A better buy

It's no secret you can find anything on the Web. Today I dug up an old story on "upcycling" from The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24worm.html?scp=4&sq=landfills%20and%20bag&st=cse Upcycling takes waste and turns it into new and usable products. The article focuses on a company called TerraCycle, which collects used yogurt cups, cracker wrappers, and more and makes this trash into hip messenger bags and pencil cases.

The article quotes Ryan Vero, the chief merchandising officer for OfficeMax, which features TerraCycle products. "TerraCycle is not selling a specific product line, but an idea and a vision for consumers to grab hold of."

A new generation of consumers is buying based on ideals. not simply need and price. Are companies ready for this? How are they creating and marketing products that will appeal to socially minded buyers—whether they are individuals or organizations? Is your company ready to compete based on product, price, and sustainability?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

It's no secret you can find anything on the Web. Today I dug up an old story on "upcycling" from The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24worm.html?scp=4&sq=landfills%20and%20bag&st=cse Upcycling takes waste and turns it into new and usable products. The article focuses on a company called TerraCycle, which collects used yogurt cups, cracker wrappers, and more and makes this trash into hip messenger bags and pencil cases.

The article quotes Ryan Vero, the chief merchandising officer for OfficeMax, which features TerraCycle products. "TerraCycle is not selling a specific product line, but an idea and a vision for consumers to grab hold of."

A new generation of consumers is buying based on ideals. not simply need and price. Are companies ready for this? How are they creating and marketing products that will appeal to socially minded buyers—whether they are individuals or organizations? Is your company ready to compete based on product, price, and sustainability?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine