Flooded bog for harvesting cranberries.
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Would more people recycle plastic from their food products if the process was more convenient and came with a prepaid shipping label? Ocean Spray is about to find out. The company has partnered with TerraCycle to make it easier to recycle its packaging. Consumers can send the flexible plastic packaging from Craisins dried cranberries and snacks to TerraCycle for free. Ocean Spray also plans to work with TerraCycle’s Loop program to create reusable packaging for its products.
Ocean Spray’s new recycling program is straight-forward: First, consumers have to sign up for a free TerraCycle account online to participate. Next, they can collect the plastic packaging from Craisins dried cranberries and snacks in any box they have at home. Once the box is full, they can request a free shipping label from their account and send the box via UPS to TerraCycle.
“We were inspired to partner with TerraCycle to advance the packaging pillar of our sustainability program given its similar commitment to tackle sustainability from several angles. We all need to focus on working together to drive forward solutions, and our work with TerraCyle does just that. TerraCycle provides us the ability to have a broad reach and tangible impact as it comes to preventing waste from entering a landfill; moreover, TerraCycle’s new Loop platform allows us to create new products and build a truly circular economy,” Christina Ferzli, Head of Global Corporate Affairs at Ocean Spray, said.
Cranberry vines with berries in Massachusetts. Photo by Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian … [+]
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Convenience is often a factor in recycling. Fortunately for busy consumers who participate in the new recycling program, TerraCycle does not require them to clean the plastic packaging before sending it. The only request is to try to get as much product out first and avoid shipping wet or dripping packages, which UPS will not accept.
Ocean Spray is also planning to develop other sustainability efforts with Loop by selling products in reusable packaging. Loop is now shipping to all 48 contiguous U.S. states, and Ocean Spray is currently focusing on its Craisins dried cranberry products’ packaging, with plans to extend the work into its beverage products beginning with the Cranberry Juice Cocktail.
“On a small scale, we are launching our partnership with Loop to be the food and beverage industry pioneer in a program that is leading the sustainability charge on zero packaging waste through reusability. Looking forward, we hope we can bring Loop packaged products to more locations, driving forward an expansion of the program to make more meaningful impact in sustainable packaging and creating a circular economy,” Ferzli said.
Ocean Spray is part of a growing trend of recycling and sustainability among corporations. McDonald’s recently announced it plans to test reusable cups in select locations with the help of Loop. Some examples of other companies that have partnerships with TerraCycle are Barilla, which recycles its Ready Pasta pouches, and Honest Kids, which recycles its drink pouches.
