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How Trinity University advanced soft plastic re...
Trinity University, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution in San Antonio, Texas, enrolls approximately 2,600 students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of roughly 8:1. The university is known for its...
How Trinity University advanced soft plastic recycling with the SPC
Trinity University, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution in San Antonio, Texas, enrolls approximately 2,600 students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of roughly 8:1. The university is known for its academic rigor, outstanding alumni outcomes, and beautiful, architecturally significant campus. Trinity consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the country and holds the distinction of being the number one liberal arts university in Texas. Within the Dorothy A. and James W. Laurie Auditorium complex lies the Richardson Communications Center, home to the university’s Department of Communication and KRTU-FM (Jazz 91.7). KRTU is a premier jazz and alternative radio station serving the greater Southwest. It is a campus and community hub where media production, learning, and cultural programming intersect. Laurie Auditorium itself is a 2,700-seat venue that hosts a wide range of events, from academic lectures and commencement ceremonies to public performances, community discussions, and special guest visits. Its high visibility and diverse audience made it an ideal site to explore a new sustainability initiative. Project goals The project sought to embed the SPC (Soft Plastic Compactor) in a dynamic, cross-functional environment. This setting includes: Faculty, who frequent the break room daily Students, particularly those studying communication and media KRTU radio staff, DJs, and student volunteers Guest speakers, special visitors, and artists who appear in academic or media contexts Public guests attending events in Laurie Auditorium The goal was to explore how the SPC performs when used by multiple overlapping groups. This provided an opportunity to test not just the hardware, but also the cultural framing and communications strategy behind it. Soft Plastic Compactor solution An SPC unit was installed in the shared break room within the Communication Department. This space serves as a natural meeting point between academic and media communities, hosting a rotating group of students, professors, radio hosts, station staff, and guests. Clear and approachable signage on the device explained what the SPC is, why it matters, and how to participate. This messaging aligned with the department’s communication values and allowed people to engage with the unit as part of their normal routine. Whether grabbing coffee before class, prepping for a live radio broadcast, or discussing ideas after a lecture, the SPC became a visible part of daily life in the space. "We installed the SPC in our Communication/KRTU break room over the summer, where people actually live their day. Seeing wrappers and film get compacted in seconds is cathartic and it quietly normalizes sustainable behavior" - Dr. Althea Delwiche, Professor & Dept Chair, Department of Communication at Trinity University. SPC use case Primary use area: Shared break room in the Communication Department, located inside the Laurie Auditorium complex. Key user groups: Communication faculty and staff Students and student workers KRTU DJs, station employees, and volunteers Guest speakers and program participants VIPs visiting Laurie Auditorium for cultural or academic events Common soft plastic inputs: Packaging from media and tech equipment Snack wrappers and food-related plastics Film wrap and mailers used in station operations Plastics from hospitality and visitor-related services This variety revealed the types of soft plastic generated in an interdisciplinary learning and production environment, while also demonstrating how accessible the SPC is across user types. Findings and new collaboration perspectives This pilot at Trinity University’s Department of Communication shows how thoughtful placement of the SPC can drive awareness and adoption in spaces where education, media, and public engagement all converge. We are honored to collaborate with such a respected institution and excited for what’s to come. We look forward to expanding our presence within Trinity and across additional departments on campus. Beyond this partnership, we are eager to bring the SPC to other distinguished colleges and universities that share a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact. If your institution is ready to lead by example, we would love to hear from you.
How one office building pilot became a model fo...
In the heart of a major U.S. city, San Antonio, a 10-story commercial office building with up to 30 tenant companies took a step toward smarter sustainability. The building's management...
How one office building pilot became a model for smarter soft plastic waste reduction
In the heart of a major U.S. city, San Antonio, a 10-story commercial office building with up to 30 tenant companies took a step toward smarter sustainability. The building's management sought an effective, hands-on solution to deal with soft plastic waste generated by significant traffic, regular deliveries, and daily office activity. Until recently, the entire building's soft plastic went straight into general waste bins and, inevitably, landfills. Recognizing this recycling gap, the building’s management team agreed to test a new sustainable approach by piloting the Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) from Clear Drop, a first-of-its-kind device designed specifically to deal with flexible plastics at the point of disposal. The goal: reducing waste and changing behavior Unlike other recycling efforts, soft plastics — such as mailers, wrappers, and packaging — are often overlooked. They’re light, shapeless, and notoriously hard to recycle. Most commercial buildings lack the infrastructure to separate or reallocate these materials. This pilot focused not only on waste reduction but also on behavioral change. The office team wanted to explore how a shared, high-traffic environment would respond to a new type of sustainability intervention. “It’s great to finally see a solution targeting the soft plastic waste we all know ends up in the trash. It's sparked some good conversations among tenants already.” — Tenant feedback, Week 1 The plan: installing an SPC The SPC was installed in a central public area frequented by employees and service staff. Clear signage explained what the device was, what types of plastics it accepts, and why it mattered. There were no lengthy training sessions. This pilot marked a major step forward in testing scale and refining the messaging around the product experience. Initial reactions and feedback Within days, the building began to see early signs of success. Staff and tenants were engaging organically with the machine and showed an increased curiosity about soft plastic use and recycling. Some initial user feedback helped identify opportunities for improvement, such as screen readability and ergonomics, which will inform hardware and signage updates for future pilots. “We didn’t know what to expect, but people started asking about the machine almost immediately. It feels like something new is possible here.” — Building staff comment SPC's immediate impact The building’s management and Clear Drop treated this experience as more than just a test: It was a learning lab. The team monitored how tenants used the SPC, where signage was most effective, and what kinds of plastics were being collected. From the first day, the team witnessed many people inserting a variety of soft plastic materials into the SPC, including: Food wrappers and grocery bags Shipping mailers from business operations Bubble wrap and soft packaging film With the SPC placed in such a central location, the team was able to evaluate not just usage, but also accountability dynamics — such as who is responsible for emptying the unit and what kind of infrastructure is needed to support that. Results: SPC minimized plastic waste and spotlighted sustainability innovation The pilot proved that small actions in shared spaces can create momentum in creating an effective waste management system. The office building’s use of the SPC reduced the volume of soft plastic waste and increase its recyclability. It also raised awareness, invited participation, and planted the seed for broader adoption. Management now sees the SPC as a valuable amenity — a simple yet powerful way to show tenants they care about environmental impact, innovation, and accountability. And most importantly, it’s a system that works, even in places not designed for sorting plastics. This multi-tenant office pilot is setting the template for wider-scale SPC rollouts. It’s the first deployment where product-market fit, setting, and communication all aligned for a full learning loop. We are still analyzing more long-term results , but the initial response from tenants and staff shows promise. The building's team sees the SPC not only as a sustainability tool but as a way to boost tenant engagement and reduce overall plastic waste.
Why business recycling matters: a key to corpor...
Corporate sustainability has become a major component of any company’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) program and has become a fundamental aspect of their overall business strategy. Corporate sustainability influences...
Why business recycling matters: a key to corporate sustainability
Corporate sustainability has become a major component of any company’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) program and has become a fundamental aspect of their overall business strategy. Corporate sustainability influences the hiring process, partnership deals, and company image. Business recycling has emerged as a crucial element, helping companies reduce waste, minimize their environmental impact, and align with ESG principles. This is not only true for large corporations with formal corporate sustainability programs, but also for small to medium size companies looking to minimize their environmental footprint and align more closely with customer and employee expectations. Corporate sustainability: satisfy both employees and customers Business sustainability practices are an essential part of corporate culture and necessary to attract top talent. A recent study by PwC revealed that "68% of job candidates say that environmental practices are important in choosing an employer". Employees want their companies to invest in sustainability efforts, including reducing carbon, using renewable energy, and reducing waste. Moreover, a Deloitte study found that most employees believe their companies should contribute more to addressing climate change and sustainability. Two-thirds of employees globally report that they do not think their employers are doing enough to address climate change and don’t have enough business sustainability practices. In addition, more and more consumers expect companies to be more active in sustainability efforts. Forbes reports that "87% of consumers have a more positive image of a company that supports social or environmental issues". Consumer behavior also shows a trend in sustainable purchases and willingness to pay more for sustainable products. According to Nielsen, "55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products and services provided by companies that are committed to a positive social and environmental impact". And about half of respondents (47%) in a Deloitte survey, Sustainable Consumption Trends, said they had purchased a sustainable good in the last four weeks. Expanding sustainability: beyond carbon to business recycling As companies strive to meet ESG goals and reduce their environmental footprint, business recycling and waste stream management programs are becoming essential. According to EPA data, 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but only about 30% of it is recycled. While businesses produce about 25% of all the world’s waste every year, business recycling rates tend to be lower than residential. The growing plastic waste crisis More than 95% of plastics generated are put in a landfill or incinerated for energy. The EPA also revealed that while plastic recycling is on the decline, the per capita generation of plastic waste increased by 263% since 1980. And what about soft plastic-- or film plastic? McKinsey reports recycling rates well below 10 percent, although plastic film recycling is not widely tracked and reported. Soft plastic tends to reduce the efficiency of recycling other types of plastic, since it disrupts the sorting process when it is co-mingled with plastic bottles and other semi-rigid plastics. Business recycling programs Businesses across various industries have implemented waste management programs that not only mitigate waste generation but also promote recycling, reusing materials, and fostering circular economy principles. Corporate: many companies, such as Apple, have set ambitious landfill diversion goals. Apple has committedto becoming carbon neutral for corporate operations and aspires to divert over 74% of its waste from landfills through their business recycling and reuse programs. Healthcare: University of Michigan (U-M) Health has completed a plastics recycling program at Mott Children’s hospital and the Von Voigtlander Women’s hospital. Operating room plastic was collected over a 6-month period and U-M was able to divert 2.64 tons of plastic from landfills. The program is now permanent and will be expanding. Higher Education: Virginia Tech, University of Richmond and Arizona State University are three examples of the many colleges focused on collecting and recycling soft plastic waste. Examples of film and soft plastics collected: air pillows, bread bags, bubble wrap, produce bags and shrink wrap. How to set up waste recycling programs for your business Setting up a comprehensive recycling program involves several key steps: 1. Conduct a waste audit: Check the types and quantities of waste that your company produces. This will provide a better understanding of these waste streams and the resources needed to better address them. 2. Separate recyclables: collect each type of waste separately including plastics, organics, glass, metal, cardboard and paper, and electronics. 3. Educate employees: Employee engagement is crucial. Create recycling educational programs to raise awareness and communicate how they can and should recycle at their workplace. Create easy access to recycling bins as well as simple instructions on what is recyclable and where it should be placed. 4. Set clear goals: Set specific goals for waste recycling, such as diverting 50% of your waste from landfills. Track your progress and share with your team regularly to ensure you’re moving forward with your targets.5. Collaborate with certified recycling facilities: Negotiate with local recycling centers that are certified to process specific types of waste. Ensure that they are capable of recycling the materials you are collecting. 6. Invest in technology: For some companies, the complexities of recycling in the workplace may limit employee participation. Leverage online and app-based training tools to educate employees. Further, emerging innovative technologies are also enabling a shift towards a more convenient and circular approach in recycling programs. Smart solutions for efficient plastic waste management A new, innovative solution is now available that can help bolster your business recycling program by making your soft plastic waste collection more efficient and preparing it to be recycled more easily. The Clear Drop® Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) is the first business and home appliance to simplify soft plastic collection and ensure it all goes to recycling. The SPC transforms fluffy plastic packaging into a space-saving 12×8×4-inch block. The plastic brick is then processed at a dedicated recycling facility, using environmentally safe methods to give your plastics a second life and ensure the efficiency of your recycling programs. As businesses continue to implement sustainable practices like comprehensive recycling and waste management programs, the focus on diverting plastic and other waste from landfills becomes increasingly important. Through innovative technologies, employee engagement, and organized programs, companies can reduce waste, meet landfill diversion goals, and enhance their corporate sustainability efforts. Savvy companies are recycling more; because customers expect it and employees want to be part of it.
