On America Recycles Day, It’s Time to Realize That Competitors Must Learn How to Collaborate

As MIT Sloan School of Management director Peter Senge has pointed out, achieving sustainability goals often requires "a massive undertaking in collaboration," and "the parties that need to collaborate often aren't naturally inclined to — such as competitors in the same industry." In this article, written in honor of America Recycles Day, Michael Zacka of

As MIT Sloan School of Management director Peter Senge has pointed out, achieving sustainability goals often requires "a massive undertaking in collaboration," and "the parties that need to collaborate often aren't naturally inclined to — such as competitors in the same industry." In this article, written in honor of America Recycles Day, Michael Zacka of Tetra Pak explains how his company did this by joining forces with the nation's three other largest carton manufacturers — Elopak, Evergreen Packaging and SIG/SIG Combibloc — and later the paperboard supplier Weyerhaeuser.  Together they formed The Carton Council to establish aggressive sustainability goals, and three years later, over 41 million U.S. households now have access to carton recycling programs. What a good example of the difference companies can make when they work together toward a mutual goal!

The Huffington Post, 11/15/2011

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Join The GOOD FOR YOU Network!

• Send and Share Good for You Messages with the people who matter in your life

• Check out news and information that's Good for You to Know About