Part of the problem with landfill waste is that it takes up so much space. Waste solutions such as biodegradable plastic and incineration that are seemingly safe for the environment and make our “trash” disappear appear to be a great option. An item made of biodegradable plastic, or PLA (polylactic acid) is appealing because you can throw it away and it will (supposedly) disintegrate and disappear back to where it came from. Incineration whisks away our trash with a puff of smoke.

There are so many vibrant organizations, people, and innovations that could be named the Elite Eight of Sustainability. When Bag The Box asked for my picks of the Elite Eight, I knew I was going to have a difficult time. I’ll admit my final list is missing some great picks, but here are my final choices for the Elite Eight of Sustainability. Runa Tea (organization): Runa was born from the traditions of the Kichwa people of the Amazon – sharing conversation and music over the tea. A group of students imagined that they could make a sustainable business that would both bring this idea around the world and support the Kichwa. Today, Runa has planted more than 150,000 new trees, conserved rainforest, and brought stability and higher income to struggling locals. Ocean “gyre” plastic (eco-innovation): The gyre plastic from the middle of the Pacific is just sitting there. Time to start putting it to use: Method soaps is starting to use gyre plastic for all their packaging instead of making new. Not only does this lessen the carbon footprint of their production, it helps lessen our previous impact.

Almost six months ago I wrote about a new program that I expected to sharply expand our recycling efforts and possibly even shift our entire business model. The program, I thought then, was about two weeks from its introduction. Turns out, we didn’t quite get there. What happened was a series of huge information technology delays — so many that the program has only just now gone into beta testing with an anticipated go-live date of mid-April. The goal is to be up and running in time for Earth Day (April 22), which is effectively Christmas for companies like TerraCycle. If it does come together, it will not be the first major evolution of our business model. We got started selling worm-waste plant fertilizer in reused bottles. Today, we still sell our plant food but we also have more than 30 million people around the world collecting previously non-recyclable waste streams that we turn into more than 1,500 products.

Designing packaging for second life implies reuse in a very permanent sense, rather than just refilling a plastic water bottle a few times before tossing it. This concept has the potential to entirely change the game for reusable packaging-as long as the trend can gain some momentum. Some concepts, explored as early as the 1970s, already have faded, but design for reuse is picking up steam once again and I am excited to see if it can reach its potential. Here are a few cool examples: Heineken “brick” bottleThe Heineken WOBO:This beer bottle was designed to be reused as a brick; with a square instead of a cylindrical build, the bottles could be stacked together, and with circular ridges on the sides, they wouldn’t slide off each other. Instead of being called a beer bottle that could be used a brick, it was dubbed “the brick that holds beer.” It’s no longer around, but it was certainly ahead of its time and led the way for reusable packaging design. PUMA’s Clever Little Bag: The bag is actually a shoebox that doubles as a shopping bag to carry the shoes out of the store and, later, tote around whatever else you’d like- groceries, books, clothes and more. It also reduces the amount of cardboard required and makes a plastic shopping bag obsolete.

I recently came across this article on environmental persuasion on CNN.com, and was inspired by the realism it represented. The article talks about the efficacy of subtle messages – or “nudges” – to encourage eco-friendly behavior. While some people may argue that they don’t want their thinking influenced by subtle messages from others, the fact that the messaging seems to have worked remains nonetheless (not to mention that people’s thinking every day is influenced by other subtle messages – think about TV commercials!) So if these “nudges’ an be used to influence our purchasing habits, can they not also be employed to help us make more responsible choices?

Any consumer who tries to make responsible purchases knows the challenges. Disposable bags at the grocery store are still free in most states, but reusable bags are not. Most natural beauty products are more expensive. Grass fed, hormone-free beef is more expensive. It’s not surprising that a common perception of “eco-friendly” is “more expensive.” Still, cost is one of the most frequent barriers to moving towards more sustainable habits or programs. Other concerns include difficulty of program implementation, low interest of the consumer, or a lack of understanding. In all of these cases, there are solutions, and the benefits of implementing a program far outweigh the costs, including time and energy.

We’ve all heard it on the radio or seen it on TV: “Sell your gold for cash, fast!” This phrase makes people leery of the gold buying industry and reinforces the misconception that the gold buying interest is simply the pursuit of profit and ripping people off. But with the environmental consequences of mining virgin gold and other precious metals, a closer look shows that the gold buying industry is not entirely built upon profit and actually provides an eco-alternative to mining. Mining Pollution When you sell back your gold, you are essentially selling it back to be reused or recycled. With the gold that you sell back, the gold industry now has gold to work with and can skip the harmful step of mining from the Earth and disrupting ecosystems and natural habitats. The mining industry does have sustainability standards that evaluate the availability of resources, pollution, and effect on community, but the fact is that regardless of standards set in place, any time the Earth is mined for its good it is harmful to both the planet and the air.

Consumers are demanding more transparency in sustainability efforts; stakeholders and investors are doing the same. As corporate citizens we need to give it to them. Giving customers what they want is key to any business, and to keep investors and stakeholders on board, transparency is crucial to keeping them informed and happy. Packaging is at the front line of the sustainability battle, since it is one of the most tangible aspects eco-responsibility and is literally in consumers’ hands all the time. Nearly any purchase requires some thought towards packaging, whether it involves food, medicine or even new shoes.

TerraCycle’s food packaging recycling programs began with drink pouches. Those programs have expanded from Capri Sun and Honest Kids drink pouches, to Flavia Fresh Packs, Sprout baby food pouches, and Method Cleaner Refill packs. Clif Family Winery is soon launching a Brigade for their Climber Wine Pouches and other wine pouch packaging. Nowadays, pouches are in every aisle of every big-box retailer. They’re convenient, durable, lightweight, affordable, an all around “win”… that is until it is time to recycle them.

As both packaging professionals and consumers, we live lives dominated by packaging and its science. When we pick up a product at the grocery store or order something new online, we think about what the item itself is packaged in, how it was or will be sent to its destination, and what will happen to it after we use it. What are the possibilities? What are the limitations? 2012 brings an entire new year of searching for packaging solutions and creating new options for consumers and the eco-minded. Because we’re both producers and users of packaging, we see both sides of the problem: the science and the facts, and the problems consumers face in choosing a product with eco-friendly packaging, and employing the solutions available for that packaging. For 2012, I have four packaging resolutions for TerraCycle and five packaging resolutions for myself-something to think about as we head into the New Year. TerraCycle Resolutions 1. Work on the packaging of our own products, and solutions for the products themselves. As we evaluate and change our own habits and science, we can improve our processes and packaging along with the recycling solutions available to the consumer. 2. Help support the compostable packaging movement. In order for consumers to appreciate compostable packaging and compost it correctly, they need to understand how the packaging can be eco-friendly and learn to overlook the potentially noisy side effects. 3. Develop a TerraCycle composting solution for our partners. Some people aren’t interested in composting, even if their product packaging is compostable. Hopefully, the movement will grow, and we can support it by offering composting solutions for our partners in addition to our traditional TerraCycle processes. 4. Brainstorm new products to be made from the packaging we collect. The possibilities are endless, and we’re always excited about new ideas.