TerraCycle
is a US company that achieved a spot on the shelves of Home Depot,
Wal-Mart and Target with its eco-fertilizer based on organic waste and
worm castings. It has found yet another way to create gold out of
garbage, says trend spotting experts Springwise, by turning discarded
wrappers and juice pouches into bags, pencil boxes and other
accessories.
As part of its ongoing mission to "eliminate the
idea of waste," as its website puts it, TerraCycle has struck deals
with large food and beverage manufacturers to collect the wrappers from
their products and "upcycle" them into new, unique accessories.
Through a partnership with Kraft's Capri Sun and
Honest Kids juice makers, for example, TerraCycle collects juice
pouches from individuals and organizations that have signed up to
participate in its "Drink Pouch Brigade."
Each time participants send some pouches in to
TerraCycle, Capri Sun and Honest Kids donate $0.02 per pouch to the
charity of the collector's choice (they pay $0.01 each for pouches from
other juice brands). Nabisco, similarly, has sponsored TerraCycle's
cookie wrapper program, while ClifBar and Kraft's Balance Bar have
sponsored initiatives to upcycle energy bar wrappers. There are also
programs for corks, yoghurt cups, soda bottles and Bear Naked granola
bags.
Once TerraCycle gets the donated packaging, it
converts it into bags and other accessories. Displayed on its site, for
example, is a $9.99 tote bag available at Target.com that's made
entirely from Capri Sun juice pouches. Also available are backpacks,
pencil cases, homework folders and lunch boxes, all made entirely from
TerraCycle's upcycled wrappers.
Juice pouches and wrappers have proven a
particularly difficult challenge to break down and recycle, so
TerraCycle's innovative, creative and green solution is clearly a
compelling one for companies struggling with that problem. For
consumers, bags and other goods made from recycled packaging are not
just eco-friendly, but they also offer the added benefit of a story
behind every product. |
