as well as thousands of independent vintage shops. Another great platform is Thrilling, an online marketplace that sells goods from over 130 small vintage stores across the U.S. Compiling an assortment of designer and no-name vintage, it offers a wide range of price points and highlights Black-owned vintage businesses.
For specific designer labels, whether a vintage handbag or something from a contemporary brand, I love shopping on The RealReal, Vestiaire, Heroine. Platforms like DepopThredUp, and Poshmark are also great for more affordable brands.
There are also plenty of independent vintage e-commerce stores to choose from. Personally, I love The NXCVintage Shop for in-your-face colors and prints, Mirth Vintage for neutral wardrobe staples, Berriez for a size-inclusive assortment of colorful statement pieces, The Break for an incredible curation of quality shoes and bags, and Singulier MTL for chic ‘60s and ‘70s retro wares.
Months after beginning this journey, my closet is much more cohesive, and it takes me significantly less time to get dressed. Despite reducing what I owned by 50 percent, I feel like I now have more options because I have pieces that are more wearable and can be mixed and matched together in a number of ways.
I constantly reach for my classics: the vintage men’s blazers I’ve had for years, my newly downsized collection of denim, basic turtlenecks and tees for layering, Dr. Martens boots, and a vintage burgundy Helmut Lang trench coat my husband scored for me a while back. While filling the gaps, I’ve added a tan leather trench, a handful of plain men’s button-downs, and a vintage leather blazer à la Nanushka into the mix. Next on my list are a simple leather skirt and a pair of high-rise trousers.
In terms of statement pieces, I still cherish my collections of vintage long-sleeve maxi dresses and colorful mini bags, as well as a pair of vintage platform Prada boots and the aforementioned Marni sandals. However, some of my favorite statement items I own were pandemic purchases: the floor-length logo-covered Fendi winter coat of my dreams, a leather Zayna Bayne harness bra, a satin bustier, and a chunky chain link necklace — all secondhand purchases.
While I’ve taken the pledge to quit shopping new for the time being, does that mean I’ll never buy another new thing, ever again? Likely not, but, the next time I do choose to, I’ll be much more mindful about what I’m purchasing and who I’m supporting. From brands upcycling deadstock fabrics to ones that have adopted a circular fashion model, there are plenty of small, independent brands, who are trying to combat fashion waste, to turn to should I fail to find something secondhand. “We have so much access to wonderful clothing that I now prioritize brands that are transparent and ethical and that deserve my investment,” confirms Dittmer.
Ultimately, when building a sustainable capsule closet, it’s about starting with what you have in your current closet and changing your consumption habits to be more mindful in the future. Think through each purchase, whether it's secondhand or from a sustainable label, and make sure it’s something that you’ll wear after the current season comes to an end. Most importantly, take care of the clothes you wear so that you can keep wearing them — and so that someday, someone else can, too.

I Built A Quality Capsule Closet By Shopping Secondhand — Here’s How You Can, Too

image.png Like many people during the pandemic-induced lockdown orders, I turned to improving my living space with all of the free time I suddenly found myself with. While many looked to revamping their at-home workspaces or repainting their living room, I cleaned out my clutter-filled closet — and then turned it into a capsule wardrobe. As a writer that’s been covering fashion trends for years, shopping is not only my favourite pastime but also basically part of my job. Over the years, though, I had managed to collect so much clothing that it was causing me to feel like I was drowning in my own closet. And so, confined to the walls of my apartment, I decided it was time to give my wardrobe a makeover. While I’ve always tried to keep sustainability in mind when shopping, by buying from ethical brands and shopping secondhand, I was still guilty of making a few fast fashion purchases each season. I often made impulse buys on a whim, which led to a closet full of clothing and accessories I wore once or, worse, never at all. With the pandemic, this became only more apparent: As I wore my new uniform of hoodies and bike shorts during most hours of spring, summer, and fall, my impulse buys gathered more dust in the back of the closet. Inspired by fashion writer and influencer Stephanie Broek, I decided to create a capsule closet, a tightly curated and streamlined wardrobe made up of quality staples and statement pieces — one that I sourced as sustainably as possible. (I also had a move on the horizon, and my new closet space would be a far cry from the walk-in closet my husband and I were sharing, which I had already taken up 95 percent of.) And so I made a pledge to myself to quit shopping for new pieces entirely, promising to only buy secondhand and vintage pieces going forward. After a week spent downsizing, a few months of sourcing “new” secondhand pieces, and a new physical closet later, I’m working with a wardrobe that’s less than 50 percent of what it used to be, and 100 percent more wearable. Here’s how you can build a capsule wardrobe, too.

Assess what you already own

image.png The first step in creating a curated closet is assessing the pieces you already own. The idea is to build a wardrobe filled with clothing you’ll wear again and again. With that in mind, take a look at the contents of your wardrobe and decide what doesn’t fit that description. After taking out the pieces you hardly or no longer wear, decide: What can you resell (to make money to reinvest into your new wardrobe), and what can you donate? You can also sell the clothing yourself on platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Depop. Before you think of tossing something just because it has a bit of wear and tear, consider taking the time to mend it. “It’s really important to fix nicer, classic items before buying new — for example, resoling a black bootie or fixing straps on a designer handbag,” says Cassandra Dittmer, a sustainable stylist, consultant, and expert. “Shifting your mindset to a place of taking care of what you already own is a powerful way to evolve as a consumer.” Fun fact: One of my favourite shoes is a pair of sculptural Marni sandals (pictured here) that I’ve gotten cleaned and resoled after finding them secondhand. For pieces that may seem too far gone to salvage or donate, do some research on where you can bring them to be recycled (do not just throw them away as they’ll end up in landfills). Living in NYC, I drop off my unwanted clothing at donation bins from HELPSY, a textile recycling service that sorts through your old goods and recycles anything unwearable into rags for industrial use. If you don’t have a similar donation bin near you, look at shop programs (ReformationH&M, and Levi’s are just some of the brands that will take clothing from any brand) that will recycle them for you. You can also pay to ship unwanted clothing and textiles to be recycled through programs like TerraCycle. Once you’ve sorted through what you already have (and hopefully made a few bucks in the process), you’re ready to start rebuilding your wardrobe.

Consumer-Obsessed Innovation: Dive Into the CGSM 2020 Agenda

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This year’s Consumer Goods Sales and Marketing Summit is dialed-in to the business concerns that are top of mind for CG and retail marketing executives: collaboration, transformation and monetization. Finding success in all of these areas requires companies to put the consumer at the center of everything they do, which is why the theme of this year’s virtual event is Consumer-Obsessed Innovation. Packed into two days of keynotes, panels and workshops on Dec. 8-9, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and network with speakers and peers, all conducted on an interactive and engaging virtual platform. As you make your plans to win in 2021, register for CGSM 2020 to learn how to thread Consumer-Obsessed Innovation throughout your business. Highlights from the agenda are below, and you can see the full lineup here.

TUESDAY, DEC. 8

 

OPENING KEYNOTE: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS; TAPPING INTO INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

Moderator: Tim Denman, Editor-in-Chief, CGT Panelists: Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO, TerraCycle Giles Bolton, Responsible Sourcing Director, Product Quality, Tesco Maxence de Royer, Vice President Strategy, Business Development & Sustainability, Nestlé Every major undertaking takes a village. This is especially true when it comes to making more meaningful and lasting connections along the consumer journey. Moreso now than ever, consumers want to make purchases that are purposeful, and to better understand their behavior, retailers and CG brands need to work closer together to meet these evolving demands. By breaking down external silos — and using technology in innovative and authentic ways — brands, retailers and consumers can benefit from partnerships that are stronger than ever.

GEORGIA-PACIFIC PUSHES THEIR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY THROUGH CO-INNOVATION

Speakers: Chad Watson, Director of Digital Core Process, Georgia-Pacific Peter Charette, Global Solution Owner – Consumer Products, Consumer Products IBU Georgia-Pacific has a clear strategy to stay on the cutting-edge of technology within the consumer products industry. Learn how Chad Watson leveraged SAP through co-innovation on addressing an industry pain point of trade claims management with SAP’s intelligent trade claims management (ITCM). Uncover his experience and outlook on future co-innovation opportunities with SAP’s industry cloud.

LESS IS MORE: HOW TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATES AND MONETIZES BRAND INTELLIGENCE

Speaker: Franck Sarrazit, Principal Consultant, Brand Experience, Qualtrics Traditional approaches for gathering consumer insights are often complex, time consuming and expensive, and rarely yield actionable data. They can also be inaccurate, with the gap between reality and research findings growing. With the COVID crisis, the need to challenge the status quo and think about new ways of doing things more efficiently is accelerating. Technology enables companies to unify multiple data sources for a simplified, actionable view. The result is a clear and quantitative understanding of what drives brand growth, and a higher return on the market research investment.

REVENUE GROWTH MANAGEMENT (RGM) SHARE GROUP MEETING

Speakers: Gabriele Plate, Client Services Director, EMEA for UpClear Rajeev Prabhakar, Client Services Director, Americas for UpClear In this session led by UpClear, the RGM Share Group will review the CPG RGM framework and its continuum. We will then dive specifically into integrated business planning and consensus forecast and explore organizational maturity. It is at this stage in the promotion planning lifecycle when alignment from sales, finance, and supply chain are most critical, as they drive commercial plans. Participants in the Share Group will assess their organization maturity on that journey and outline next steps on their roadmap.

CLOSING KEYNOTE: FROM THE FRONTLINES OF CONVENIENCE: HOW TO 'WIN WITH WINNERS'

Speaker: Yesway, CMO, Derek Gaskins Bringing together disjointed teams is a major undertaking, especially during a pandemic. Mix in mergers and acquisitions, and you have another level of complexity that can create a siloed approach to sales and marketing. In this session, we will hear from the frontlines of convenience stores as Yesway’s CMO Derek Gaskins shares how he has brought his passion of data, analytics and loyalty programs to the organization. He will explore how integrating people, process and technology has allowed Yesway to scale at breakneck speed. The Yesway team is laser-focused on the consumer, collaborating with supplier partners, and breaking down sales and marketing silos to build the nimble organization of the future. Learn how they maximized their marketing efforts in the age of disruption.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9

 

OPENING KEYNOTE: CG BRANDS LEADING FROM THE FRONT WITH E-COMMERCE

Moderator: Cheryl Perkins, Founder & CEO Innovationedge LLC, Panelists: Lee Bogner, Global eCommerce Leader - Enterprise Digital Commerce Architecture and Strategy, Mars Claudia Fenske, Director of eCommerce Sales, WD-40 Company Surabhi Pokhriyal, Global Director E-Commerce Acceleration, Johnson & Johnson E-commerce has taken on a new sense of urgency in 2020 as brands turn to DTC to get products into consumers’ hands quickly and seamlessly. But e-commerce success is easier said than done; companies must build a collaborative team that is able to maximize growth as commerce blurs the distinction between brands, retailers, media and advertising. This panel discussion will explore the talent, technology and organizational structure necessary to win in digital and provide a behind-the-scenes look on how to develop an e-commerce strategy that produces results.

HOW WHIRLPOOL ACHIEVES ITS PERFECT STORE AMBITIONS

Speakers: Mauro Gaeta, Go-to-Market Solution Architect, Whirlpool EMEA Simon Dechent, Global Market Development Lead for Consumer Products Sales Applications, SAP Consumer products companies can no longer rely on the strength of their brand alone. In order to connect with modern consumers and build customer loyalty, they need to deliver the right products at the right place and time. Whirlpool, one of the world’s largest household appliance manufacturers, will share how they create the perfect store with intelligent sales tools that turn its sales reps into trusted advisors. Mauro Gaeta and Simon Dechent will discuss market trends in the consumer products industry go-to-market in traditional and modern trade; challenges Whirlpool faces in today’s retail environment; and the benefits seen, including increased sales rep productivity and improved store performance. Join us to learn about best and next practices to achieve a perfect store vision.

LET’S GET TOGETHER: CONSUMER PRODUCT BRANDS ARE MOVING CLOSER TO CONSUMERS

Speakers:  Paul Smith, Vice President of Sales, South Market Unit, SAP Sunny Neely, Senior Solution Manager, Consumer Products, SAP Getting closer to the consumer has never been more important. This session brings trends, insights and a handy DTC playbook that shares how DTC digital natives behave differently. It will explore why understanding evolving un-met needs and real-time, hyper-personalized trust-based engagement is a must for consumer product brands; why DTC commerce platforms need to have a low total cost of ownership; how smart innovations for remote selling matter; and how to fulfill to the last mile successfully while offering consumers an A+ experience.

WORKSHOP: WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK FROM DTC? DOING WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE, WON’T GET YOU WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT

Speakers:  Paul Smith, Vice President of Sales, South Market Unit, SAP Shady Ghattas, Global Director, Consumer Products Go To Market, Sales & Solution Strategy, SAP The DTC landscape has been completely transformed with channel shifts, buyer behavior changes, evolving un-met consumer needs, digital customer acquisition and engagement, and the emergence of new challengers. What are the drivers, inhibitors, enablers and measures of success that enable a DTC business to expand and enhance? This interactive Mural workshop brings together practitioners and peers and dives deep into the evolving DTC landscape. Explore why DTC is relevant, why engaging with it could drive breakthrough business outcomes and ensure a positive customer experience, and how to define and measure DTC success. In addition, workshop participants will identify and explore DTC barriers, including customer acquisition, capturing first-party data, and subscription churn and how to overcome them.

CLOSING KEYNOTE: CONSUMER-OBSESSED SMBS 

Moderator: Alarice Rajagopal, Senior Editor, CGT Panelists: Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer, e.l.f. Beauty Joel D. Warady, President, Catalina Snacks Inc. Dan Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Tiesta Tea Company Building meaningful, long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with consumers is the heart and soul of the consumer goods industry, as well as the catalyst for both technological innovation and strategic investment. This panel will highlight how leading small- to midsized CG brands that have embedded consumer obsession throughout the organization are able to leverage that consumer-first mindset to lead from the front with innovative sales and marketing strategies.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful participating in 3 Terracycle programs

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Keep Knoxville Beautiful is participating as an official collection point for three Terracycle recycling programs.
According to a release, Keep Knoxville Beautiful is expanding its efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling by enabling the community to recycle hard to recycle items.
The recycling bins will be out Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and all day and night on the weekends, weather permitting.  
Accepted items include:
  • All Bimbo Bakeries brands bread bags. People should make sure there are no crumbs left in the packaging to prevent unwanted pests.
  • All Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands flexible plastic packaging (i.e. bags, pouches, liners, and wraps). People should make sure there are no crumbs left in the packaging to prevent unwanted pests.
  • Colgate Local: People can recycle all brands of used or empty oral care products and packaging, including toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, dental floss containers, mouthwash bottles, etc. Do not include any electric toothbrushes, battery toothbrushes, and/or their parts.
Accepted items can be brought to the Keep Knoxville Beautiful office at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum at 2743-B Wimpole Avenue in Knoxville. The office is located just behind the Visitors Center above the garage.
Once the collection bins are full, officials will ship the recyclables to Terracycle for recycling.
You can find more information about the Terracycle recycling program at http://www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org/recycling.  
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Amika x TerraCycle Announce Recycling Program

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Amika, a line of cruelty-free hair care products and tools, has announced its partnership with TerraCycle to create a nationwide recycling program. Related: Bliss x TerraCycle Debut Recycling Program Through the recycling program, consumers can send in Amika hair care packaging including tubes, bottles, trigger heads, complex closures and tinted glass to be recycled for free. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. In addition to the program, for every shipment of Amika packaging waste sent to TerraCycle, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. Chelsea Riggs, Amika’s brand president, said, “Amika products were kind and clean before it was a thing. Cruelty-free, clean hair care formulations in recyclable packaging have guided our product innovations since the beginning. What it means to be truly sustainable has evolved with new technologies, and we made a pledge to take steps in reducing our impact on the environment. Our vision is to eventually have fully closed-loop production of our packaging. By partnering with TerraCycle we can guarantee our product packaging will see a new life and not compromise our planet.” TerraCycle CEO and founder Tom Szaky said, “The launch of the Amika recycling program represents a unique opportunity for consumers to divert waste from landfills. Together, we are making it simple to be a friend to the planet and have a positive impact on the environment for future generations."