"Kept Out of Landfills and Reborn as a Bag"
Ken Belson co-founded Terracycle in 2001.
"Plastic bags, juice pouches, cookie wrappers and other items that cannot be recycled are being changed into everyday items like tote bags, pencil cases and
messenger bags to be sold at some of the country’s biggest retailers" - NY TIMES
"TerraCycle collected waste and surplus products from companies including Bear Naked, the granola company; Clif Bar; Coca-Cola; Honest Tea; Kraft Foods; and Stonyfield Farm, the yogurt company"
"TerraCycle also rewards consumers who send unrecyclable items like
juice pouches or plastic yogurt cups to the company’s warehouses in
Trenton. This year, about 4,000 schools, churches and other groups from
46 states have sent TerraCycle more than 300,000 Capri Sun pouches,
which cannot be recycled because they are made with plastic and
aluminum. In return, TerraCycle paid 2 cents per pack to a charity of
each group’s choice" - NY TIMES
(THIS IS EXCITING!)
TerraCycle:
cleans the pouches
sews them together
produces them into pencil cases, tote bags and other items
“We have a big role to play in reducing what ends up in landfills,” said Jeff Chahley, Kraft’s senior director for sustainability. “We fell in love with how they get the packaging, get kids involved and reward people for doing the right things.”
"Retailers are asking for the products. OfficeMax sells pencil cases
made from Capri Sun pouches, as well as clipboards made from computer
circuit boards, waste cans made from computer parts and paper made from
banana peels. OfficeMax will soon carry TerraCycle’s computer bags made
from vinyl used on billboards" - NY TIMES

