Taco Bell companions TerraCycle to recycle scorching sauce packets
The initiative marks a first in the fast food industry and will breathe new life into the current single-use hot sauce packets as Taco Bell works to meet global packaging commitments
Taco Bell knows that its fans have more than just a slight obsession with its spicy sauce packets, with 8.2 billion sauce packets used in the US each year. You are an icon. But today they are not recyclable.
For this reason, Taco Bell will work with the international recycling market leader TerraCycle later that year to give his sauce packets a spicier second life that doesn’t involve a landfill. No stranger to the industry, Taco Bell is the first QSR brand to partner with TerraCycle to tackle flexible film packaging recycling.
While companies will reveal details of a US national recycling pilot program later this year, customer participation will be easy and include free shipping. TerraCycle is an industry pioneer and known for collecting, cleaning, melting and transforming traditionally non-recyclable materials into hard plastic that can be used to make new recycled products. This means that used sauce packages could one day have an exciting future as something completely new.
“In today’s food industry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for recycling the flexible film packaging that is so widely used for condiments,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “We are excited to use TerraCycle’s expertise to recycle our legendary sauce packaging in a way that is as bold and innovative as our menu.”
The ability to recycle sauce packages is very important to achieving Taco Bell’s goal of making all consumer-facing packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable in restaurants around the world by 2025. The pilot start should take place this year. The results will determine the most viable solutions for the future, including possible program expansion.
“More than ever, consumers do not want to sacrifice the planet no matter how delicious the food is,” said Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle. “Together, Taco Bell and TerraCycle will drive the fast service industry forward by finally finding a way to recycle this type of product. These efforts bring us one step closer to keeping packages out of landfill and our mission to eradicate the idea of waste. “
For customers who may already be looking to recycle their sauce packages, there are currently steps they can take to make a smaller footprint. When disposing of packaging, be sure to follow the specific recycling and composting guidelines of your community. If you’re not using every packet in your Taco Bell order, save them for later to add a kick to other meals.
