Tom Szaky, founder and chief executive of TerraCycle – a leader in eco-capitalism and upcycling, shared insights into how his brand has grown by engaging consumers in recycling post-consumer products and packaging.

The first day of the Sustainable Brands Sydney conference has brought together over 200 of Australia’s sustainability industry professionals to analyse the environmental and social impact of brands. Local and international thought leaders discussed how Australia can be part of a sustainable world, creating business models that deliver both purpose and profit, at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 27 June 2016.

The environmental and social impact of brands are being increasingly scrutinised by stakeholders, employees and most importantly consumers, and the demand for new products, services and business models that deliver both purpose and profit, is soaring. The world has changed and transparency is paramount. Innovative brand leaders with their focus on positive, sustainable outcomes will thrive, whilst those who fail to deliver will dive.

By 2025, 75 per cent of the global workforce will be millennials. Born between 1982 and 2000, this diverse group has been labelled entitled, self-indulgent and selfie-obsessed, but the data shows they are significantly more engaged with sustainability and social justice than previous generations.

The environmental and social impact of brands is being increasingly scrutinised by stakeholders, employees and consumers. Innovative brand leaders with their focus on sustainable outcomes will thrive, while those who fail to deliver will dive.

Waste items most commonly known to be recyclable include glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastics like water bottles or milk jugs. Many opportunities to capture and divert potentially valuable materials from the landfill are missed. Examples of these missed opportunities include industrial waste, like solvents, paints and adhesives, and electronic waste, such as computers, microwaves and washing machines.

A Metro Vancouver mayor is pitching a B.C.-wide return-it deposit for cigarette butts — similar to the fees charged for pop cans and beer bottles — as a way to keep the litter from contaminating storm drains and local waterways.

Pepper’s Pet Pantry of Solomons is now a public drop-off location for a pet food bag recycling program, allowing residents to return their empty bags during store hours and aid in the reduction of landfill waste.

A empresa é chamado TerraCycle, e seu objetivo é recolher os itens que as pessoas normalmente consideram impossível reciclar...

Kulturális-közéleti beszélgetés Veiszer Alindával Vendég: Tom Szaky, a Terracycle alapító-vezérigazgatója.