The Newest Recycling Trends of 2014

Today, many feel that living a sustainable lifestyle is a key part of living conscientiously. This transcends from individuals to businesses that are just as concerned with the sustainability of a product as they are with the price and quality. Both individuals and businesses are mindful about consuming just what they need and retaining the rest of our natural resources for our children and grandchildren. Each year we see new and different eco-friendly recycling trends pop up making it easier for all of us to make recycling a natural part of our lives.

Below are some examples of new recycling trends we’re seeing in 2014.

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Many innovative designers and architects are finding ground-breaking ways to repurpose items that would otherwise have been considered waste and sent to our landfills. In the past several years urban visionaries have continually developed new ways and state-of-the-art projects to ensure green living.

  • One innovator uses CRT glass, with the metal removed, to create glass bricks and colorful bathroom and kitchen tiles.
  • Another has made a combination of a urinal and a hand-washer. The one piece design rinses the urinal while you wash your hands.
  • Dutch scientists have developed “smog-eating pavement” which they claim can reduce air pollution by nearly 50%.
  • Another stroke of brilliance is the newly designed Mexico City hospital façade that absorbs smog and turns it into water, calcium nitrate, and carbon dioxide when it is in direct sunlight.

FOOD WASTE

I think we can all agree that the amount of food waste in the U.S. and beyond is criminal. This has been an ongoing problem for decades. As the global demand for food continues to rise, it is imperative that we find new ways to reduce food waste, find effective ways to manage that waste, and find ways to reuse it so it can help sustain others. The “freegan” movement is one of the newest recycling trends which enables people to share food they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to eat before it goes bad.

  • A restaurant concept in Vienna coined “BIOMAT” urged people to bring in their food waste. In return they received a restaurant discount.
  • Food sharing has also gained in popularity. A new app enables users to give away, trade, or buy leftover food or homegrown vegetables and fruits that won’t be consumed.
  • Eating food beyond the expiration date is another idea that is gaining popularity. Often companies use an expiration date, only as a guide or reference tool, and the product itself is fine especially if the package has remained sealed. Of course, you must use good judgment and discard any food item that may look or smell bad. In the case of fruits or produce many may develop soft or dark spots as they age, but most of the time the rest of the produce is fine once the soft or bruised area is removed. Don’t discard the entire item, eat what is good and throw away the rest.

RECYCLABLE AND REPURPSED PACKAGING:

Packaging manufacturers are some of the most environmentally aware businesses today. Since so much of what they produce goes into effectively marketing a brand, they continually are looking for new and innovative ways to showcase the product while ensuring that the packaging can be easily recycled. We see numerous recycling trends gaining in popularity within this industry. The use of biodegradable and reusable packaging will continue to grow, and the use of plant-based packaging for food and household items is also projected to gain momentum. We foresee plant-based, biodegradable, recyclable, and multipurpose packaging being a gateway for bio-technical innovation.

  • Veuve Clicquot Champagne, one of the top and most well respected champagne brands in the world has begun a new innovative way to use food by-products by creating a biodegradable package made from potato starch. The packaging is said to have zero environmental impact.
  • A new gift wrapping paper is made from 100% “plantable” materials, which means that the paper itself contains vegetable seeds so after it’s used, it can be planted in your garden and grow a myriad of plants like carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, onion, and peppers. A similar company produces holiday cards that contains the seeds of wildflowers.
  • Leave it to Starbucks to be on the cutting-edge of environmentally-friendly recycling trends. Just months ago they launched a $1 reusable plastic cup that reduces the number of paper cups used and cuts down on waste. The cup can be refilled, washed, reused, and then eventually recycled.

RECYCLING AND WASTE STATISTICS

While more and more businesses are developing recycling programs and their own internal recycling trends, waste is still a huge issue for both businesses and individuals. Below is a list of some statistics and facts about commonly used products that can be recycled.

  • Aluminum Cans – statistics from the Aluminum Association states that the aluminum can recovery rate is on the rise and reached 65.1% in 2011 – making it the world’s most recycled container.
  • Food Waste – over 33 million tons of food is wasted annually in the U.S.
  • Curbside Recycling – over 9,000 curbside recycling programs exist today.
  • Textile Recycling – recently the town of Queen Creek, just outside Phoenix, Arizona, worked with United Fibers to develop a home recycling program that collected clothing items as well as towels and blankets, which are placed in curbside bins and collected to be recycled.
  • Glass Recycling – According to Earth 911, recycling one glass bottle would allow you to spend 30-minutes browsing the internet. Glass is one of the best candidates for recycling because it retains its integrity and can be crushed, melted, and remolded time and time again.
  • Paper Recycling: Statistics show that an average American uses over 5.5 40-foot trees worth of paper each year. We can each do our part to reduce this number by choosing paper products that use recycled fibers. Also, think before you print out items that can be viewed on your computer or portable device. Business can further this effort by choosing packaging made from recycled paper and other products.
  • Plastic Bag Recycling – Grocery and discount stores in the U.S. use approximately 89 billion plastic bags and sacks each year. More and more retail outlets are installing bag recycling bins, so the bags can be returned to the store after use and recycled again for additional uses. Many stores, primarily in California, are charging for bags if you don’t bring your own bag. Many stores are also selling reusable bags at affordable prices to encourage customers to reduce the use of plastic bags.

AT MJS PACKAGING, OUR CLIENTS ARE OUR PRIORITY

MJS Packaging has been in business for over 125 years and is one of the first glass recyclers in the U.S. Because of our longevity in the industry we have built strong relationships and have exclusive access to just about any container, jar, bottle, cap, or closure on the market today. The company prides themselves on hiring highly experienced packaging experts that will make sure that customers receive personalized service at the best price possible.