EP6: Bringing back the milkman to solve our global single-use crisis - Terracycle
Background
Prior to the 1950s, products were typically made to be high quality and reusable; models such as “the milkman” were popular. What may have gone to waste (typically after a long life) was made from materials that could easily be recycled back into themselves (i.e. clear glass) or nature could benefit from (i.e. a wooden table).
The Problem
Then came the commercialization of complex materials (like plastics) that nature doesn’t have the capability to absorb.
Today, we make and buy 70 times more stuff than we did in the 1950s, 99% of which becomes waste within the first 12 months of purchase. Most products and packaging are designed for a single use, and most of the resulting waste isn’t accepted by public recycling systems and ends up in our landfills or incinerators.
The Solution
TerraCycle offers free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help consumers collect and recycle hard-to-recycle waste.
They’re most recent initiative called Loop offers zero-waste packaging options for popular products from P&G, Unilever, Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, and many others. For example, their partnership with Haagen Dazs offers consumers a durable, reusable pint that can be returned when finished for cleaning and refill.
Episode Brief
Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of Terracycle, joins Peter on this week’s episode to discuss:
Why recycling is only a temporary solution, not a perfect solution
How Terracycle recycles the non-recyclable and what goes into spinning up new programs
The lifecycle of popular consumer products today and how that changes with Loop, their most recent initiative
Why the world’s biggest brands are signing up and how Loop integrates in their supply chain
What's next and the moonshoot
Lightning Round:
Speak four languages! What’s your “how-to” guide for aspiring language learners?
CEO of two ambitious companies. How? (lifestyle/time mgmt etc)
If you weren’t working on Terracycle and Loop, what problem area would you be exploring?
Who has had the greatest impact on your learning and why?
Credits
This episode is brought to you by Bite Toothpaste Bits, the world's first, 100% plastic-free toothpaste tablet. If you’re looking for an easy way to cut single-use plastic from your life, go to BiteToothpasteBits.com and use code INGOODHANDS for $5 off their flagship 4-month subscription, incl. free shipping!
HOST
Peter Levin
PRODUCTION
Dan Mahoney and Lucas Arndt
MUSIC
Eddie Knuckles