Frito-Lay & TerraCycle Debut 'Upcycled' School Supplies in Target Stores

It’s that time of year again -- school supplies shopping!  For a limited time, you can find some pretty cool pencil cases and folders made from recycled Frito-Lay snack bags in the back-to-school section at Target stores nationwide. The supplies are affordably priced at only 99 cents each.

This is all part of a program that Frito-Lay launched earlier this year with TerraCycle to “upcycle” used Frito-Lay chip bags to create new, useful products.  The back-to-school promotion at Target is the first time that upcycled products from Frito-Lay and TerraCycle are being sold in a retail store. 

I must admit I was a bit skeptical when I heard about the promotion.  Would consumers really buy products made out of recycled packaging?  However, the success of the program at Target is proving me wrong. 

"We've already sold four times what we originally estimated," Matt Smith, Frito-Lay's Associate Marketing Manager for Sustainability, told me.  "People appreciate that Frito-Lay is making an effort to help conserve and preserve our planet.  And besides, the pencil boxes and folders are useful, cool and affordable."

The Target promotion has received favorable comments from consumers. For example, Christina Frankel recently wrote about it in her column for the Tracy (Calif.) Press Web site.

As Matt pointed out to me, consumers are increasingly supporting companies that are engaged in efforts to be more environmentally conscious, such as the Frito-Lay-TerraCycle program.  And, something called EcoArt has even emerged -- using recycled/upcycled waste to create unique art.  You can learn more about EcoArt by watching a video from EcoArtist Nancy Martini on You Tube or by visiting EcoArtist Erica Fielder online. 

The TerraCyle program is one example of Frito-Lay’s many efforts to help conserve and preserve our planet.  In the past I've blogged about some of our other environmental programs -- SunChips compostable packaging, landfill reduction programs at our manufacturing plants,  LEED certification efforts at our Plano Headquarters facility, fuel and emission reductions in our fleet, and the program at our Casa Grande, Ariz., plant to reduce water, energy and landfill waste. I’ll continue blogging about the progress we’re making in all aspects of environmental sustainability.

I hope you’ll head to a Target store near you to check out the Frito-Lay-TerraCycle products. Based on the program’s initial success at Target, I wouldn’t be surprised if eco-friendly promotions continue to pop-up in more stores. What do you think of the Frito-Lay-TerraCycle products featured at Target?

Comments

[Elizabeth]

haven't seen them in person, but they look cool. Even as a high school student I would buy them, especially because I am involved in some 'green' projects already.

[Linda Cramer]

I love these. They will be in our kids school supplies this year. Thanks for making such a great product from recycled items.