Week+2

** 15th September 2011 **
 * Week 2 **

** UPCYCLING, DOWNCYCLING AND TERRACYCLE **

**1.** **Define “upcycling”. ** Upcycling is a term that is used when a product is re-used keeping its same shape and form, and leveraging it to make another product. For example, if a plastic bag is upcycled that means that it is used for an alternative purpose without melting it down or cutting it up.

**2.** **Define “downcycling”.** When a product is re-used by converting it into another product it is known as downcycling. Typically downcycled products are inferior in quality and have been modified from their original form and composition. Melting down of plastic to create another product is downcycling. This process specifically does not involve the use of fresh raw materials.

**3.** **Why is Terracycle one of the largest growing sustainable businesses in the world?** They have a timely plan of action. It requires minimum participation and cost incurred on the part of the customers. They have a functional and informative, easy-to-use website, along with the right amount of publicity with the right people. Walmart, Whole Foods Market, National Geographic, Oreos, Lays, Capri Sun are on board with the program, making them more legitimate and a growing trend. They are an international organization, and they are expanding, spreading the message of upcycling and repurposing garbage.

**4.** **Who started this business, and why have they been so successful?** Terracycle was started in 2001 by Tom Szaky a 20-year-old Princeton University freshman at the time. He started out packaging liquid worm excretion in soda bottles and has expanded the company since then. It has been successful because of the immediate need for solutions to disposing of garbage and the unique idea of upcycling versus recycling which utilizes a lot of virgin plastics. Also Szaky has managed to obtain the support and contribution of a few big players such as Walmart, Whole Foods Market and even National Geographic that has a segment called ‘Garbage Moguls’. The website has a simple to use interface and the procedure is explained quite simply.

<span style="color: #0087fa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">**5.** <span style="color: #0087fa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">**Describe their business model.** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Terracycle comes from humble beginnings but it has gown exponentially, using the collaboration of on-the-map companies and involving brands such as Oreo and Lays. It also involves the public with charity drives and sponsored waste programs in schools. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">They teach by doing and even their office stands as an example of how products have additional uses. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Another reason for the success of their business model is that they tackle issues that nobody else wants to deal with. The products that they repurpose are the ones that are hard to recycle and end up in landfills. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">They come up with alternative solutions such as filling speed bumps makes them stand out from the other green companies and NGOs. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">And finally, they make the process easy to use and accessible, with bins in major retailers and stadiums as well as restaurants. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">It provides a cost effective solution for users and the minimum amount of effort for waste disposal.

<span style="color: #0087fa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">**6.** <span style="color: #0087fa; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">**Find another business online which also has a sustainable business model. Copy the link to their website, and write a paragraph description as to why their model is so successful.** <span style="background-color: initial; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">This is a company that encourages re-designing of existing products for those manufacturers that are concerned about carbon emissions and plastic waste accumulation. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">They use biodegradable materials and even repurpose plastic and other materials. It provides innovative solutions to businesses that are not willing to compromise too much. It bridges the gap between environmentalists and large wasteful corporations. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Their strength lies in their customization option and their focus on aesthetics, which is perhaps where teracycle is lacking. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 9pt;">This green company caters to companies and larger entities.