Finding value in waste
Finding value in waste
There are three elements that make up any object: its composition, form, and purpose.
Take a water bottle. Its composition is plastic, its form is a molded bottle, and its purpose is to hold a cold beverage.
Once a bottle has fulfilled its purpose, it’s often thrown out (or, even worse, littered). This is bad for our planet as the valuable aspects of that item have been wasted.
According to the Waste Hierarchy, a model that demonstrates the preferred order of options for managing waste, disposal should be the last resort. Unfortunately, it’s the main way our society deals with waste today. TerraCycle is working to change that.
Reuse: Values composition, form, and purpose
To enable reuse, we launched Loop, the world’s first global reuse platform.
Upcycling: Values composition and form
We create upcycled products and art to show the possibilities of waste.
TerraCycle’s models seek to value as much of an object as possible (which is also better for the planet).
Recycling: Values the composition
Our recycling models have been found to be 45 percent better for the Earth than traditional waste disposal.
Energy recovery (waste to energy): Values the energy
Waste-to-energy only values the embodied energy in the material, which is usually nominal. At TerraCycle, we never use incineration as an end-of-life solution for anything that we guarantee will be recycled.
Littering/Disposal Values nothing
Disposal doesn’t value any element of an object. That’s why we work to provide options for recycling, upcycling, and reuse. We also combat litter through the TerraCycle Foundation.
Prevention is at the top of the Waste Hierarchy. The best way to deal with waste? Buy less.
Recycling
We’ve developed many innovative ways to turn even the most hard-to-recycle trash into something new. We create everything from consumer products to art to podiums for the world’s foremost sports competition, including winter and summer events.
Raw materials
After we recycle the trash we collect into raw materials, manufacturing companies produce the end product and complete the recycling journey by making products like these.
Community builds
We've partnered with brands and retailers to collect trash and turn it into products that benefit communities, like playgrounds and gardens.
Consumer products
We turn recycled content into a wide range of consumer goods, from items on the shelves at Walmart to TerraCycle Made, our own line of products.
Closed-loop products
We help brands create circular products by recycling items back into themselves or into similar applications.
Storied materials
We create and manage supply chains for materials that carry a unique narrative, like ocean plastic or garbage from the top of Mt. Everest.
The first recycled shampoo bottle made from beach plastic (in partnership with Head & Shoulders).
Storied materials
We create and manage supply chains for materials that carry a unique narrative, like ocean plastic or garbage from the top of Mt. Everest.
A ballpoint pen from marine plastic waste collected from beaches in Japan (in parnership with Pilot Corporation)
Storied materials
We create and manage supply chains for materials that carry a unique narrative, like ocean plastic or garbage from the top of Mt. Everest.
Shopping baskets made from ocean plastic waste and used at Aeon stores in Japan (in partnership with Kose skincare brand Sekkisel)
Upcycling
TerraCycle knows how to turn trash into treasure. Check out some of our favorite upcycled projects. Can you guess what they were made from?
Tote bags and more with USPS
Made from retired postal service bags
School supplies with Colgate
Made from oral care waste
Aprons with Earthborn Holistic
Made from pet food packaging
Picnic table umbrellas with Subaru
Made from old billboards
Duffle bags with American Airlines
Made from airline uniforms
Vests, tote bags, travel cases, and wristlet purses with Brooks Brothers
Made from suits and ties
Travel cases, laptop cases, and messenger bags with RNLI
Made from life jackets and safety equipment
Dopp kits, tote bags, and lunch bags with Mountain Hardware
Made from tents
Speakers with Merkury Innovations
Made from food packaging
School supplies with FAB Starpoint
Made from product packaging
Vases with Scotch-Brite
Made from sponges and recycled plastic
Store displays with Scotch-Brite
Made from sponges and recycled plastic
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Trenton, USA
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
São Paulo, Brazil
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Toronto, Canada
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Chicago, USA
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Budapest, Hungary
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Sydney, Australia
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
London, England
We operate in over 20 countries. Our offices around the world are upcycled!
Tokyo, Japan
Upcycled art
Check out our Artist Residency program.
Learn moreDIY guides
Over the years, we’ve created lots of DIY guides, offering others an easy way to turn trash into treasure.
Malt-O-Meal origami flower
Garnier earrings
Faber Castell pen bracelet
TerraCycle launched Loop, a global platform for reuse, which enables manufacturers to produce their products in reusable prefilled packages and sell them at major retailers.
Learn more about reuse at TerraCycle