After Nationwide Vote, Teachers from North Carolina, Kansas and Michigan Chosen for Creating the Most Innovative Lessons in Environmental Education Is there one inspiring school project that will always stick with you? Lessons learned in the classroom often last a lifetime, which is the idea behind the new "Green Your School Fund" created by Tom's of Maine in partnership with Donorschoose.org. Teachers across the country were tasked with submitting classroom projects that help kids care for the planet and learn about pressing environmental issues in their community like air and water quality and sustainable agriculture. A portion of the "Green Your School Fund" was set aside for an innovation challenge, where teachers were asked to come up with exceptionally creative green projects. The top prize of $25,000 in classroom funding goes to a project idea from Cleveland Elementary School in Cleveland, NC. As determined by a nationwide public vote, the winning project teaches students sustainability as they learn to build vertical hydroponic gardens that use a solar powered water system and composted foods left over from student lunches to help the garden thrive. "Providing our young people with real world experiences and ways to solve important problems now will foster a love of learning and give them a competitive edge in becoming future problem solvers," said Lynn Bradley, the instructional technology teacher at Cleveland Elementary School who submitted the project. "We all need a champion to make a lasting impression that validates what we do as educators, whether it is by molding our talents, opening our eyes to a new idea or leading by example. This school year, Tom's of Maine has proven that sharing their passion for environmental stewardship through philanthropy can change the lives of many. Our learning will never be the same!" In second place, receiving $15,000 in classroom funding, is a project submitted by first grade teacher Holly Taylor from Adams Elementary School in Wichita, KS to improve air quality and combat the school's growing asthma problem by having students create air-filtration devices. The third place winner, receiving $10,000 in classroom funding, is a project submitted by sixth grade teacher Lori Barr from Pinewood Elementary School in Jenison, MI, which will allow students to examine bacteria in their local lake and explore ways to make it once again safe for swimming. The other seven finalists, each receiving $2,000 in classroom funding, were submitted by teachers from Ashford School in Ashford, CT; Buddy Taylor Middle School in Palm Coast, FL; Cummings School in Memphis, TN; Ella White Elementary School in Alpena, MI; Nauset Regional Middle School in Orleans, MA; Polo Park Middle School in Wellington, FL; and Sequoia Middle School in Pleasant Hill, CA.

While a large percentage of plastic we use in everyday lives is recyclable, there are still those items that cannot be recycled. These include various potato chip and other quick snack bags, which are needless to say, quite abundant. However the company 3D Brooklyn, which offers 3D printing services, has come up with a great solution to this problem. They have partnered with Terracycle, and together they created a way to use this unrecyclable packaging as raw materials for their printers. The process starts by Terracycle first turning the collected chips and plastic snack bags into plastic pellets. They then hand these over to 3D Brooklyn that turns them into the ABS PP/PE polymer filament needed for printing. In this way, those using 3D printers get a cheaper filament they can use in their designs, and the world gets a new way of recycling waste that was not recyclable before. Since one of the main criticisms of 3D printing is the plastic waste it produces, either by failed printings, or those that need a redo. Using already recycled plastic for the process is therefore a great idea, especially if the goal is to create and maintain a sustainable industry when it comes to 3D printing. A 1-pound spool of filament they create in this way is made up of 45 recycled polypropylene and polyethylene bags. 3D Brooklyn sells this filament for $24 per spool on their website, while they also use this material for projects with their own name on it. With 3D printing on the rise, I’m sure we’ll see a lot more such ingenious solutions. Let’s hope that this also eventually leads to lower price tags on the actual machines, which is probably the one major obstacle to wider adoption of 3D printing.

In a bid to decrease the amount of coffee capsules going into landfill, locals are encourage to join the NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Recycling Program. Established in 2014 by the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto team and recycling pioneers TerraCycle, the program turns used coffee, milk, tea and chocolate capsules into recycled materials that can be transformed into planter boxes, playground equipment and park benches. Spokesperson Gemma Kaczerepa says the donation process is simple. "It's really easy, you just need to head to our website which is terracycle.com.au, sign up to the program, collect any old box or bag and then put your used capsules in that bag and then once it's full, you just need to drop it off at your nearest Australia Post with a free shipping label attached which you can also download from our website. Then it all gets sent off for free."

The end-of-year holiday season is off in full swing, and the first date up is Thanksgiving. Whether you are hosting the main event, having mini-celebrations at work or school, or simply want to get in the spirit by decking out your home with festive flair, Thanksgiving is a great time to give thanks to the planet. Give careful consideration to what you buy and why, what you ‘need,’ the options for disposing of the packaging or product when you are done with it, and what you can reuse. In our enthusiasm to decorate, entertain and gift, household waste jumps 25%  during the holidays. Using reusable dishware over disposable cutlery, planning a meal of sustainably and locally sourced food, composting, and using nature’s holiday decorations make a huge impact on the health of the environment. These five decorative DIYs are proof that going green for Thanksgiving can make for stunning, unexpected presentations that charm and delight.

1. Malt-O-Meal Origami Flower Bouquet

A table of loved ones and friends is made brighter with a lively centerpiece. Fresh flowers, while lovely, can be a bit pricey and take a real toll on the land, water and climate and only last a short time. Make a switch from the usual arrangements and go with this handmade version. A sure conversation starter, a vase or bowl of these intricate blooms adds color and interest without breaking the bank. Best part? You can bring them out for other special occasions, or to brighten someone’s day. Click HERE for Malt-O-Meal Origami Flower Bouquet DIY Instructions

2. DIY Acorn Eggs

This fall may have left you with an abundance of  acorns (which also look great as décor in glass containers), but these cute “faux acorns” made from last season’s Easter eggs not only carry some extra kitsch, but also may be a little safer to have around little ones. We like the cool metallic golds and silvers used here, but feel free to modify the colors to match the theme of your party or the scheme of your home. Click HERE for Acorn Eggs DIY Instructions

3. Falling Leaves Garland

Glitter-phobes beware! This glam take on an autumnal garland loves the light and catches the eye. We’d swap out the artificial leaves from the craft store with real ones that have fallen from our trees for a true tribute to the Fall foliage; pick them early and dry between the pages of a book for perfectly flat, sturdy leaves that will lay nice and straight when strung. Click HERE for Falling Leaves Garland DIY Instructions

4. Ella’s Kitchen Placemat

Who said the “Kid’s Table” gets left out? Dapper dining need not be saved for the adults. Placemats pull the table setting together, and these colorful, durable placemats are kid-proof, spill-proof, and can be an opportunity to get little hands involved in your holiday preparations. All you need for these simple placemats are Ella’s baby food pouches and colorful tape. Prepare several sets for a matching spread for all of your tables, or sweet DIY gifts for friends. Click HERE for Ella’s Kitchen Placemat DIY Instructions

5. Wine Box Wine Charms

Keeping everyone’s drinking vessels straight in a day full of dining, hors’ oeuvres and dessert can be daunting. It can also be a bit more stylish with these fitting wine charms made out of a wine box. Highly customizable, dainty and adorable, you can decorate them with glitter, paint, stickers or googly eyes. Better yet – have a wine & design party with family and friends to dazzle up your drinky duds; repeat every year, and you’ll have quite a collection. Click HERE for Wine Box Wine Charms DIY Instructions

Los consumidores lo están dejando muy claro: esperan que los fabricantes hagan sus envases más reciclables. Para nosotros en TerraCycle, una empresa que recicla los materiales catalogados como difíciles de reciclables, este movimiento hacia formatos de envases reciclables es en términos generales un gran avance. TerraCycle reconocido internacionalmente como una compañía que desarrolla sistemas de recolección selectiva para el reciclaje de más de 100 tipos de basura (objetos desechables, empaques flexibles, objetos de oficina, productos de belleza, cuidado bucal, cápsulas de café usadas y colillas de cigarro) que no suelen ser reciclados por programas de reciclaje tradicionales. Actualmente en 20 países, la empresa se asocia con grandes compañías, marcas y gobiernos para implementar programas de reciclaje diseñados específicamente para los productos y sus empaques. Si un día todos los envases se hicieran reciclables a nivel municipal, TerraCycle estaría feliz de cerrar sus puertas y salir del negocio. Sin embargo, la realidad es que aún una gran mayoría de los envases se considera no reciclable para los estándares municipales. Esto trae a la luz una cuestión más amplia, una en la que he estado centrado durante muchos años desde que entré en la industria, ¿por qué consideramos que ciertos materiales sean simplemente "no reciclables"? Mi misión ha sido demostrar esta idea, el decir que ciertos materiales son impermeables al reciclaje, es completamente un mito. En pocas palabras, todo es reciclable. Lo que normalmente determina si es reciclable o no puede resumir con una palabra: la economía. ¿Dónde está el incentivo económico para reciclar algo si cuesta más recoger, clasificar y procesar que enviarlo simplemente a un vertedero? No es que un vaso de plástico es científicamente incompatible con la tecnología del reciclaje; es que no hay dinero para ser procesado y convertirlo en espuma de polietileno. Frente a este hecho, mi empresa ha demostrado que los envases como los tubos de pasta de dientes, bolsas de patatas fritas, bolsas de galletas y todos los elementos que serían rechazados en una instalación de reciclaje de hecho si pueden ser reciclados de manera correcta. El patrocinio corporativo hace que nuestros programas de reciclaje sean gratuitos para los consumidores, por lo que los costos típicos de recolección van por cuenta de las empresas. Podemos experimentar con nuevos materiales y envases híbridos, mientras que las empresas lo que hacen es compensar los gastos de recaudación. Claramente, los materiales en si no son el problema. La cuestión es que durante demasiado tiempo las empresas de gestión de residuos han dictan lo que es reciclable o no es reciclable. Entendemos ahora que todo se puede reciclar, pero no hay suficiente beneficio para atraer a la mayoría de las empresas para que lo hagan. La verdadera máquina de hacer dinero es de residuos sólidos o basura. En 2012, por ejemplo, la mayor empresa de gestión de residuos en los Estados Unidos (Waste Management), hizo alrededor de 8,5 millones de dólares en recolección de basura; más del 60% de sus ingresos totales de ese año. Tomando la rentabilidad sobre la sostenibilidad, la gestión de desechos se basa esencialmente en un menor número de materiales que están siendo reconocidos como reciclables por lo que más acaban en el vertedero. .......

Environmentalism and sustainability are now essential aspects of brand building, and in an increasingly competitive marketplace, effectively engaging consumers poses many challenges. For starters, the expanded retail landscape has altered the way consumers interact with products and services.  E-commerce sites, dynamic mobile apps, and text message ordering systems afford infinite possibilities for communicating sustainable initiatives and marketing; standing out from direct competitors and defining oneself as a leader in the category requires an extra level of value strategy.   Getting back to basics may help businesses and major brands better communicate their dedication to the circular economy, engaging the consumer through an invitation to participate. Through our partnerships at TerraCycle, we’ve seen several consumer product brands and businesses experience success with in-store recycling collections. Recycling is already one of the most accessible and easily understood aspects of environmental stewardship for the average consumer. Activating a promotion around recycling using a brick-and-mortar retail program, a time-tested mode of marketing, can offer benefit to sustainable brands on many fronts, and to lasting effect.   Drives Foot Traffic   One of the invaluable positives to an in-store recycling promotion is the foot traffic it generates. Though marketing experts like to attribute the burgeoning trend of e-commerce to millennial shopping behavior, the reality is that all generations of consumers find themselves taken with the convenience of shopping online. But brick-and-mortar retailers offer customers what online shopping can’t:  the opportunity to physically touch, feel and experience products for themselves.   The advantage created by making recycling the reason a customer enters a brick-and-mortar retail store is a two-fold: number one, you get them in the store and, number two, they have something to feel good about before they even buy anything. For example, just in time for Back-to-School 2016, TerraCycle activated the Binder Recycling Program with workplace supply leader Office Depot. Consumers are incentivized with $2 off of the purchase of any new binder and the opportunity to divert their old and used binders from the trash by dropping them off for recycling.   Creating in-store foot traffic around an empowering behavior like recycling inspires goodwill and positive feelings in the same environment where purchases occur, maximizing profit potential for each retail transaction.   Builds Brand Loyalty   We know that consumers are now more willing to pay more for sustainable products and services than ever before. But while cost, performance and credibility remain prohibitive factors standing between consumers and “doing the right thing,” creating and strengthening brand loyalty for these eco-conscious companies is essential for driving sales against well-established competitors. This is especially true for smaller, specialty brands like Earthborn Holistic, a premium pet food brand available in select stores. Presented for purchase alongside well-known dog food brands like Purina or Iams, Earthborn Holistic is faced with the tall order of offering the consumer a promise of value exceeding that of other pet foods.   Earthborn has chosen to provide customer-facing recycling boxes for its product packaging to communicate its commitment to sustainability to both retailers and customers. Retailers can promote themselves as a collection point for Earthborn packaging, and shipments of empty Earthborn bags sent to TerraCycle for processing earn them points which can be exchanged for cash donations to the local pet charity of their choice, or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).   This type of sustainable marketing rewards the consumer by giving them the opportunity to invest in a charitable cause. Emotional and social value benefits are prevalent here, as the activation plays to emotional sensibilities and allows the consumer to make a social statement by favoring a brand dedicated to causes like recycling and the humane treatment of animals.     In-store recycling collections are a visual, tactile way to engage customers with the product you are trying to sell. Consumers are driven to purchase by a variety of factors, and it’s up to manufacturers and brands to figure out what those are, and market accordingly.

Bausch + Lomb is launching a program to encourage consumers to recycle its contact lenses. The recycling program, known as #ONEbyONE, allows patients to recycle their used Biotrue ONEday contact lenses and other Bausch + Lomb contact lenses and blister packs through a free program, developed by Bausch + Lomb, in partnership with TerraCycle, a leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste. “Bausch + Lomb is not only committed to providing patients with innovative vision care, but to practicing good stewardship within our business practices,” said Guy Guglielmino, head of marketing, vision care, Bausch + Lomb. “This includes working closely with companies, such as TerraCycle, who is making progress in the areas of recycling, reusing and reducing waste and energy consumption in hopes to better preserve our environment for future generations.” Bausch + Lomb is celebrating the launch of the #ONEbyONE recycling program with a consumer event on America Recycles Day, November 15, hosted by Biotrue ONEday. The event, which will be held at the Marshall B. Ketchum University’s Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) in Anaheim, Calif., is dedicated to helping people end littering, improve recycling and beautify America’s communities, Bausch + Lomb said in a statement. The event will feature an educational and interactive experience for students and the surrounding community, giving them the chance to participate in the #ONEbyONE recycling program and celebrate America Recycles Day. “We’re proud to partner with a leader in the vision care industry such as Bausch + Lomb to provide consumers an opportunity to take a small step each day in hopes to one day leave a larger positive impact on the earth,” said Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle. “This is the first time we have recycled at a large-scale in this category and we hope the Bausch + Lomb #ONEbyONE program will inspire participation from current and future patients who previously have not had an option to recycle their contact lenses.”

Todos espaços de trabalho da TerraCycle foram mobiliados e decorados com materiais reciclados e supraciclados, e os resultados são incríveis, com ideias que podemos reproduzir em casa ou num espaço comercial.

Transcript: This National Recycling Week, locals are encourage to join the NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Recycling Program. Established in 2014 by the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto team and recycling pioneers TerraCycle, the program turns used coffee, milk, tea and chocolate capsules into recycled materials that can be transformed into planter boxes, playground equipment and park benches. Spokesperson GEMMA KACZEREPA says the donation process is simple. *audio*