Tom Szaky
Founder, TerraCycle
"I think only if you are a service company trying to inspire confidence in your clients -- i.e. lawyers and accountants. If you are not one of the above, I wouldn't have a dress code. In fact, at TerraCycle, we have a "negative dress code." You shouldn't show up in a suit and tie. You'll be asked to dress down."
TerraCycle: Una empresa basada en las nuevas ideas del eco-capitalismo que se ha visto desbordada debido al éxito. Así es TerraCycle, fundada por los jóvenes Tom Szaky y Jon Beyer en 2001, cuando aún eran estudiantes en la universidad de Princeton. ¿Y qué es lo que hacen? Pues básicamente, convertir la basura en dinero. Sí, claro. ¿Y cómo? Ellos cuentan que la idea nació inspirándose en una caja de gusanos. Empezaron pactando con los comedores universitarios para poder utilizar los restos de comida que iban a parar a la basura. Con este residuo, generaban abono a partir de su vermicompostaje (compostaje con lombrices), que luego vendían. Hasta aquí todo normal.
Lo bueno es que para su puesta a la venta en el mercado, utilizan
botellas de plástico reutilizadas, recolectadas por lo que ellos llaman las Brigadas de
Botellas de Terracycle, repartidas por toda Norteamérica, y que básicamente son niños a los que se les insta, después de una serie de campañas informativas y de concienciación ambiental en sus escuelas, a recopilar las
botellas de plástico que utilizan en casa.
Terracycle está creciendo muy rápido, ni los mismos fundadores se lo esperaban, y están reajustando su estructura, muy amplia y de enorme potencial. Ahora mismo, lo que están haciendo es redistribuir y organizar estas brigadas que, además de recoger botellas de plástico, también recolectan botes de yogurt, corchos de botellas de vino y otros embalajes a cambio de algo de dinero (todavía no hay nada tan eficaz como el dinero como incentivo). La empresa valoriza estos residuos poniéndolos de nuevo en el mercado. En su página web puedes ver algunos de sus productos. Terracycle es una de las 100 compañías más innovadoras, según la revista Red Herring, y recientemente ha sido galardonada con el premio Environmental Stewardship Award, organizado por Home Depot Canada. Aquí la página web de
TerraCycle, en inglés pero se comprende.
This year’s slate also includes three films that are on the short list for Oscar nominations for Best Documentary. Those include Josh Fox’s Gasland, which questions the safety of Halliburton’s natural gas drilling technology, known as “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing. That film will be screened Jan. 22, 7 p.m., and will feature an appearance from Mr. Fox. (NOTE: Gasland was originally scheduled to be shown Jan. 23. Waste Land, which was scheduled for Jan. 22 has been moved to Jan. 23 at 1:30 p.m. That screening will feature a talk by TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky.)
“I love the fact that I can make money and help the planet at the same time. But making money is number one and that drives everything else. It’s just been a blessing really to find a model where it really clicks together in that way.” – Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO, TerraCycle
KissMyCountry had the opportunity to talk with Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, which manufactures products from non-recyclable waste. It’s a fascinating and exciting company that reflects the energy, creativity and commitment of Tom Szaky and his team. Enjoy this frank and information-filled conversation with a true business genius who is committed to saving the planet. This is Part 1 of a 2-part interview. In Part 1, Tom talks about his early years as an entrepreneur and the growth of TerraCycle into a company with endless possibilities. Enjoy!
The words “waste” and “garbage” have always had such negative connotations. “You’re a waste of space.” Schoolyard taunts about smelling like a garbage picker. The phrase “garbage in, garbage out,” which refers to something made with low quality materials that will also yield a low quality final product.
Tom Szaky, the 28 year old CEO of Terracycle, sees waste differently. While he has brought garbage into his company, it seems that the outputs have been nothing short of valuable. Szaky started Terracycle as a 19 year old Princeton student. His idea? Taking food waste from Princeton’s cafeterias, having worms digest it, and producing fertilizer on the other end. The products were contained in old soda bottles. After nearly going broke, he was helped out by an investor, which led to the company getting orders into two major retailers.
The words “waste” and “garbage” have always had such negative connotations. “You’re a waste of space.” Schoolyard taunts about smelling like a garbage picker. The phrase “garbage in, garbage out,” which refers to something made with low quality materials that will also yield a low quality final product.
Tom Szaky, the 28 year old CEO of Terracycle, sees waste differently. While he has brought garbage into his company, it seems that the outputs have been nothing short of valuable. Szaky started Terracycle as a 19 year old Princeton student. His idea? Taking food waste from Princeton’s cafeterias, having worms digest it, and producing fertilizer on the other end. The products were contained in old soda bottles. After nearly going broke, he was helped out by an investor, which led to the company getting orders into two major retailers.
When Tom Szaky sees a discarded juice pouch, he doesn't see garbabe; he sees a pencil case. An old vinyl LP cries out for new life as a clock. Candy wrappers? An awesome kite. But these are not the musings of an idealistic tree hugger. For the 28-year-old CEO of Trenton, New Jersey-based TerraCycle, they're a revenue model.
Yes! Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!
The question being, should TerraCycle partner with tobacco butts? TerraCycle's Tom Szaky took to the pages of Treehugger yesterday to ask if his company should work with a tobacco company to turn cigarette butts into new eco-friendly products. They've been approached by a tobacco company and Tom's wondering if working with them is somehow different than any of the other companies they work with. He's also looking for ideas what the the butts can be turned into after they're collected.
TerraCycle's goal is singular: To solve the problem of waste. We have not taken positions on the products that we collect, similar to how recycling companies accept products of any brand that fit their capacity to recycle.
But here's where it gets interesting—We've been approached by a tobacco company to collect and turn cigarette butts into new eco-friendly products. What do you think? Is doing business with a cigarette company any different than any of the other companies whose waste we collect? Or is this somehow different? If so, how?
