Looking for trends, learning from another entrepreneur, and licking chip crumbs off our fingers

This week the group reviewed a case study of an entrepreneur making a niche for himself in the recycling business. A so-called "Garbage Mogul," Tom Szaky is a leading player in this growing industry as the co-founder of TerraCycle, which makes a variety of products from recycled material: fertilizers from worm poop, backpacks from juice pouches and reusable tote bags from plastic bags. 

 According to Tom, it's all about  looking at things people don't value, which might not be just physical garbage -- it could be people, ideas or objects. But the most important innovation is being able to re-think the resource.

As a result of studying the Terracycle business, young designers at Sew Aware are avidly collecting chip bags, cookie wrappers, and drink pouches for the EarthWays Center, keeping those items out of the landfill. Mmm.... sustainable snacks ...