Recycling and sustainability are becoming increasingly visable as key factors for action at the consumer-level. The need for environmentally-sound practices has galvanized companies around the world, and it’s no coincidence that the world’s most admired companies are sustainability stars; consumers around the world report a willingness to pay more for goods and services from businesses known for commitment to social and environmental value.   At TerraCycle, we have worked with hundreds of brands and consumer packaging goods companies- large and small- to help them reach (and develop new) sustainability goals. Now more than ever, we are seeing some of the largest companies on the planet shifting toward environmental stewardship as part of their CSR intiatives—and the potential benefit for the environment is huge.   Our partner PepsiCo, while just one example, has created massive impact through Recycle Rally: a K-12 school initiative challenging children to recycle on-campus and engage their communities. Since 2010, thousands of K-12 schools have recycled 59 million bottles and cans and received portions of $1 million in prizes. In addition to the reward incentives, PepsiCo has invested in developing and sharing a broad array of educational resources and tools and is inspiring students with art projects that utilize used cans and bottles. When recognizable brands like PepsiCo lead sustainability at this level, environmental stewardship is more likely to resonate with younger generations— and the success of Recycle Rally is a great indicator.   Unilever, makers of everything from food to personal care products, is another large corporation accepting its environmental responsibility. Unilever recently set ambitious reduction targets aiming to slow down the depletion of natural resources, to success. The multi-national consumer goods company decreased waste associated with the disposal of their products by 29% since 2010, and 60% of its agricultural raw material was sustainably sourced by the end of 2015. They have also launched campaigns that encourage recycling like #RethinkRecycling, which emphasizes the recycling of bathroom products. Unilever has outwardly stressed the importance of recognizing the impact that businesses have on issues such as global warming and sustainability, and implicates itself as a leader in future-proofing.   But it is not just about targeted environmental action campaigns at the consumer-level: large corporations are collaborating to innovate around sustainability and create far-reaching solutions to global environmental challenges. Companies are realizing that in order to even have a future, they have to create one together- which is why some of the largest companies in the world have joined The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 17. It is an exciting collaboration between companies to “share their ideas, data, and insights on addressing key global challenges.” Through open communication, these industry partners hope to accelerate environmental developments and find the sustainable solutions that we all need. Collaborations like this are necessary in today’s interconnected global environment, and the world’s largest brands are taking the lead.     Industry leaders can and need to engage their consumers (and industry partners) around sustainability, as their reach and impact across the globe is undeniable. With the resources and collaboration of large corporations like PepsiCo and Unilever, issues like recycling and environmental stewardship can be in the forefront of more minds for dynamic solutions. 

Education is at the core of environmentalism. To be able to understand sustainability, environmental issues, and the importance of circular waste solutions is to be conscious of the challenges faced on this planet, and awareness is the first and most important step in creating solutions. The discussion of implementing proactive environmental consciousness starts with our youth, who have the most influence on the trajectory of our eco-infrastructure. How do we effectively educate younger generations on the importance of environmentalism? The challenge is preparing the youth to be active participants in addressing present and future environmental issues. A way to do that is to present environmental stewardship as fun, exciting and accessible. Stimulating, entertaining activities like games, competitions, and workshops bring complex concepts like sustainability and resource conversation down to a level that kids can relate to, empowering them to take action, and inspiring them to teach others to do the same. The NCF-Envirothon, sponsored by the National Conservation Foundation, is a competition that engages students through mental stimulation and the thrill of the chase. As North America's largest high school environmental education competition, this race pits high school students against each other through a series of “field tests,” getting students to solve environmental problems across a variety of categories such as aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use. The winning teams win cash rewards, incentivizing knowledge and awareness of environmental issues and the application of tools available to solve them. Teachers and educators play equally critical roles in paving the way for future generations. One program getting youth involved at all educational levels is the GrowNYC Recycling Champions Program. In partnership with the NYC Department of Education Sustainability Initiative and the NYC Department of Sanitation, this program provides external resources like PowerPoint presentations, set-up and trouble-shooting guides, handouts and signage for use in the classroom and cafeterias to teach students, teachers, and custodians in New York City public schools K-12 about recycling and waste reduction. Blueprints for student activities and faculty development workshops engage and develop at all levels. This type of leadership coming from the public sector allows best practices to be taught to all age groups in the education system, and encourages children to use them in social settings. Even multinational companies are stepping in to invest in the next generation of environmentalists. For years, TerraCycle has partnered with PepsiCo to promote their recycling program built with kids in mind. Structured like a game, PepsiCo’s Recycle Rally engages students K-12 through recycling competitions and prizes for active participants. The program also offers resources such as art projects, educational resources and materials, and progress tracking tools, allowing educators to introduce younger minds to recycling and promote their school’s recycling achievements. With a total of $1 million in prizes awarded to thousands of schools, and 59 million beverage cans and bottles recycled to date, PepsiCo’s impact has been massive, and continues to grow. Organizations and companies putting forth the resources to educate younger generations about sustainability are investing in our future environmentalists. Building better systems and resource infrastructures requires people who understand the importance of reducing waste and being mindful of their carbon footprint, and training kids to care about these issues at a young age will provide that security. The same way that conserving resources now will benefit us in the long run, teaching the value of environmental consciousness to youth in the present will create generations of activists in the future.

Making complex concepts like sustainability and the importance of circular waste solutions compelling to young consumers can be a real game: literally and figuratively.

Getting people excited about environmental issues can take a bit of strategy. Natural resource depletion, global warming, landfill waste and water contamination are topics that can be intimidating when presented to the average consumer, especially for the demographic we most hope to reach: young people and future stewards. With so much on the line for establishing sustainable infrastructures for future generations, it is important that we find ways to engage youth and make motivations for environmentalism positive and fun.

 TerraCycle is a leader in waste collection, repurposing it into innovative materials and products. The company works with over 110 brands worldwide and 60 million people in 21 countries to collect non-recyclable, post-consumer waste for upcycling and recycling.

If you are one of the many people who use PUR or Brita filters for your water, there is exciting news! Both companies have partnered with TerraCycle to create recycling programs

Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour, according to the Recycling Revolution website, but one Georgetown school has found an opportunity to turn their sodas into success.

Survey data indicates that, compared to older generations, younger generations are more supportive of environmental legislation and the notion that global climate change is the result of human activity, yet are simultaneously less likely to recycle or recognize the benefits of recycling.

His story sounds like a frat-house comedy, in which a shaggy-haired Princeton kid discovers the recipe for totally awesome pot, and turns the idea into a business. His secret: fertilizer made from worm poop.

"Since their U.S. launch in September 2009, our Frito-Lay sponsored TerraCycle bag brigades have diverted over 23 million of our post-consumer snack bags from landfill. The program expanded into Brazil, Mexico and Israel in 2012, collecting more than 6 million bags in just one year. The program now operates 70 brigades in 22 countries.