Brand New Alchemy: Garbage into Gold

IndustryWeek (7/6, Chevalier, TerraCycle, Inc.) – TerraCycle…has developed ways to directly upcycle each waste stream we work with, turning single-use materials into goods and products that can be used repeatedly. Fertilizers made entirely from (and packaged in) waste, office supplies, home products, and even a new product line made from billboards, are being prouduced at TerraCycle.

What does TerraCycle's progress mean to others in the field? Product development is adapting as materials that can be upcycled become more diverse; as a result, manufacturing processes are greatly evolving. Long term, perhaps this means a shift toward locally focused economies where materials remain in a closed loop. The supply chain will be transformed from a linear process to a more cyclic operation. There is an almost limitless supply of resources to work with, which don't have to be harvested, cut down, mined, or synthesized.

Now could be the time for businesses to reconsider opportunities they wrote off in the past, or to evaluate the partnerships that might not be right for their competition -- perhaps it could afford your organization a competitive advantage, or simplify your work in ways that would greatly amplify your strengths.