Case Study: TerraCycle achieves global growth and profitability with Consumer Goods Technology

TerraCycle - Customer Case Study

TerraCycle, an eco-innovator, faced the challenge of managing immense volumes of non-recyclable waste collected through its Brigade programs. The company's initial method of upcycling waste into products like backpacks was not scalable enough to handle the hundreds of thousands of items it received daily. They needed new, large-scale material solutions for waste streams like juice pouches to continue their mission of eliminating the idea of waste.

The vendor, Consumer Goods Technology, detailed how TerraCycle implemented a new scientific approach. They developed processes to shred, compress, granulize, and pulverize waste, transforming it into new materials like plastic lumber and fabric. Furthermore, TerraCycle shifted its business model from manufacturing to licensing, teaching other companies how to use these recycled materials. This solution allowed TerraCycle to achieve profitability, reporting $13.5 million in sales at a profit in 2010 and projecting $20 million for 2011, while expanding its global operations to numerous countries.

TerraCycle

Tom Szaky

Eco-Capitalist