RecycleBank
Encyclopedia
Recyclebank is a company headquartered in New York City
with offices in Philadelphia and London
that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from thousands of local and national businesses. It does this by measuring the amount of material each home recycles then issuing Recyclebank Points based on the amount of materials recycled. These points can be used at participating local and national rewards partners. Reward points can also be earned through the Visa Gconomy Card, GreenNurture
, Kashless, electronics recycling, and by participating in eBay
's Green Team. Recyclebank also uses its digital platform to educate consumers on how to recycle through “Learn and Earn” quizzes that give Recyclebank users points for correctly answering questions about ecology, energy and the like, and through interaction via Facebook, Twitter and mobile applications.
Recyclebank was founded in 2004 by Patrick K. FitzGerald and Ron Gonen and a pilot program was launched in two Philadelphia neighborhoods. Jonathon Hsu, previously CEO of 24/7 Real Media, replaced Ron Gonen as CEO in October 2010, According to Hsu, the company’s mandate is to be the first mass market green brand.
Recyclebank is a member company of Ceres
, a network nationwide of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. RRE Ventures
and Sigma Partners are the largest institutional shareholder group and Ron Gonen, the co-founder and CEO is the largest individual shareholder.Additional investors include Coca-Cola Bottling Group, Generation Investment Management
, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Westly Group.
As of December 2007, Recyclebank is in 125,000 households in the United States in over 35 municipalities.In May 2011 Recyclebank acquired GreenYour, a Web-based guide that offers tips on living green. As of July 2011, Recyclebank employs just under 180 employees.
Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum
, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme
, for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the United States Conference of Mayors
and as the top Venture-backed Clean-tech Company by The Wall Street Journal
.
Members can also earn points through the product recycling awareness program "Points for Planet." Members can earn 50 points for each Kashi cereal box they recycle. Members must enter a code, printed inside each box, at the Recyclebank website to claim the points. Rewards include discounts with retailers such as Macy’s and Brookstone
as well as with eateries such as Ruby Tuesday. Recyclebank members use their points for discounts on products from such companies as Aveeno
, Unilever
, and Kashi.
Major brands such as Procter & Gamble
have collaborated with Recyclebank to engage consumers with this digital learning experience, which involves interactive educational content (watching videos, flash animation or other online content) that informs individuals about taking small steps to live more sustainably—and rewards them with Recyclebank points. P&G's Future Friendly program sponsors incentives for people to sign up with Recyclebank, a sort of electronic "Green Stamps" that gives people points redeemable for local merchants or merchandise when they recycle through curbside collection programs. Members can earn additional points by blogging or using social media to get others to view the content.
refers to the practice of using game elements in non-game environments as a way to encourage people to adopt desired behaviors. Recyclebank uses gamification to engage members online while influencing behaviors offline, by using incentives to motivate it's members their own sustainability journey in a fun and educational environment. The company has seen success in Philadelphia due to the combination of gamification and incentives, where the city showed a 16% increase in recycling. Due to this, the recycling rate in Philadelphia broke 20% for the first time in history. Thought leader in the world of gamification
and Chief Revenue Officer of Recyclebank Samantha Skey
advised companies on how to reach millennial moms in an AdAge article. She said that this generation of mothers (those born after 1980) are wallet-driven activists who consider both family health and environmental sustainability when making purchases. “The Millennial mom has different expectations for the brands she supports and demands transparency and authenticity both from the brand's on- and offline efforts.” Skey helped develop Riddler, one of the web’s first real-time, multi-player, reward-based gaming sites at Interactive Imaginations.
Throughout Earth Month in April, Recyclebank hosted an online game, the Green Your Home Challenge. Visitors interacted with virtual rooms to learn how to be more environmentally conscious and implement new “green” changes in home and lifestyle. Players were also given rewards, challenges, and leaderboards as well as bonuses for referring new players.
On June 22, 2011, Recyclebank launched the Green Your Vacation Contest, a nationwide challenge designed to inspire people to make eco-friendly decisions while on vacation. The Contest, which ran from June 22 until July 31, allowed Recyclebank members to learn tips for making their summer vacations eco-friendly, make pledges to take green actions and take challenges to earn Recyclebank points. The Contest's highest scorers and those who had referred the most friends had a chance to win more than 100 prizes.
On August 17, 2011, Recyclebank began it's Green Your School Year Challenge, a nationwide effort to motivate and inspire families to make eco-friendly decisions throughout the school year.The Challenge, which started August 17 and will end September 30, takes Recyclebank members on an interactive school year journey with opportunities to earn points along the way. The Challenge's highest scorers and those who have referred the most friends have a chance to again win more than 100 prizes
Digital agency Blue State Digital
created the interactive campaign for Recyclebank. Blue State Digital
was acquired in October 2010 by WPP Digital, a branch of WPP plc.
Leading the council is Ian Yolles
, Recyclebank's Chief Sustainability Officer and former Chief Marketing Officer. Yolles' resume includes working with Nike
, Nau
and Patagonia
.
Founding members of the Recyclebank Sustainability Advisory Council include:
After Recyclebank acquired GreenYour in May 2011, Andrew L. Shapiro
became a member of the Sustainability Advisory Council in June of that same year. Shapiro is currently the founder and president of Green Order, which launched GreenYour in 2008.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with offices in Philadelphia and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from thousands of local and national businesses. It does this by measuring the amount of material each home recycles then issuing Recyclebank Points based on the amount of materials recycled. These points can be used at participating local and national rewards partners. Reward points can also be earned through the Visa Gconomy Card, GreenNurture
GreenNurture
GreenNurture is a Tempe, Arizona based company that helps organizations easily deploy sustainability programs that reduce wasteful practices and affect their balance sheet – all this while benefiting the environment...
, Kashless, electronics recycling, and by participating in eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
's Green Team. Recyclebank also uses its digital platform to educate consumers on how to recycle through “Learn and Earn” quizzes that give Recyclebank users points for correctly answering questions about ecology, energy and the like, and through interaction via Facebook, Twitter and mobile applications.
Recyclebank was founded in 2004 by Patrick K. FitzGerald and Ron Gonen and a pilot program was launched in two Philadelphia neighborhoods. Jonathon Hsu, previously CEO of 24/7 Real Media, replaced Ron Gonen as CEO in October 2010, According to Hsu, the company’s mandate is to be the first mass market green brand.
Recyclebank is a member company of Ceres
Ceres (organization)
Ceres is a non-profit, American network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges, such as global climate change....
, a network nationwide of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. RRE Ventures
RRE Ventures
RRE Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investments across several disciplines, including software, internet, mobile, financial services, environmental, and other related technologies, primarily within the United States, and especially in and around New York...
and Sigma Partners are the largest institutional shareholder group and Ron Gonen, the co-founder and CEO is the largest individual shareholder.Additional investors include Coca-Cola Bottling Group, Generation Investment Management
Generation Investment Management
Generation Investment Management LLP is a London-based investment management firm with an investment style that blends traditional equity research with a focus on sustainability factors, including social and environmental responsibility and corporate governance.Generation Investment Management LLP...
, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Westly Group.
As of December 2007, Recyclebank is in 125,000 households in the United States in over 35 municipalities.In May 2011 Recyclebank acquired GreenYour, a Web-based guide that offers tips on living green. As of July 2011, Recyclebank employs just under 180 employees.
Recyclebank has been recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
, for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...
and as the top Venture-backed Clean-tech Company by The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
.
Business model
The company does not own any recycling equipment or trucks, and instead relies upon contracts negotiated on behalf of the municipalities with which they are partnered. The haulers and waste processors are compensated by the municipality, and Recyclebank takes a small portion of the transaction as a fee. But this fee in turn covers Recyclebank's operating expenses. Additionally, the company makes its money from selling sponsorships and advertising through its multitude of marketing channels including online, direct mail and on recycling containers. In its first year with Recyclebank, the city of Hollywood, Florida, saved almost half a million dollars in waste disposal fees. Additionally, the company makes its money from selling sponsorships and advertising through its multitude of marketing channels including online, direct mail and on recycling containers.Members can also earn points through the product recycling awareness program "Points for Planet." Members can earn 50 points for each Kashi cereal box they recycle. Members must enter a code, printed inside each box, at the Recyclebank website to claim the points. Rewards include discounts with retailers such as Macy’s and Brookstone
Brookstone
Brookstone is a chain of retail stores in the United States. Its first store was opened in 1973 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Its headquarters are currently located in Merrimack, New Hampshire....
as well as with eateries such as Ruby Tuesday. Recyclebank members use their points for discounts on products from such companies as Aveeno
Aveeno
Aveeno is a manufacturer of skin care and hair care products in the United States and is a subsidiary of American consumer goods and pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. Aveeno was founded in 1945, and its first product was their Soothing Bath Treatment...
, Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
, and Kashi.
Major brands such as Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
have collaborated with Recyclebank to engage consumers with this digital learning experience, which involves interactive educational content (watching videos, flash animation or other online content) that informs individuals about taking small steps to live more sustainably—and rewards them with Recyclebank points. P&G's Future Friendly program sponsors incentives for people to sign up with Recyclebank, a sort of electronic "Green Stamps" that gives people points redeemable for local merchants or merchandise when they recycle through curbside collection programs. Members can earn additional points by blogging or using social media to get others to view the content.
National Partners
Recyclebank's national partners include:- Bed Bath & BeyondBed Bath & BeyondBed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
- Coca-Cola Company
- CVS Caremark Corporation
- Home Depot
- Kraft FoodsKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
- MillerCoorsMillerCoorsMillerCoors is a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Company, announced on October 9, 2007. The joint venture has the responsibility of selling brands such as Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Blue Moon in the United...
- Naked JuiceNaked JuiceNaked Juice is an American brand of natural fruit juice drinks produced by the Naked Juice Company of Monrovia, California; operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo. The first of these drinks were produced in 1983 and sold in California under the name "Naked Juice", referring to their...
- Ruby Tuesday's
- Target.com
- UnileverUnileverUnilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
- Kashi CompanyKashi CompanyKashi is an American food company. Founded in October 1984 by Philip and Gayle Tauber, the La Jolla-based company sought a nutritionally balanced breakfast and began experimenting with different whole grains and seeds...
- ZiplocZiplocZiploc is a brand of reusable, re-sealable zipper storage bags and containers originally developed by Dow Chemical Company, and now produced by S. C. Johnson & Son. According to Dow's website, the bags were originally test marketed in 1968....
- Procter & GambleProcter & GambleProcter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
- Mcdonalds
Municipalities Served
Currently the Recyclebank program services communities in the U.K. and 30 U.S. states.Gaming For Good
GamificationGamification
Gamification is the use of game design techniques and mechanics to solve problems and engage audiences. Typically gamification applies to non-game applications and processes , in order to encourage people to adopt them...
refers to the practice of using game elements in non-game environments as a way to encourage people to adopt desired behaviors. Recyclebank uses gamification to engage members online while influencing behaviors offline, by using incentives to motivate it's members their own sustainability journey in a fun and educational environment. The company has seen success in Philadelphia due to the combination of gamification and incentives, where the city showed a 16% increase in recycling. Due to this, the recycling rate in Philadelphia broke 20% for the first time in history. Thought leader in the world of gamification
Gamification
Gamification is the use of game design techniques and mechanics to solve problems and engage audiences. Typically gamification applies to non-game applications and processes , in order to encourage people to adopt them...
and Chief Revenue Officer of Recyclebank Samantha Skey
Samantha Skey
Samantha Skey is a recognized digital engagement strategist and a thought leader in the world of gamification. She is the chief revenue officer for Recyclebank, a New York City-based clean tech company. Recyclebank uses social gaming dynamics to encourage green action among mainstream consumers...
advised companies on how to reach millennial moms in an AdAge article. She said that this generation of mothers (those born after 1980) are wallet-driven activists who consider both family health and environmental sustainability when making purchases. “The Millennial mom has different expectations for the brands she supports and demands transparency and authenticity both from the brand's on- and offline efforts.” Skey helped develop Riddler, one of the web’s first real-time, multi-player, reward-based gaming sites at Interactive Imaginations.
Throughout Earth Month in April, Recyclebank hosted an online game, the Green Your Home Challenge. Visitors interacted with virtual rooms to learn how to be more environmentally conscious and implement new “green” changes in home and lifestyle. Players were also given rewards, challenges, and leaderboards as well as bonuses for referring new players.
On June 22, 2011, Recyclebank launched the Green Your Vacation Contest, a nationwide challenge designed to inspire people to make eco-friendly decisions while on vacation. The Contest, which ran from June 22 until July 31, allowed Recyclebank members to learn tips for making their summer vacations eco-friendly, make pledges to take green actions and take challenges to earn Recyclebank points. The Contest's highest scorers and those who had referred the most friends had a chance to win more than 100 prizes.
On August 17, 2011, Recyclebank began it's Green Your School Year Challenge, a nationwide effort to motivate and inspire families to make eco-friendly decisions throughout the school year.The Challenge, which started August 17 and will end September 30, takes Recyclebank members on an interactive school year journey with opportunities to earn points along the way. The Challenge's highest scorers and those who have referred the most friends have a chance to again win more than 100 prizes
Digital agency Blue State Digital
Blue State Digital
Blue State Digital is a Washington, D.C.-based Internet strategy and technology firm. The company was founded in early 2004 by four former staffers of Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign: Clay A. Johnson, Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Joe Rospars, and Ben Self...
created the interactive campaign for Recyclebank. Blue State Digital
Blue State Digital
Blue State Digital is a Washington, D.C.-based Internet strategy and technology firm. The company was founded in early 2004 by four former staffers of Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign: Clay A. Johnson, Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Joe Rospars, and Ben Self...
was acquired in October 2010 by WPP Digital, a branch of WPP plc.
Sustainability Council
Following companies such as Dow and Procter & Gamble, in February 2011, Recyclebank formed a sustainability council to advise the company on environmental issues and performance in order to meet its long-term goals. The group counsels Recyclebank on the latest environmental issues, as well as how to evolve the company so that it stays true to their mission.Leading the council is Ian Yolles
Ian Yolles
Ian Yolles is a recognized thought leader on environmental purpose and currently serves as the chief sustainability officer at Recyclebank.As a thought leader, Yolles frequently speaks on environmental panels and other similar engagements...
, Recyclebank's Chief Sustainability Officer and former Chief Marketing Officer. Yolles' resume includes working with Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Nau
Nau
Nau or NAU may refer to:*Nau , an outdoor apparel company*Northern Arizona University*North American Union*National American University*National Aviation University *Lepidium oleraceum, a plant endemic to New Zealand...
and Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
.
Founding members of the Recyclebank Sustainability Advisory Council include:
- Aron Cramer: President and CEO of Business for Social Responsibility.
- John ElkingtonJohn ElkingtonJohn Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. He is currently the Founding Partner & Executive Chairman of , a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation movements...
: Executive Chairman of Volans and co-founder and non-executive chairman at SustainAbility.
- Wendy Gordon: Founder of Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet and The Green GuideThe Green GuideThe Green Guide was a bi-monthly publication produced by the National Geographic Society as an information resource on eco-conscious and healthy living. Founded in 1994, it ceased publication in 2009, and now exists as a website only....
.
- Kevin WallKevin WallKevin Wall, born March 15, 1952 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a producer, digital entrepreneur and environmentalist who creates and produces global events often viewed by a billion or more people...
: Co-founder of Live Earth and managing partner of Craton Equity Partners.
After Recyclebank acquired GreenYour in May 2011, Andrew L. Shapiro
Andrew L. Shapiro
Andrew L. Shapiro has been an influential voice on environmental innovation in business for a decade. He has built a career, and a pioneering advisory group, GreenOrder, around the idea that sustainability can be a critical driver of profitable growth....
became a member of the Sustainability Advisory Council in June of that same year. Shapiro is currently the founder and president of Green Order, which launched GreenYour in 2008.
External links
- Official Site for RecycleBank
- New York Times Article on RecycleBank and founders
- Boston Globe Article on RecycleBank
- Fortune article
- Time article
- Treehugger.com Article on Incentive-Based Recycling
- Profile of Founder Ron Gonen
- List of Ceres Participating Companies
- RecycleBank Provider in Lincoln, Nebraska
- RecycleBank Provider in Omaha, Nebraska
- Municipalities involved