
Best Part is, They Work!
I was sent full sized samples of TerraCycle's all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, and drain cleaner and maintainer. I haven't gotten a chance to use the drain cleaner yet, but the other two work great.We found out the other day that we had a small leak under our kitchen sink, which left a puddle in the bottom of the cabinet. We don't know how long it was leaking, but it was pretty gross. I used the all purpose cleaner, and it worked wonderfully. My only gripe is the smell: it's very piney. While this is better then the lemon smell of another green cleaner I've tried (no names mentioned!), it's still a bit strong for me.
I used the window cleaner on the sliding glass door in our living, and was surprised (pleasantly!). It removed the dirt, fingerprints, etc., easily, with minimal streakage (I think I just created a new word!). The smell of this cleaner is so light you actually have to sniff the cloth to smell it (and, yes, I did... to let you all know what it was like!).
So, let's get into the interview with Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle.
I have read the story of how TerraCycle got its start, but I know our readers would love to know. Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself and how you came to start an eco business?
Having grown up in Canada, where people are more progressive about environmental awareness, I grew up very aware of the looming environmental issues our society faces. That combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, I started a web design firm at age 14, which made for a very natural progression into eco-capitalism. When I came to Princeton for my freshman year, I was astonished by the amount of waste I saw. So many bottles were discarded in the dorms and so much food was left untouched in the cafeterias. It struck me not only as a serious dilemma, but a major opportunity. Trash struck me as free material from which to make products, and it was that thought that eventually lead to TerraCycle.
Did you encounter any challenges when starting up your business? Has it been difficult to maintain your business because of its philosophy?
Wow, how much time do you have? Starting a business is never easy, so you can imagine the looks on people's faces when you tell them you want to feed garbage to worms, collect their feces, and bottle it in used soda bottles! It made it tough to get my original start up capital from friends and family, since it sounds like a nutty idea. Soon, though, the concept got some attention. I was able to win several reputable business plan contests, and with that as my accreditation, people started to take me more seriously. Of course, it didn't make it any easier to tell my mom that I was dropping out of Princeton, of all places, to sell worm poop!
As for maintaining the business, yes and no. We have some serious issues other companies don't deal with. Quality control, for starters, is much harder to guarantee when working with waste, and is even more important. Furthermore, we are making products that have never been made before, which means there is no format to follow. I hate to use the word pioneer, but we certainly forge our own path, which inherently means pitfalls and problems abound! However, the average consumer's growing want for more sustainable and organic products has fueled great interest in TerraCycle, in terms of investors, media, retailers, et cetera, so in that sense our philosophy is a major advantage.
Is there anyone or anything that inspires you, whether it be inspiration for your company or for your life in general?
William McDonough, who wrote Cradle to Cradle, was a big inspiration for me. The book made me realize that our only problem was malaise, which stifled innovation in the 20th century. The theory, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," left our business innovation stagnant. Sure, technologies were advancing, but no one was going back to rethink the basic tenants of business. The book also helped me to fully understand a concept that was only in a formative stage in my mind. Eco-friendly and sustainable practices were good for business and, if used properly, lead to more profits, not to mention an easier night's sleep.
Your company is eco-friendly, but how eco-friendly are you in your own life?
It's funny, I get asked this question a lot. Yes and no. I think I do a lot of things that would be considered eco-friendly, but for me are just common sense. I recycle everything in my house, have a small worm bin for table scraps, use CFL in every light I own and drive a car with pretty good gas mileage, buy organic and local whenever possible. I am holding off on a Hybrid for now, waiting for plug-in electrics, which I think is the future of automobiles.
These things seem so simple and elementary to me, yet too few actually adhere to these easy principles, which is a shame because if 90% of Americans took these simple, non-costly steps, the difference would be massive. People always say the actions of one person won't save the polar ice caps, but they are wrong. If every person took these simple steps, we wouldn't be in nearly the crisis we are in now.
No one is perfect. I, for one, need to learn to take shorter showers to save water. Do you have any particularly eco-unfriendly habits?
That's funny. Yeah short showers aren't an issue for me, running a start up is all absorbing so my showers are always of the five minute variety! My travel for work would be my one habit that I wish I could change. I have to travel a lot to meet with investors, retailers, et cetera. One day, when TerraCycle is making enough money, I hope to offset the carbon from all my travel. Right now, 100% of TerraCycle's resources are going into developing products made from garbage. But, in that way, I am helping to consume carbon and waste on a grand scale, so for now I can justify it. One day all business will be done by video conferencing, but the world just isn't there yet.
So TerraCycle was sued by Miracle Gro? What happened?
Yeah that's how people tend to remember us. But I guess David isn't the worst part to get in the school play. I am actually legally bound not to talk about it. We got sued over trade dress claims, meaning they claimed our products look confusingly similar to Miracle Gro. After 5 months of discovery and talks, we were able to settle on relatively amicable means. Since then we have left that far in the rear view mirror and have moved out of the garden and into the home and closet!
Now we work with Goliath, which always makes me laugh, since we made our name fighting Goliath. We have signed a really amazing deal with Kraft Foods and their brands Capri Sun, Nabisco and Balance Bar. The partnership allows us to pay schools and non-profits to collect non-recyclable waste materials, which we then upcycle into eco-friendly products. It makes me happy that giant corporations like Kraft have enough vision to work with companies like mine. Kraft products are available at basically every food store in the country so working with them to bring recycling programs to schools and non-profits is great because we have the great ideas, but they have the resources and reach. Combining those elements makes for an unstoppable green force, and anyone can sign up for free at www.terracycle.net (sorry for the shameless plug!)
I recently started using my TerraCycle cleaning products, and am very happy with them. What cleaning products does TerraCycle offer, and why should our readers consider purchasing your products over others?
I am so glad to hear it! The cleaners are a really strong product of ours. We make a line of plant and mineral based cleaners including All-Purpose, Window and Bathroom that are all non-toxic, biodegradable and come packaged in a reused 1 liter bottle! In addition we make a great Drain Cleaner, one of the few all-natural Drain Cleaners on the market. It is actually made from millions of microorganisms that literally eat through grime, but dissipate into groundwater and don't cause environmental harm.
People should definitely support all all-natural cleaning products; both Method and 7th Generation are great companies and it's been great to see how mainstream they have become. Our products do have two HUGE advantages over those brands, though, and that's the packaging and the price. They are using 30-70% recycled plastic bottles for the most part, while our bottles are directly reused 1 liter bottles, making them the most eco-friendly way to package anything. As for price, take our Window Cleaner as an example, we are closer in price to Windex then to Method's window cleaner, and that's important. Especially in today's soft economy, people who want to buy environmentally beneficial products find it harder and harder to pay that premium. That's why TerraCycle sells all of its products at comparative prices to our more traditional competition.
Where can our readers find your cleaning products, and what should they expect to pay?
OfficeMax and Target both carry the cleaners. OfficeMax is national so that is the safe bet. As for the Drain Cleaner, that is sold exclusively at The Home Depot. The 1 liter line is $2.99 - $3.99 and the Drain is $8.99.
What other products can our readers find from TerraCycle?
Oh man! There are so many! We have a whole line of fertilizers and planting pots that are sold at The Home Depot. A whole office/school line is sold at OfficeMax. That is a great line, everything from pencil cases made from Capri Sun drink pouches to paper made from elephant poop, no joke! OfficeMax is also selling cork boards made from used wine corks and messenger bags made from used billboards!
Also, Target is testing all of our sponsored waste products. Those are the products born out of our partnership with Kraft Foods. We take the packaging waste from Kraft brands and turn it into umbrellas, tote bags, kites, pencil cases, homework folders, backpacks and more. Many of these products will be tested at Wal-Mart as well. My favorite products are the Capri Sun school supplies for kids, the kids seem to love them and the Chips Ahoy! Umbrella, I don't know why but I just like it a lot.
Since I know your life isn't all about your company, what are some of your hobbies and other interests?
For the most part TerraCycle is my life! Seriously, though, when I can break away I enjoy playing Tennis and Chess and also classical music. I recently got married to a world renowned concert pianist, Soyeon Lee, so I greatly enjoy all classical music and going to the orchestra.
Do you have any advice for others who are trying to be more green? How about others interested in starting a green business?
For those trying to go green, it's simple. You don't have to move to the Sierra Nevada mountains and join a co-op farm, or stand outside oil companies and picket. Just recycle, turn off lights, use CFLs, drive less, take shorter showers, buy local and STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER! Go buy a Nalgene and keep it full.
As for those starting a business, never sacrifice your dream. Building a green business is harder then building a regular business, you can't cut corners or pick the cheapest way to manufacture or ship, but keep to your principals. Consumers want green products, so for all the pain and trouble you go through getting them to the shelves, you'll be richly rewarded (if you have a good product of course!)
Just for fun, and since your company probably repurposes the bottles from both brands: Coke or Pepsi?
Ha! Well I have deals with both companies, so I'll have to plead the fifth. But honestly I drink juice and tea, not soda.
Thank you, Tom, for taking the time to answer our questions, and congratulations on your recent marriage!
© Stefanie for , 2008. |
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