DRINK POUCH BRIGADE SPONSORSHIP HITS
$1 MILLION MARK FOR SCHOOLS
50 Million Drink Pouches Redeemed Through TerraCycle
Fund Local School Programs Nationwide
Trenton, NJ, September 2009 – A million dollars can go a long way in cash-strapped schools and nonprofits. And, when all that’s required is to save items from landfills, it almost sounds too good to be true. True it is. Schools and nonprofits across the country have now earned $1 million through the TerraCycle Drink Pouch Brigade program.
The Capri Sun beverage brand was one of the earliest supporters of TerraCycle, a company that collects would-be trash and turns it into useful items. The collection program, called the Drink Pouch Brigade, takes place mostly in schools, where children choose to deposit used pouches in special receptacles rather than throw them away. In participating schools, each used drink pouch collected and sent to TerraCycle earns two cents, with the funds going toward needed educational programs and resources.
Students and teachers alike have passionately embraced the program as a perfect way to underscore the importance of taking care of our environment while raising money for schools with budget issues. Together, students and teachers at over 30,000 schools nationawide have collected 50 million drink pouches for the program over the past two years.
“As the dad of school-aged children, I think it’s great when a product can help educate while it gives back,” said Vinay Sharma, Director of Marketing, Ready-to-Drink Beverages, Kraft Foods. “And, it’s a source of pride that, as a company, we can help students learn how to make a real impact on the environment and their schools at a time when both are in need.”
Top 100 Brigades to be recognized by Terracycle
Drink Pouch Brigades, found in 42% of elementary schools in the U.S., are part of a free nationwide program that pays schools and non-profits to collect non-recyclable waste that would otherwise go to landfill. In choosing not to discard their drink pouches, students demonstrate their concern for the environment.
Some schools – and the students who attend them – have done a truly remarkable job in this regard. To honor them, TerraCycle will recognize those 100 schools that have sent in the greatest number of pouches and, therefore, earned the most for their programs.
Garbage into great gear
TerraCycle “upcycles” collected drink pouches into affordable, eco-friendly products, ranging from backpacks to building materials. These items can be found at select retailers across the country, as well as online at www.TerraCycle.net.
“Our goal is for people to look at waste in a whole new way, and through its sponsorship of the Pouch Brigade program, Capri Sun has helped us to expand the numbers of those who are doing so,” said Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle. “The $1 million that Capri Sun has helped us give out is a powerful sign of the enthusiasm that communities across the country have for the goals of this program.”
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods is building a global snacks powerhouse and an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. With annual revenues of approximately $48 billion, the company is the world’s second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in approximately 170 countries. The portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion – Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Approximately 70 brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.
About TerraCycle
In 2001, Tom Szaky, a Princeton University Freshman, founded TerraCycle in hopes of building an eco-capitalist company built on waste. After winning countless business plan contests, Tom dropped out of Princeton to pursue his dream of founding the world’s most environmentally friendly company. Seven years later, TerraCycle’s eco-friendly products have received a myriad of social and environmental accolades and are sold at major retailers like The Home Depot, Target, Wal*Mart and Whole Foods Markets. TerraCycle’s business plan and products made from waste received a Zerofootprint Seal of Approval, won The Home Depot’s Environmental Stewardship Award twice and recently won the 2007 Social Venture Network Innovation Award. Please visit us at www.TerraCycle.net to learn more.
