I love seeing an innovative new approach to an established process. Having spent the last seven years in a Recycling role, I have seen many of the ways that the valuable materials we discard are collected, sorted, processed, and then made into a recycled version of their original state. This is valuable work and we all need to do better at placing these materials (glass, plastic, aluminum, cardboard etc) back into the recycling systems so that more recycled content is available.

But in some cases there is another way, and Rebox is a perfect example. Instead of cardboard boxes being treated as a recycling waste stream, the Rebox program puts those boxes back into use, or ReUse, with companies needing internal distribution packaging. The brand name on the box is never seen by consumers, as it is just used to ferry products from distribution centers to the backroom of retail store locations. There is value created for everyone along the way!

So as you evaluate the materials your company sends out the back door, consider options to have them part of the ReUse circular economy. In a world of scarce raw material resources, and where there is concern over the source of these materials, it is refreshing to see positive new approaches that increase the lifespan of existing resources.

Hat’s off to Boyan Slat, whose idea is being towed out to sea to begin gathering up the floating garbage patches in the ocean! You could imagine how as a kid, Boyan built a small prototype in his garage with all household materials. Some cut pieces of garden hose, add ping pong netting, and drag it around the pool!

Breakthrough innovation doesn’t have to be the result of very complicated processes. Sometimes, like a kid, you can look around yourself, find what is readily available, put it together in ways not originally intended, and provide a breakthrough solution.

Well this was really cool! I was able to give a talk at the Ridgefield Library in August, and the local paper did a good job of letting people know about it ahead of time. This was the first event where people attended solely out of interest in the subject as opposed to just being friends of mine. I am very appreciative of the twenty orso folks who came and joined in the discussion. I love the comments and stories that were shared and I think many in attendance found some part of the presentation relevant to their own particular interest in the Creative Process. This was really a very rewarding experience for me and I look forward to the next presentation!