Babybel, part of the Bel Brands USA family, has announced a national recycling program for all packaging in the US with international recycling leader TerraCycle.

“Across our entire business at Bel, we are working to reduce the impact our products and processes have on the environment. And while we work to provide 100% recyclable or compostable packaging, we’re thrilled to offer consumers a way to recycle our current Babybel packaging in partnership with TerraCycle,” says Melanie Nemoy, Babybel brand director.

US consumers can participate in the Babybel Recycling Program by signing up on the TerraCycle program page at www.terracycle.com. Then, save the nets, labels, metal fasteners, cellophane, wax and/or pouches from Babybel products and put them in a box. When you’re ready to send in a package, print out a prepaid shipping label available on the website, place it on the well-sealed box and mail it to TerraCycle free of charge. To transport waste in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible, consumers are encouraged to ship their packages only when they are full.

For any shipment of packaging meeting TerraCycle program guidelines, consumers earn points that can be redeemed for a donation to a non-profit organization of their choice.

Once collected, the packaging will be cleaned, melted and remolded to make new recycled products. For example, the cellophane, netting and labels are transformed into plastic pellets that will be used to make other reusable plastic objects such as garden tools or park benches. Metal fasteners are separated from the labels and melted down to make gaskets, nuts or bolts.

“With this recycling program, Bel Brands USA is offering a powerful, sustainable option to responsibly dispose of Babybel packaging,” says Tom Szaky, TerraCycle founder and CEO. “Consumers can now enjoy their favorite bite-sized snacks and easily reduce waste, all while being rewarded for minimizing their environmental impact.”

Recycling science-backed baby food packaging

Cerebelly, touted as the first and only science-backed baby food brand that delivers whole food nutrition designed for optimal cognitive development, has announced the company, alongside its motivated and environmentally conscious families, have achieved a major milestone of 100,000 pouches recycled and, as of Earth Day 2022, Cerebelly’s waste collection is expected to reach 110,000 pouches recycled.

Through its partnership with TerraCycle, which specializes in providing recycling solutions for typically unrecyclable waste, Cerebelly has provided a solution for its packaging waste since its launch in 2019, and program participation has grown at an exponential rate.

Cerebelly families interested in participating in the free recycling program are invited to sign up through TerraCycle on the Cerebelly program page, collect their used pouches, print a label and ship. Once collected, the waste is broken down and separated by material with plastics cleaned and pelletized. Additionally, as an added incentive, for every shipment of Cerebelly waste sent to TerraCycle, participants earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.

“Just as it’s critical for children to receive the 16 essential nutrients necessary for optimal brain development, it is equally vital for businesses to contribute to the sustainability of our planet,” says Greg Shearson, Cerebelly CEO. “We believe this recycling program empowers Cerebelly to promote sustainable habits and allows our families to feel good about what they’re feeding their children and the impact our product has on the world around them.”

TerraCycle currently tackles the issue of waste in 21 countries and is recognized for its solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste streams. “Since our founding, TerraCycle has made it our mission to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and provide solutions for difficult to recycle items that are not traditionally recyclable curbside,” says Szaky. “Our partnership with Cerebelly opens an area of opportunity in the baby food industry to inspire a unique group of consumers to rethink what is waste and work to create solutions for the traditionally unrecyclable.”

Effective April 1, a new “label limit” is available to encourage consumer waste return in-bulk and decrease the number of shipping labels printed.