Introduction to Sustainability

Recycling Rates and Empowering Consumers

Read the following article by Karen Winterich, Gabriel E. Gonzales, and Gergana Nenkov: To increase recycling rates, empower consumers, and skip the guilt trip (9/26/19):

The article concludes by stating:

· Recyclables are not just another form of trash.

· They are used every day to make all sorts of new products. More companies such as Nike, Timberland, and PepsiCo are incorporating post‐consumer recycled material into their products and packaging.

· We believe it’s not just governments and policymakers who should incorporate these transformation messages into their advertising campaigns but companies as well. This not only would show consumers that they care about the environment, but also perhaps learning that their used plastic bottles soon may be on the soles of their latest Nike shoes would help motivate them to recycle more of their waste. 

· Emphasizing what people’s recyclable waste can become is a very simple messaging tweak, but our research shows it can make a big difference.

As a individual :

·  Pick any recyclable product and determine what it can become after recycling.

· Plastic Beverage Bottles is the recyclable product chosen.