Mission Foods has partnered with Trenton, New Jersey-based upcycling firm TerraCycle to recover and reuse the steady stream of plastic foods bags and metal lids the tortilla giant produces. Mission packages its tortillas and tostadas in LDPE plastic, a material that typically don't make their way into recycling streams. Under TerraCycle Tortilla and Tostada Bag Brigade program, any individual or organization can collect and return Mission packaging, which will be upcycled by TerraCycle into new items like tortilla warmers, bags and accessories. The program is being conducted in concert with Mission's "Today's Mission for a Better Tomorrow" sustainability initiative, and consumers have the opportunity to donate two cents per unit of packaging they turn in to a charity of their choice.

TerraCycle’s recycling campaigns are so easy to participate in that nearly any company with any sense (and the opportunity) can get on board and get some good green PR for doing so. While I wouldn’t give most of the cheese companies below much green credit, it is at least good that they joined TerraCycle’s new Cheese Packaging Brigade, and big props to TerraCycle for its success in getting these huge brands to participate in such a program. Here’s more on the new Cheese Packaging Brigade from TerraCycle: Kraft Cheese has partnered with eco-innovator TerraCycle to help provide a second life for cheese packaging materials by converting waste materials into fun and unique products sold at major retailers! Every time you buy a Kraft product you and your organization can help divert the packaging from our landfills by sending it to TerraCycle. For each approved item received, 2 cents will be paid to the non-profit organization or school of your choice.

TerraCycle’s recycling campaigns are so easy to participate in that nearly any company with any sense (and the opportunity) can get on board and get some good green PR for doing so. The program is currently sponsored by Kraft Singles, Kraft String Cheese, Polly-O String Cheese, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Kraft Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel Cheese, Velveeta, Kraft Grated Parmesan, Athenos, Breakstone’s, Knudsen Cheese, and all other delicious Kraft Cheese products. TerraCycle also recently launched the Tortilla and Tostada Bag Brigade with Mission Foods, its first Mexican food partner. “Two cents per bag collected will be paid to Share our Strength, Mission’s charity partner, or to the charity of the collector’s choice,” Stacey Cusack of TerraCycle wrote in an email to me.

Tortilla brands Mission and Guerrero, both run by Gruma Corporation, package their tortillas and tostadas in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags. While technically recyclable, LDPE, identified by the #4 resin code, is not commonly collected in recycling programs.  The New Jersey-based upcycling company will take the tortilla packaging and use it to make new tortilla holders and other consumer products. It will also collect packaging from the companies' dips and salsas.

TerraCycle continues to expand its reach into all types of packaging waste with its latest collection programs for tortilla and cheese bags. The New Jersey-based upcycling company will take the tortilla packaging and use it to make new tortilla holders and other consumer products. It will also collect packaging from the companies' dips and salsas. TerraCycle already collects waste from various Kraft Foods products like Capri Sun and Lunchables, and will now take packaging from its Kraft Naturals, Velveeta, Philadelphia, Athenos and other cheese products.

Mission Foods, one of the nation's largest tortilla manufacturers, has partnered with upcycling company TerraCycle Inc. to recover and reuse plastic food bags and metal lids through TerraCycle's collection programs called Brigades.

Irving, TX —  Mission Foods^®, one of the nation's largest tortilla manufacturers, has partnered with upcycling company TerraCycle, Inc.^® to recover and reuse its plastic food bags and metal lids through TerraCycle's collection programs called Brigades. Mission^® brand tortilla, wrap and tostada bags and dip and salsa lids will all be accepted.