Preserve® Launches iPhone App to Increase Recycling

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Waltham, MA - February 29, 2012 – Preserve®, a leading sustainable consumer goods company, today announced the launch of a new partnership with Recyclebank®, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses, as part of the Recyclebank Ecosystem. The partnership will help accelerate awareness and participation in its Preserve Gimme 5 Program -- a consumer-powered recycling system that provides expanded recycling options for #5 plastics and empowers recyclers to drive systemic change in our country’s recycling system. Through Preserve’s program, shoppers can bring their yogurt containers or other #5 plastic recyclables to participating retail locations nationwide, and Preserve recycles them and turns them into other household products. With today’s announcement, Preserve is launching a free iPhone app that allows anyone to find the nearest #5 collection area to drop off their plastics, and earn Recyclebank points for their earth efforts.

Preserve’s Gimme 5 app, which is built on the HubEngage platform developed by Mobinett Interactive, will allow participants to formally join the Preserve Gimme 5 program and Recyclebank and start getting rewarded for their recycling efforts. The location-based app makes it easier for people to find #5 plastic collection locations, and then inspire their friends and family to get involved via Facebook and Twitter sharing and a real-time recycling activity feed of check-ins. Each time a user checks in their #5 recycling at participating retail locations, they can earn Recyclebank points that can be redeemed for discounts and deals at local and national businesses. Users can also earn points for mailing in their #5 plastics, or for purchasing Preserve’s products on preserveproducts.com as a completion of the closed loop system. In addition to the free app download from iTunes, the Gimme 5 community is also accessible through the mobile web and website mygimme5.com.

“Recyclebank is our change accelerator,” said Ben Anderson, COO of Preserve. “By tapping the Recyclebank Ecosystem, we now have the capability to expand the number of people making sustainable choices for a broader systemic impact. Working together, Preserve and Recyclebank will empower consumers to make a difference with their recycling and the companies they support with their purchases.”

Nearly all Americans are able to recycle #1 and #2 plastic, however, Polypropylene or #5 plastic, a plentiful, versatile and benign plastic increasingly being used in products and packaging, is accepted in fewer than 48 percent of municipalities. Though #5 plastic makes up 25 percent of plastic used every year, less than five percent is collected for recycling in the United States[1]. Preserve’s Gimme 5 partners (Stonyfield, Brita and Tom’s of Maine) are helping to create a closed loop product system; collecting recyclable packages and products and turning them into new products. This unique program is part of the Recyclebank Ecosystem, a coalition of like-minded brands and organizations who want to empower their customers and members to live more sustainable lives with the ultimate goal of making a substantial collective impact on the environment. To date, Gimme 5 consumers have dropped off more than 200 tons of recycled yogurt cups, hummus and cottage cheese containers at the more than 240 Whole Foods Market stores and select independent cooperative markets across the U.S.

 “Recyclebank realizes that to make a measurable environmental impact, we need to motivate millions to act in ways that create a more sustainable future. We cannot do this alone, however, so Ecosystem partners like Preserve are instrumental in helping us mobilize a massive network of people to make more sustainable choices,” said Ali C. Mirian, Recyclebank Ecosystem general manager. “Thanks to Preserve, we are further expanding our network of eco-conscious brands and consumers working together towards the common good of the planet.”

Click here to download the app, and visit mygimme5.com to access the Gimme 5 community on the web. For more information on Preserve’s partnership with Recyclebank, visit http://www.recyclebank.com/how-to-earn/other/preserve-check-in-5296.  For more information on the Recyclebank Ecosystem, visit www.recyclebank.com/ecosystem or contact ecosystem@recyclebank.com. 

About Preserve

Preserve is the leading sustainable consumer goods company and producer of stylish 100% recycled household products. Preserve turns yogurt cups into toothbrushes and take-out containers into tableware. Through innovations in recycled materials and sustainable design, Preserve has been creating more resourceful ways to make everyday products for the kitchen, table, and bath since 1996. The company is powered by the recycling efforts of individuals and companies via its Preserve Gimme 5 program which is sponsored by Stonyfield, Brita and Tom’s of Maine. This program accepts #5 plastics, 98% of which are not normally recycled—such as yogurt cups and other common household containers— transforming them into new Preserve products. All recycling and manufacturing is done in the USA. Preserve pioneers partnerships with premier product design, manufacturing, and sales and marketing firms to bring together thought leaders to drive industry change. Preserve empowers people to make everyday choices that are better for the earth while offering real solutions without compromise. Preserve products can be found at forward-thinking retailers like Whole Foods Market, Amazon.com, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s, and a variety of grocery and natural food stores. Visit us online at www.preserveproducts.com

About Recyclebank

Recyclebank helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank is empowering individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and taking other environmentally-preferred actions. Recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.

About Mobinett

Mobinett Interactive, Inc. is a Boston startup specializing in enterprise class mobile, social and web platforms. Gimme 5 is built on HubEngage, a white-labeled location-based social engagement and loyalty platform that incorporates social media, gaming and loyalty paradigms to provide users with engaging, fun and addictive experiences. Businesses and brands can create buzzing local communities around their physical or e-commerce stores and products while a powerful CRM provides deeper insight into customers thus driving future sales. Learn more about HubEngage and Mobinett at http://www.mobinett.com

Press Contacts

Ben Anderson

COO, Preserve

781-893-2207

Ben.Anderson@preserveproducts.com

Christina Ramirez

Marketing Manager, Preserve

781-893-2207

Christina.Ramirez@preserveproducts.com

[1] EPA’s 2010 Municipal Solid Waste Report