07/25/2008 08:53 AM

Kraft Foods Sponsors Packaging Recycling

SustainableBusiness.com News

Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) has partnered with TerraCycle, an upstart company that takes packages and materials that are challenging to recycle and turns them into handbags, umbrellas and other products.

The partnership will expand the number of collection sites TerraCycle has available across the country and create incentive programs for schools, community groups and other non-profits to collect packaging wast.

Kraft will become the first major multi-category corporation to fund the collection of used packaging associated with its products. Several Kraft brands, including Balance bars and South Beach Living bars, Capri Sun beverages, and Chips Ahoy! and Oreo cookies, are now the lead sponsors of TerraCycle Brigades--nationwide recycling programs that make a donation for every piece of packaging a location collects.

"Sustainability is about looking out for future generations. Kraft is proud to partner with TerraCycle, an innovative company who has made it their mission to reduce the impact on landfills and to educate consumers on the importance of recycling," says Jeff Chahley, Senior Director, Sustainability, Kraft Foods. "TerraCycle's model of rewarding 'brigade hosts' is a novel way of collecting packaging waste that would otherwise have been sent to landfills. It's so cool to see trash turned into merchandise that's unlike anything else on the market."

There are currently three TerraCycle programs for which Kraft is the largest sponsor. To encourage more recycling, each program is free to individuals and organizations looking to participate and all shipping costs are paid. Once the used packaging items are collected, TerraCycle "upcycles" each material into an eco-friendly product.

One program collects used energy bar wrappers and donates two cents to the collecting organization for each wrapper collected. TerraCycle has found a unique way to braid these wrappers into colorful, durable purses and backpacks.

Another uses Nabisco cookie wrappers, which are fused together into sheets of waterproof fabric, which then can be made into umbrellas, shower curtains, backpacks, placemats and other products.

The third program reuses drink pouches, which sewn into tote bags, handbags and other durable items that will be available as early as April 1st at several major retailers.

TerraCycle was founded in 2001. It's eco-friendly products have received a myriad of social and environmental accolades and are sold at major retailers like The Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods Markets.

Website: http://www.terracycle.net