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Conscious companies that recycle clothes are on the frontlines of the battle against fast fashion. Today we explore the clothing recycling programs adopted by these green brands and shed some light on the important work that they're doing for our world.

Fast fashion is a recent phenomenon. Thanks to massive clothing retailers like H&M, Gap, and Zara, clothing production doubled from 50 to 100 billion garments between the years 2000 and 2015. Collections and trends are being churned out at twice the rate, causing twice the amount of waste.

Clothing has shifted to becoming a fast-moving consumer good in recent years. This fast-moving consumer fashion (FMCF), as it has been dubbed, describes the cheap, trend-orientated clothing that flies off the shelves and quickly ends up as textile waste at the local landfill.

Recycling clothing is more important than ever! Here are 8 ethical companies that recycle clothes and other fashion-related items.

#1: Patagonia

• Committed to the circular economy
• Clothing made from recycled materials
• All items bought at Patagonia are accepted at stores for recycling

Patagonia is one of those uncommonly conscious brands that is really trying to build sustainability into their company (even though they don't like to call it that!)

From allowing customers to return every Patagonia clothing item for recycling to making new items from polyester, recycled nylon, down, and wool, this company advocates for the earth at every turn.

Read about their struggles with clothing recycling here.

#2: Alternative Apparel

• Committed to sustainable manufacturing
• Uses eco-friendly materials
• Advocates for environmental responsibility

Alternative Apparel, a clothing brand under Hanes Brands‚ has dedicated itself to sustainable clothing production and recycling. The group owns 70% of its production and focuses on global environmental management as a governing force.

They are also active in initiatives like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and manage to divert 92% of facility waste from landfills around the world. That means they're recycling 100 million pounds of textile waste every year.

#3: Levi Strauss

• Committed to circular sustainable fashion
• Care Tag for our Planet Program
• Blue Jeans Go Green partnership

It's not surprising that Levi Strauss makes the list of ethical brands that support textile sustainability. Through product design and innovation, they're creating jeans that are 100% recyclable. At the same time, they've launched educational initiatives to help customers extend garment lifespan.

Their ongoing partnership with the Blue Jeans Go Green initiative proves they care. It's a clothing recycling program that takes jeans and recycles them into new items. To date, they've diverted 2100 tons of denim from local landfills.

#4: Vetta

• Sustainable clothing manufacturing
• Recycled clothing packaging
• Recycled clothing programs

Taking ethical business to the next level is Vetta, a clothing company with excellent sustainability practices. This California-based brand encourages customers to buy lean from a timeless collection. Their factories are committed to solar powered operations (70%) and packaging is fully recyclable.

All fabrics are sustainable and recyclable, and Vetta actively creates content encouraging customers to sell, donate, or recycle their clothing.

#5: Universal Standard

• Innovative clothing recycling program

Universal Standard has a rewarding process for customers who want to recycle their clothing. Order a paper bag from their store and fill it with wardrobe items that you want to recycle. Send it in and get $25.00 for every recyclable item, up to $100.00.

The credit can be spent in store on new items‚ and items sent in don't have to be from Universal Standard. The brand rewards the act of recycling clothing, making this a green initiative instead of a loyalty program, while encouraging people to shop in a more sustainable way.

#6: Girlfriend Collective

• Dedicated to recycling clothing and fashion items

Girlfriend Collective is a popular athleisure brand that makes leggings, bras, and other active wear. They have an amazing clothing recycling program that encourages customers to send in their worn items so that they can be recycled into new ones. For your trouble, you'll get $15.00 store credit.

#7: Reformation

• Commitment to recycling old clothing
• Creation of new clothing out of old clothing
• Climate neutral certified company
• Ethical supply chain and materials

At Reformation, clothing sustainability is at the heart of their entire business. Their clothing recycling practice is efficient, and they've partnered with SuperCircle to make sure every item sent in becomes something new. Recyclable items do have to be from Ref though.

While some recycling programs involving textile waste end up downcycling materials, Reformation is adamant that the items they accept eventually become clothing of equal or similar value.

#8: Urban Outfitters

• Ethical business model

With Urban Outfitters, you get a company that has been focused on sustainability since before it was front and center on the internet. From upcycling and remaking clothing, to having a fully recycled line of clothes‚ these vintage items are reaching to be a part of the circular economy.

The companies that recycle clothes are helping reduce the negative impact of fast fashion on our environment. By being conscious businesses, they are taking a bold step away from the damaging fashion waste that is contributing to so many environmental problems in our world.

Food waste statistics like the ones we're looking at today can be a shock to the system. We're taking a pragmatic look at the state of food scraps and waste in North America with a view to make things better. According to the EPA, municipal food waste is generated by the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors. Nearly 60% of food scraps are landfilled, while less than 5% is composted. The remaining 35% is dealt with through other means, such as controlled combustion, going through the sewer, donation, and animal feed.

Let's investigate what else is happening to wasted food in the U.S. and spot opportunities for improvement in your city along the way. Here are 13 food waste statistics and facts to inspire change in your municipality.

1. 103 million tons of food waste is created in the U.S. every year

To give you context on how large that is, it's the equivalent of about 116 Golden Gate Bridges stacked side by side in one enormous pile.

2. Half of all food in the U.S. is discarded, making it the world leader in organic waste

Approximately 17% of food is thrown away simply because it's ugly. According to a report from The Guardian, Americans won't buy imperfect looking food, which means that about $160 billion in food is wasted each year because it's not picture-perfect. Does your municipality have an "ugly food" program?

3. 39.82% of discarded food in the U.S. is from the industrial sector

The industrial sector includes agriculture and food processing, so it's no wonder this segment tends to create the most waste; it's where most of the food is grown.

4. 24.95% of food scraps and waste in the U.S. comes from residential sectors

Unsurprisingly, the second largest portion of waste comes from residential areas. Municipalities should take action to promote green waste composting and greater educational programs for the community to encourage proper food utilization, waste reduction and correct disposal.

5. 33.81% of food-related waste in the U.S. comes from commercial sectors

Commercial sectors include restaurants and food service companies, supermarkets and grocery centers, office buildings, and food wholesalers.

6. 4.69% of food waste in the U.S. comes from institutional sectors

Leading the pack are K-12 schools with 1.24%; hotels with 1.22%; and colleges and universities with 0.61%. Other institutions like nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, and food banks are also included in this sector.

7. 6.3% of food waste was diverted from landfills to become compost

Your municipal community may be composting, but more people need to be doing it to lower the landfill burden in your area. Only a tiny percentage is diverted, which is why most of the waste in any given landfill site is food.

8. 24.14% of all landfilled material is food-related waste

According to the EPA, of the 146.1 million tons of material found in U.S. landfills, the overwhelming majority is food waste. It's greater than plastic (18.46%) and paper (11.78%).

9. 100% of food scraps at a landfill take years to decompose

Most people believe that because food waste is organic, it will decompose at the landfill. The problem is that landfills were created for storage and not composting. With so many mixed varieties of trash, food scraps rot and release harmful greenhouses gasses for years. Educate your community about food waste and what happens when it's thrown in the trash.

10. 85% of greenhouse gasses that are ruining our planet come from discarded food items

When your municipality commits to programs that help community members compost, reduce food waste, and recycle better, you are actively helping to lower gas emissions coming from your local landfill.

11. 40% of U.S. customers throw food away too early

There is widespread confusion about the meaning of food expiration dates printed on consumer items these days. This has led to people throwing away food that is still safe to eat, contributing to the massive amount of food waste issue in the country.

12. Money is a primary motivator to get consumers to reduce their food waste

In a recent study, respondents were found to be more concerned about saving money than saving the environment. Consider this when developing food waste programs for your municipality.

13. 30% of global livestock feed comes from food-related waste

One way to divert food waste from landfills is to use it as animal feed. Right now, there's enormous demand for animal feed and plenty of room for program growth.

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It's clear that without intervention, waste will continue to be created and end up in our landfills. Take a moment to consider how you could help reduce or solve the food waste crisis.

Use these 13 food waste statistics to inform your next recycling or composting program. Sit down with your recycling co-ordination team to come up with a plan to educate your community, and reduce the overall impact of food waste in your municipality.Which food waste statistic surprised you? Tell us below.

Sustainability in the office should be a priority for your green team this year. In today's post, we will explore several creative and novel ways to make your office greener than it's ever been before.

With the rise of green building standards and certifications being adopted, studies have shown that greener offices often mean healthier, more productive employees. When your company makes a concerted effort to apply sustainable practices in office, the environment wins.

Beyond the massive benefits of improving your environmental impact at the office, making it a greener place to be is what employees want. A recent survey from Next Energy Technologies revealed that 80% of managers would improve office sustainability to retain employees.

Here are 15 innovative ideas that will help you embrace sustainability in the office.

#1: Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products

Cleaning chemicals have an impact on your employees and the environment they work in. That's why a commitment to sustainability means exploring greener ways of keeping your office clean.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a guide on how to choose eco-friendly products here.

#2: Bring the outside inside

Sometimes sustainability in the office is as easy as bringing in new plants. Study after study has proven that lush plants in the office equate to more productive, less stressed, and healthier employees. Lots of natural light, open space, and communion with nature is key to improved results.

#3: Repurpose and reuse where you can

Creating dedicated spaces where people at the office can share surplus equipment and supplies is a leap towards greater sustainability. Many companies start with a single shelf that grows into a space where everyone can find and exchange excess materials when they need them.

#4: Audit your office supply stream

To create your eco-friendly office, have a closer look at where you get your monthly business supplies. Take note of where they come from, if they're made from sustainable materials and how you can switch things up to support suppliers who are actively trying to make products circular.

#5: Encourage hybrid working environments

Having programs that support an eco-friendly commute is standard these days, but better than that is encouraging workers to stay home. You save on office costs, and your employee saves on their carbon footprint. Studies have shown that everyone wins when employees work from home.

#6: Fund your green team

Many corporate sustainability teams are underfunded, which limits their ability to educate and enact green initiatives in the workplace. For sustainability in the office to thrive, try increasing the eco budget and see what your green team can do. You'll be surprised!

#7: Explore revenue-generating circular opportunities

Some offices are finding innovative ways to lower their carbon footprint and increase their bottom line. There are e-waste programs that can become revenue generators, along with composting programs that convert canteen food waste into compost for the company gardens.

#8: Make printers a rarity

Along with drastically reducing paper use at the office, it makes sense to reduce the availability of your office printers. When employees are discouraged from printing at work, there is less paper waste, less energy consumption, and more sustainable business for everyone.

#9: Invest in green technology initiatives

Environmentally sustainable office spaces are usually home to new kinds of technology that make sustainability easy. These green initiatives take many forms: solar power or reworked energy-efficient lighting, IoT devices, green data centers, and smart glass are some ideas to look into.

#10: Bring the green revolution to your canteen

Food waste is one of the most problematic areas of sustainability in the office. This year, launch a program that will streamline your ordering processes, and make use of novel waste and recycling practices so that excess doesn't end up at the landfill.

#11: Involve employees in regular eco education

Sustainability should be a weekly part of your company culture. Decide what that looks like, and how you're going to deliver the eco-education your employees need to be involved. From newsletters to guest speakers, screenings, and volunteer programs, allow eco-conscious employees to take part.

#12: Reward top eco-performers at work

Recognition is a powerful motivating force. Take some time to recognize the key performers that are furthering sustainability in your business. This will motivate others to get involved, and to genuinely care about the way your company is embracing the green movement.

#13: Host fundraising drives for local sustainability causes

An eco-friendly office shares sustainability practice with the community. Inspire your employees to host fundraising drives to help green charities and initiatives. From animal welfare to beach clean ups, these causes will benefit from the dedication that your employees have to sustainability.

#14: Recycle better

Green offices thrive when employees recycle better. That means using technology like the Recycle Coach app to give them the tools required to make better choices in the moment. Explore our various workplace education programs and tap into the power of the "What Goes Where" tool.

#15: Invite your employees to submit green ideas

Finally, invite your employees to have a real voice on sustainability in the office. Create a dedicated space where they can submit ideas to improve the existing practices and processes already in play. No one knows where the problems exist better than your employees!

When you embrace sustainability in the office, everyone benefits. Make this year one to remember by doubling down on the green practices that work and testing new and innovative ways to make your office a healthier, happier, and more sustainable place to work.

Recycling statistics help municipal leaders make sense of a broad and ever-changing landscape. Use this list to glean insight into which parts of the recycling system need work, where investment makes the most sense, and which models are working best across the nation.

In this list you'll find relevant recycling statistics  that will help you become a better municipal leader. We begin with a list of useful stats, then break-down global statistics, federal facts, and state recycling statistics to get an accurate view of the latest EPA data. Also included is a series of material recycling statistics, focused on the most recycled materials in North America. Take a look at the top recycling statistics and facts below.

• The Most Useful Recycling Facts of 2022
• The Top 7 Global Recycling Statistics
• The Top 3 Federal Recycling Facts (USA)
• 4 Key State Recycling Statistics (USA)
• The Top 8 Material Recycling Statistics (USA)
• What Americans Recycle

The most useful recycling facts for waste and recycling professionals

• Only 59% of U.S. households have access to curbside recycling (2019). This means about 70 million homes in the U.S. have easy access to recycling services.

While more than half North America has curbside recycling, it's clear that a major opportunity exists to rollout more curbside recycling programs across the continent. With some 120 million households in the U.S. alone, and about 10 million households in Canada, there is still work to be done.

• When at home, Americans recycle paper and plastic bottles more than any other material.

The AFPA released a study stating that 65.7% of paper in the U.S. was recycled in 2020, and corrugated containers had a 90% recycling rate. A ton of recycled cardboard saves about 46 gallons of oil, so the more the better. With so many deliveries going out, this is positive progress.

• The U.S. is the world's largest plastic creator and polluter. The average person creates about 130 kilograms of plastic waste annually.

Connecting curbside recycling programs with resident recycling education should be a priority this year, to encourage people to recycle more plastic items from home.

• Approximately 3000 pounds of food per second goes to waste, and half of that food is thrown away in North America. It's also the main material filling up the landfills.

Devise ways to reduce food waste entering the system, and encourage residents to compost the organic waste they create at home.

• According to this study, the amount of waste ending up in landfills is the lowest it's been since 1960. California has the most landfills, and Michigan has the most trash per capita.

While landfills are receiving less waste, it's also true that they are overburdened. Many materials take hundreds of years to decompose‚ so space is incredibly limited. The demand for closed loop recycling systems is greater than ever.

The top 7 global recycling statistics

Let's look at how countries are managing their recycling systems and how it compares to systems at home.

• Slovenia has a municipal recycling rate of 72%, making it the country with the most efficient recycling systems in the world.

This is remarkable considering just 15 or so years ago, Slovenian waste went straight to the landfill. After a total 180, the government set a goal to achieve a 75% recycling rate by 2025, and they are on track to achieve that goal, making them an example to emulate.

• Germany's municipal recycling rate is 67%, just 5% less than Slovenia - making it the second-best recycling system in the world.
• In third place is South Korea, with a recycling rate of 65%
• In places 4-7 are Austria at 59%, and the Netherlands and Lithuania, both at 57%.
• The final three places in the top 10 belong to Italy and Belgium, tied at 55%, and Switzerland with a 53% municipal recycling rate.

All the international countries in the top 10 are recycling more than half of their waste. In terms of resource saving, this means less waste left stagnant in their landfills‚ and far less greenhouse gasses worsening the climate crisis.

• Globally, 367 million metric tons of plastic was produced in 2020, a 0.3% decrease because of COVID-19.

Even though COVID-19 shut down the world, plastic production managed to remain high. This is a strong indicator that more plastic recycling programs are needed everywhere, including experimental chemical recycling processes.

• 3 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year, which roughly amounts to a third of all food grown for people to eat.

If your local municipality can discover ways to reduce food waste, you will be contributing to one of the largest and most pressing waste issues of our time.

The top 3 federal recycling facts (U.S.)

For context, here are a few recycling facts on the federal level.

• There is currently no federal law that enforces recycling in the United States. The U.S. government allows local governments to handle their own recycling legislature.

This gives you the opportunity to enact real change on a local level; it's up to you to discover methods that will significantly improve recycling in your municipality.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a national recycling strategy concerning circular economy and how to realize a more cost-effective domestic recycling system.
• The EPA encourages private corporations, federal offices and agencies, state, local and tribal partners to sign the America Recycles Day Pledge.

The pledge encourages private companies and municipal institutions to work together to solve the mounting recycling crisis. This year, consider partnering with local business to enact real change.

4 key state recycling statistics (U.S.)

An epic report was released recently that ranked U.S. states according to their recycling rates for key materials, and success in implementing innovative recycling programs. Here are some results.

• The top 3 states with best recycling rates include Maine (72%), Vermont (62%) and Massachusetts (55%).
• The states with the worst recycling rates are West Virginia (2%), Louisiana (4%) and Alaska (6%).
• Among the top 10 recycling states were Oregon, New York, New Jersey, and Iowa.
• Among the bottom 10 recycling states were Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The report found that recycling leaders should prioritize reducing landfill materials that produce the most greenhouse gasses (see our article on green waste priority here).

The findings also pointed out that the quantity of materials collected for recycling, was not the same as the actual amounts processed. Clearly wish-cycling is still a massive problem in the US.System improvements like curbside programs, deposit return systems and new technologies were critical to recycling infrastructure.

The Top 8 Material Recycling Statistics (USA)

It's important that we understand how specific materials are recycled and how to help residents recycle better. Below are some important recycling statistics to orientate you on the current state of things.

• Between 1990 and 2020, the paper recycling rate improved from 33.5% in 1990, to 65.7% in 2020, down from a high of 68.1% in 2018. Americans are recycling less paper products.
• 6% of all municipal solid waste recycled in 2018, was paper and cardboard.

COVID-19 impacted the recycling industry in a host of different ways. While many residents recycled more, some statistics (like the one above) show that people weren't as concerned with recycling as they have been in previous years. Understandable, but not ideal for incremental recycling improvement. How can this be corrected in the years to come?

• Metals (12.6%) were the second most recycled material in the U.S. in 2018.
• The most recycled metals as of 2019 include lead (76%), titanium (60%), magnesium (52%) and aluminum (51%).

Scrap metals and cans remain key recycling materials that should be a central focus for all recycling programs.

• Rubber, textiles, and leather (6.1%) were the third largest material set, with wood coming in fourth at 4.5%.
• The two least recycled materials were plastics (4.5%) and glass (4.4%)
• The most common plastic resin recycled in the U.S. is PET plastic (980), then HDPE (560) and LDPE (370) coming in third.
• In 2018, only 18.5% of the total PET waste generated in America was recycled.

Stronger plastic recycling practices should be put in place, while other materials like metals and glass become easier to recycle. Adding these to curbside programs or creating greater visibility in communities will help residents know where and how to recycle these materials.

What Americans recycle

Finally, let's look at what residents are recycling. These statistics show the behavior of the average American family.

• 85% of what Americans recycle is made up of plastic products.
• 81% of the types of waste recycled is paper or cardboard.
• 76% is metal or aluminum, usually cans.
• 69% of what is recycled is glass.
• 42% of recyclables are considered electronic waste, or e-waste.
• 19% of what is recycled is green waste, or compostable.

Based on these recycling statistics, you can see how important infrastructure, visibility and ease-of-use is for keeping residents recycling right. Take a pragmatic look at how your municipality equips your local community with the means to make better recycling decisions.

Draw up plans and funding pitches and find innovative ways to rollout programs that will meet the unique needs of your local municipality. Together with Recycle Coach, you can drastically improve the way people recycle over the next few years.

Green waste recycling is the best way your municipality can help reduce greenhouse gasses. In the past, municipalities have collected green waste in the form of yard trimmings and garden-related organic materials. Very rarely did it ever include food scraps or compostable food items unless the program was specifically created to include these types of materials.This is changing, and for good reason.

As municipalities look for ways to reduce climate change, green waste has emerged as a viable solution. By lessening the impact that landfills have on the environment, every municipality in North America can help combat harmful gasses in the future.

‍Consider:

• Composted food and yard trimmings increased by 5 million tons between 2015 and 2018, according to the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Landfills in North America received 5 million tons of yard trimmings, which made up 7.2% of the total municipal solid waste landfilled in 2018.

With stagnant or absent green waste programs, rising yard and food waste collections, and an increasing need to educate the public about composting, there's so much that can be done to help.

Green waste recycling reduces methane in landfills

How much do you really know about methane? The average landfill in North America is jam-packed with green waste. When left to decay in a landfill it creates enormous amounts of methane gas. As you may already know, methane is one of the greenhouse gasses that is contributing to climate change disaster.

The good news is that you can make a significant impact on the amount of gasses being released from your local municipal landfills with a methane reduction strategy. To tackle the issue there are a few tactics you can look at implementing now.

#1: Mandatory green waste collections

In 2022, California implemented Senate Bill 1383. The bill makes throwing organic waste into the trash illegal, a positive step that can and should be implemented nationwide. California is taking active steps to reduce methane in their landfills by rolling out accessible green waste collection programs run by various municipalities.

This means the public gets green bins, and the government help in hauling away the yard and food waste that would have wound up at the landfill. With stringent rules in place, businesses will also have to change the way they dispose of their organic waste.

Less food and yard trimmings mean less hydrocarbons escaping. Methane doesn't last as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, so focusing on this gas has a lasting positive impact on reducing climate risk. An accessible green waste collection program encourages your residents to use their green bins, and together you will avoid adding methane emissions to the landfill.

#2: Methane vacuum and combustion (energy recovery)

Many landfills already have energy recovery programs that vacuum up the leaking methane, which is then combusted and converted into energy. Your municipality could lead the way in making sure that every landfill in your district is using energy recovery to reduce methane leakage.

Improving green waste recycling will take time, and a lot of organic waste will continue to find its way into your landfills. When it does, make sure that you are collecting the harmful gasses and putting them to good use for your community.

Biogas is 50-70% methane, and once collected can be used to produce heat and electricity, or to create biomethane which is a renewable gas used as vehicle fuel. Look into improving the energy recovery practices at your local landfill.

#3: Increase public education on composting

Official statistics show an encouraging uptick in municipalities offering viable composting programs for their residents. San Francisco composts 255,500 tons of organic material each year, while Vermont has already banned residents from green waste disposal that ends up at the dump. If your municipality doesn't have a composting program or needs to increase the way you educate your residents on how to compost, this is a great time to do it.

Green waste recycling is a critical step. Take action and build mandatory green waste collections into your waste removal system. Ramp up your investment in energy recovery to deal with the methane that does make it through, and educate your residents on composting and recycling better.

Recycled plastic products are everywhere, and that's a good thing. In today's post, we see how some of the world's most sustainable brands are using advanced recycling methods for greener business.

By recycling existing plastic materials into new products for sale, companies tap into a renewable feedstock source that helps limit the production of new plastic items (and keeps them out of the landfill). Companies that use recycled plastics are making a big difference in the world!

Aside from reducing how much new plastic finds its way into the hands of consumers ‚recycled plastics reduce energy during manufacturing by 66%. That means less fuel burnt, and less harm to the local environment.

The truth is, because a lot of plastic is highly recyclable ‚it's an ideal sustainable material. If more businesses can build plastics into their green product models, the world would be better off. Let's take a look at the companies leading the way with their recycled plastic products.

#1: Adidas recycled plastic shoes

In 2019, Adidas made about 11 million pairs of shoes using recycled plastics.

They partnered with Parley, a project for the oceans that focuses on finding solutions to lessen plastic pollution there. So far, the partnership has been incredibly successful, and it's kept some 2,810 tons of plastic from ever reaching the oceans.

#2: Patagonia's plastic jackets

You can't mention recycled plastic products without mentioning Patagonia's jackets.

Since the 1990s, this company has been recycling polyester, which has a positive impact on the Earth. It comes from plastic soda bottles that are spun to make the materials used in their jackets and other lines of clothing. To date, 84% of their fabrics are recycled plastic.

#3: Fab Habitat's plastic rugs

This ethical company creates eco-friendly rugs and accessories from recycled plastic waste.

Fab Habitat uses PET and polypropylene plastics to spin a soft kind of yarn that is perfect for durable carpet creation. These recycled plastic materials are blended with others like cotton or jute. To date, the company claims to have rescued and recycled millions of plastic bottles from the landfill.

#4: Shini USA's plastic construction materials

The future of construction lies in eco-friendly building materials that use recycled plastic.

From concrete and bricks to recycled plastic boards, lumber, and decking, using plastic in these construction materials makes them cheaper and more durable. Best of all, these structures last a long time, which gives virtually indestructible plastic something valuable to do.

#5: West Paw's recycled plastic products

This green-forward company focuses on creating ethical and sustainable products for your pets.

West Paw is best known for their signature material, IntelliLoft®, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. They use this material in everything, from pet beds and blankets to clothing. They also run an amazing plastic recycling program using another material they call Zogoflex®.

#6: Preserve's toothbrush recycling

Preserve creates a lot of recycled plastic items but the best among them is the toothbrush.

Preserve toothbrushes are made from 100% recycled plastic, and they run a program that asks consumers to collect five toothbrushes in a plastic bottle, send them in, and get a $6.00 coupon. When you use this toothbrush, you're participating in a truly closed loop product.

#7: Recover Brand clothing

Recover has been going since 2009, spinning plastic waste into new fashionable items of clothing.

As plastic recycling companies go, you don't get much more ethical than Recover. Their goal is to reduce plastic waste in rivers, the ocean, landfills, and adventure parks by encouraging socially responsible fashion.

#8: Suga's recycled wetsuits

Recycled plastic products like the humble wetsuit get a fresh start with Suga.

This company collects old, discarded suits, and recycles them into super-soft and stylish yoga mats. The neoprene found in wetsuit materials is perfect for reworking into a fully recyclable product, and the SugaMat doesn't disappoint.

#9: Method cleaning products

This cleaning company uses curbside collected plastics to craft its product packaging.

Products made from recycled plastic bottles and other waste are an eco-friendly solution to using new plastics. As a sustainable business, the founders of Method spend a little more to recycle the plastic they need to create their large range of cleaning materials.

#10: Green Toys made from plastic pollution

The company Green Toys creates imaginative children's toys using recycled milk jugs.

On their website, they state that for every pound of milk jugs recycled, enough energy is saved to power a television for 3 weeks or a laptop for a month. They have recycled over 113,312,538 jugs to date, changing the world one green toy at a time.

#11: Bureo builds from plastic waste

Bureo takes discarded plastic fishing nets and turns them into amazing new products.

These recycled plastic products become clothing, sunglasses, and even skateboards. As a B corporation, Bureo's mission to clean up the oceans underpins all of its product creation. Along with recycling, the company works to spread education about reducing plastic waste.

Get more recycling facts here.

These trailblazing companies are tapping into an abundant resource and are finding ways to turn something harmful into something helpful in the world. If your business has been considering creating recycled plastic products, draw inspiration from these eco-friendly product pioneers.

Which of these plastic items did you find most promising and why? Tell us below.

Are your foil recycling practices up to date at work? Aluminum is everywhere, but nowhere is it more common than the average employee's lunchbox. Even the foil from your CEO's pastrami sandwich has, at some point, found its way into your workplace recycling stream.

According to the Aluminum Association, this precious metal is among the most valuable and recyclable materials known to humanity. It forms a perfect closed loop and can be recycled--endlessly and forever! Some 75% of all products made from aluminum are recycled in the U.S.

But what about foil? Recycling this tricky type of aluminum is not so straightforward. Here are 5 must-know tips that will help you optimize the way you recycle aluminum foil at work this year.

#1: Teach employees that foil is recyclable

What is aluminum foil anyway? Most of your employees will know that foil is potentially recyclable, but because they aren't sure of the composition (foil sheets, or pans, or packaging) they may decide to dispose of it in your workplace trash can. And tin foil is not biodegradable.

A single American throws away roughly three pounds of foil every year. If it reaches the landfill, it will take approximately 400 years to break-down through the oxidation process. Worse still, if it's burnt it contributes to toxic air pollution and releases harmful gasses into our atmosphere.

#2: Contaminated tin foil can't be recycled

Clean tin foil is magically recyclable forever, until it comes into contact with your lunch. Because foil recycling relies on clean materials, your employees can't just ball up their foil and throw it in the recycling bin at work. Once the foil is contaminated with food waste, it stops being viable.

If enough contaminated foil gets into your stream, it has the potential to ruin every other material in that load. This means none of it can be recycled, so the entire process is rendered null and void. Educate your employees about clean tin foil recycling to prevent contamination at work.

Here is why workplace recycling education is so vital.

#3: Start a tin foil reuse and recycle program

The good news is that you're not powerless against the food contamination making its way into your canteen. Your green team can start an amazing foil recycling initiative to encourage employees to wash their foil packaging, sheets, and pans before adding them to your recycling bins.

Tin foil programs are part of the "reuse" initiatives that inspire employees to either take their foil home to be washed (most types are dishwasher safe!) and reused as an infinitely better alternative to plastic. Aluminum packaging is strong and can be used repeatedly‚ then it can be recycled.

#4: Get Creative About Reusing Foil at Work

Aluminum foil recycling is the final step in the lifecycle of your foil (before it becomes another aluminum product). The goal of sustainability for your green team is to keep the recyclable material in play as long as it's useful, and to only recycle it once it has no more use at the office.

Tin foil has an enormous range of uses that you can take advantage of at work. It polishes silverware, cleans grills, scrubs dishes, sharpens scissors, improves radiator efficiency, and reflects light in a sun box for office plants. Find ways to lengthen its lifespan as part of your tin foil reuse program.

#5: Think big when it comes to impact

Once your green team has established the protocols for your aluminum foil recycling and reuse program‚ you can think about extending it to expand your impact. Other companies in your area or niche will have similar problems. Perhaps recycling contaminated foil has reduced their recycling impact or motivated them to start an initiative of their own.

Your team can be the spark that helps other companies institute their own aluminum initiatives. Host green team talks and share your experience running campaigns at work. Show other teams how much of a difference can be made when small changes become a part of your workplace culture. Together you can make foil recycling just as common as can recycling in your area.

These 5 must-know tips will help you improve the level of education about aluminum foil and the ways it can be recycled. If every workplace bands together to take extra care of the materials that have a truly closed loop, we stand to benefit from less resource consumption, less pollution, and an abundance of recycling materials that can be refashioned into products made for sale.

Right now, aluminum cans are the easiest to recycle, but we want to challenge your green team to start tackling the products that aren't so easy. This year, set a goal to make foil recycling a regular practice among your employees, and eventually, as a part of daily practice in every workplace.

Ask us about our custom educational programs.

When you think of recycling education, what springs to mind? Maybe it's a classroom filled with kids and a teacher holding a papier-mâché earth. Or a business conference where climate leaders speak about sending less waste to overburdened landfills.

Whatever image comes to mind, it's unlikely that you first thought of a family at home, learning about recycling together. Traditionally, recycling education is taught in school, and then almost never again unless an individual goes looking for it.

While recycling is an important lesson to learn at school, this education should continue well beyond the classroom. Adults can engage in more complex, nuanced discussion than school children, which is what community recycling demands in times like these. Every municipality has different recycling practices, processes, and programs. For true community recycling cohesion, the aim should be to connect and educate adult residents. Simply stated, school recycling education is not enough to create adults that know how to recycle correctly.

1. Foster strong community development

A good recycling program can transform a community, but it takes resident buy-in. The Environmental Protection Agency says that a strong recycling program is key to developing a healthy and united community. It takes everyone in a local area to commit to cleaner, greener habits and as they perform these actions, they discover a deep sense of connection with those around them.

A unified community contributes to lowering greenhouse gasses in their area, while functional recycling programs create more local jobs and tax revenue. Quality of life is something that begins with caring about your environment, and benefits the entire community. Recycling education is an important link in the chain of green responsibility and sustainable community development. Without it, you can't expect residents to recycle well, to take advantage of the programs you put in place, or succeed in achieving a truly green-focused municipality.

2. Conversations in the home

Since the pandemic struck in 2020, more people are spending time at home. That means most waste created by individuals is being disposed of at home. This is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to educate residents about recycling right where they live. With so many ways to deliver home-based recycling education, families can now engage with nuanced and complex recycling issues, understanding more about the "whys" and "whats" than ever before. There is a real chance to reduce recycling material contamination in your recycling streams.

People want to help, and they're willing to go above and beyond to make their community more eco-friendly. Studies suggest that when residents understand more about what recycled waste becomes, they are willing to do more.

Recycle Coach has launched pilot programs in various U.S. locations and have had great success delivering education to families in residential locations using the Recycle Coach app. Not only does our app connect residents to your municipality to improve their locational awareness, the campaigns run on our platform address your municipality's specific recycling issues. It's education that targets blind spots that your residents don't even know that they have. By educating residents about what to recycle, how to recycle and what should never be recycled in your stream you're creating a cleaner, more effective program for your city.

‍If you're interested in improving how many people recycle, and how well they do it in your municipality, then recycling education is the answer. You can't rely on school education or expect to grow a unified community force that will help your recycling programs succeed if there is no way for your residents to absorb and engage with the recycling knowledge they need.

‍This year we challenge you to see what your residents can really do when equipped with the right information. Educating residents to recycle better will help you see real results. Invest in recycling education for your municipality, and spark the change your community is waiting for.