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Green Terratory
How to outsmart waste
Giving packaging a second chance at life
Posted by Tom Szaky
on April 1, 2013
.Product packaging is a way of life to us, sure, but to most consumers it has no value. Sure it provides safety, convenience, shelf life, but most consumers are blissfully ignorant of these important tasks. Usually consumers throw product packaging away without much thought; thankfully more and more are starting to recycle it, if possible. Everyone knows about recycling. We’ve been doing it ...... Read More
Comments (1)Industries:
Sustainable Packaging
, Packaging Materials
Do frozen foods heat up the planet?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on March 22, 2013
. People are constantly on the go and searching for something convenient and affordable. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the frozen food industry has grown to $22 billion since its emergence back in the 1930s. With the average American consuming 72 frozen meals per year, the amount of packaging waste generated contributes greatly to the millions of tons of municipal sold waste (MSW) each ...... Read More
Comments (6)Do ecolabels enthuse or confuse?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on February 21, 2013
. As TerraCycle grows, our label can be seen on an increasing amount of consumer packaging. What’s even more exciting is the fact that consumers are becoming more aware of our label and what that means. However, this got me thinking about other ecolabels. There are hundreds of different ones out there, and each is trying to convey to the consumer some environmental benefit by purchasing the ...... Read More
Comments (2)Do consumers really value sustainable packaging?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on February 1, 2013
. It’s a fact of life that we, as social beings, look for common ground when building relationships. Companies are no exception to this rule. Often, people seek out brands and companies that reflect their values. For instance, whether a company is charitable or not will influences its ability to attract a consumer that values this trait. With this I ask, do consumers really care about and ...... Read More
Comments (11)Industries:
Sustainable Packaging
Is the perfect package a myth?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on October 12, 2012
. Packaging is ubiquitous, and for good reason. It provides us with a safe, convenient, and highly effective means to store, transport, and market an almost limitless array of goods. Not all containers are created equally, however; there are several advantages to using environmentally sustainable packaging. Still, it can be difficult to hit the sweet spot where sustainability and profitability int ...... Read More
Comments (5)Industries:
Sustainable Packaging
The big picture on packaging
Posted by Tom Szaky
on August 17, 2012
Consider the following sayings: “don’t judge a book by its cover,” “good things come in small packages,” “think outside the box” -what’s the common thread? Disregard the packaging! Okay, perhaps I’m being a bit too reductive, but it still stands to reason that, even though thinking outside the box is crucial in modern business, thinkin ...... Read More
Comments (8)EPR: Game-changing, or just taxing?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on July 20, 2012
As consumer demands for CSR increase and the cost of resources skyrockets, manufacturers need to consider the lifecycle and recyclability of their products more and more. Manufacturers that aren’t looking at the end-life of products may soon have their hands forced as extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are quickly becoming a reality. Here at TerraCycle, we work with major brands t ...... Read More
Comments (5)Is there zero chance to reach zero waste?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on July 6, 2012
TerraCycle loves to find recycling opportunities in strange places, and we’ve been largely consumer-facing since we launched the Drink Pouch Brigade with Capri Sun and Honest Kids in 2007. Our business-to-consumer programs have been successful for such varied groups (including schools, churches, offices, and even individuals) that we didn’t start delving into business-to-business pro ...... Read More
Comments (9)The great green debate: Who's to blame?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on June 22, 2012
To achieve maximum sustainability, whose contribution do you think matters the most: businesses, consumers, or our national and state governments? Rather than playing the blame game with any of these parties, I believe that this question should be approached more proactively. Problem identification is just the first step in any equation; it is the solution that ties the loose ends together. As a c ...... Read More
Comments (2)Industries:
Sustainable Packaging
Does Earth Day do a world of good?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on May 4, 2012
Another Earth Day has passed us by, marking 42 years of celebrating our planet on April 22. Every Earth Day–and April as a whole–is full of green marketing. There are recycling initiatives, green pledge drives, awareness events and more. Some are awesome, like Honest Tea’s Great Recycle, but some are only half baked. As someone who has dedicated the last decade of his life to ...... Read More
Comments (1)Compostable vs. recyclable: Which is better?
Posted by Tom Szaky
on April 5, 2012
When I recently posted in a New York Times blog that biodegradability isn’t what it seems, and on Packaging Digest that we should be careful with biodegradable plastics and incineration habits, I got a few reminders that some compostable plastics are not made of PLA (polylactic acid), which is the most common polymer used for biodegradable plastics. Some are made of different types ...... Read More
Comments (12)Breaking down biodegradability and incineration
Posted by Tom Szaky
on March 23, 2012
Part of the problem with landfill waste is that it takes up so much space. Waste solutions such as biodegradable plastic and incineration that are seemingly safe for the environment and make our “trash” disappear appear to be a great option. An item made of biodegradable plastic, or PLA (polylactic acid) is appealing because you can throw it away and it will (supposedly) disintegrat ...... Read More
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