TerraLoop is a program created by the Biomimicry Design Alliance to help keep materials out of the landfill. By creating a digital ecosystem that allows businesses to post resources that they currently have (and think can be reused by others) or materials that they need, this program is hoping to create a circular economy in the Denver-metro area. TerraLoop allows participants to save money by requesting free resources from their neighbors while helping the environment by not adding more materials into the landfill.
TerraLoop membership costs $10 per month. There is no limit or cost associated with how many items you receive or post within the community.
So for example, if your business needs…
Twenty-five 12”x9”x6” cardboard boxes to ship your products, you could purchase new ones for $24,97.* Or pallets to store shipments, which have a minimum purchase requirement of 10, it would cost a total of $240.* Or a way to amend your fertilizer for your acid-loving plants like hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, lily of the valley, blueberries, carrots, and radishes it would cost $19.79 for a 5lb bag.**
OR
You can get these materials and more for FREE! Join TerraLoop to find out how.
*Cost estimate based on Uline website as of September 2022. **Cost estimate based on Amazon website as of September 2022
What is a circular economy?
A circular economy is a systematic approach to economic development designed to benefit businesses, society, and the environment. In contrast to the ‘take-make-waste’ linear model, a circular economy is regenerative by design and aims to gradually decouple growth from the consumption of finite resources. TerraLoop was based on the Cardboard to Caviar project created by Graham Wiles where cardboard from restaurants acts as a catalyst in a cyclical exchange of materials.
What’s in it for you?
By looking at our “waste” as a resource, we can save money and materials. An example of this concept is the Kalundborg Symbiosis. Located in Denmark and started in the 1960’s, this collection of private and public companies so far have annually saved:
$28,641,000 in bottom-line savings
$16,797,950 in socioeconomic savings
635,000 tons of CO2
951,019,388 gallons of water
100GWh of energy
87,000 tons of materials
