I recently had the pleasure of attending the Sustainable Brands ‘22 conference in San Diego, California. Joined by my colleagues Tess Riley and Matt Rosenfeld, it was an informative event with the team attending speaking sessions that left us inspired to implement new ideas that drive innovation through positive environmental impact.  The discussions at Sustainable Brands ‘22 centered around the need to “recenter and accelerate.” Speakers referenced an increased urgency for businesses to pivot towards more sustainable principles and to continue to create a new status quo that encourages a ..read more

We all tend to get a bit ahead of ourselves this time of year. Before the Thanksgiving turkey is even out of the oven, many of us are already moving on to plotting the purchases we will make in the days that follow. Life is hectic, and the fanfare around the year’s most publicized sales can put pressure on us to lock in that hot deal before it sells out. Sadly, often in this case, haste makes waste: a recent study found that an average American generates an extra 43 percent more trash per week during the holiday season, which amounts to almost 30 pounds of trash per person. The United States P ..read more

I was recently interviewed by NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) Magazine on how Rubicon® is reimagining tracking and reduction in the waste and recycling industry. NACS, a leading global trade association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing, serves as a trusted advisor to over 1,300 retailer and 1,600 supplier members from more than 50 countries. Founded in 1961, NACS is a member-driven organization led by a 29-member Board of Directors comprised of convenience retailers of all sizes from all over the globe. Here is my interview from the November 2022 issue of ..read more

When the summer comes to an end and fall weather begins to roll around, that means it’s time for two things: back-to-school shopping and Trick or Trash (more on this at the end of this article). Just because the back-to-school shopping of yesteryear involved picking up lots of single use products, plastic lunch boxes, and junky snack foods, today it’s much easier to shop “back-to-school” sustainably. To help you on your upcoming shopping spree, Rubicon® has compiled a few companies that offer sustainable alternatives to the usual back-to-school gear. Here are five small businesses for a “green ..read more

Food waste in America is a serious issue, both economically and environmentally. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found that over a third of food produced in our country is wasted, costing us hundreds of billions of dollars annually. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more food arrives at landfills than any other material commonly found in our trash, a presence that has contributed to increased methane emissions. However, there is something we can all do to start reversing these damaging effects—and it is called composting. Whether for your home or business, l ..read more

As we settle into summer, we eagerly return to some of our favorite outdoor activities such as swimming, going to the beach, and having barbecues or picnics with friends and family. While we are assembling a variety of salads into disposable plastic containers, wrapping sandwiches in plastic, and buying single use utensils and plates, an assortment of plastic beverage bottles, plastic straws, and single use cups, most of us forget to think of the end destination of these products. Before you pack your checkered blanket, take a look at these five simple picnic tips intended to keep your future ..read more

Rubicon® is always searching for sustainable businesses and products to support throughout the year. The holidays—whether Memorial Day, Labor Day, or the Fourth of July—are a time for celebration and food-based fun, and as such it pays to choose sustainable snacks to enjoy while spending time with family and friends. Try out some of these delectable snacks and enjoy the summer holidays sustainably! Pulp Pantry: Los Angeles, California If you’re torn by your love of crunchy chips and a desire for nutritious eating, there’s a sustainable option that lets you keep the crunch going without the gui ..read more

Earlier this month, Rubicon’s Director of Circular Economy Solutions, Ryan Cooper, had the chance to speak at Concordia’s 2022 Lexington Summit in Lexington, Kentucky. He was joined by co-panelists Ryan Quarles of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Maggie Lyons, Managing Director of AgTech and Consumer Goods Business Unit for SAS Institute, and the session moderator, Concordia’s own Hanne Dalmut. The conversation focused on the growth of our nation’s food waste, the actions that businesses can take to reduce its accumulation, and the ways to expand education surrounding this issue. For an ..read more

A unique single-use plastic alternative, B Corp Lilybee Wrap is an easy way to reduce waste in your own home. In this Town Haul Rewind, host Amy Koonin Taylor is joined from New Zealand by LilyBee Wrap Founder Stacia Jensen to break down the LilyBee Wrap origin story and celebrate the brand’s environmental impact. On what makes beeswax a great single-use plastic alternative: STACIA JENSEN: “So, the best way I have heard it described is that cheesemongers actually really love it because there’s something about it that seals in freshness, but it’s still a living environment. So, instead of it be ..read more

Do you use a smartphone to communicate with friends and family, check the weather, or provide directions while driving? Do you stream new episodes of your favorite television show every week? Do you use your bank card to withdraw cash from ATMs, or make everyday purchases? All of these conveniences we rely on daily are only possible by reason of satellites orbiting Earth. Satellites are used to send signals down from space for nearly every function of our digitized lifestyle, and rapidly accumulating space debris caught in Earth’s orbit poses a massive threat to them. This topic was discussed ..read more