Can Creative Packaging Help Convince People To Recycle Batteries?

Ordinarily a business model that is built on convincing people to think long term isn't a good bet. Most people are notoriously bad at that. Yet the Better Battery Company (BBCo) might just be able to get people past that hurdle through a combination of thoughtful design amplified by a world-changing mission. Batteries (the non-reusable kind) are a huge source of toxic waste and in the US only 4% are ever recycled. The rest end up in land fills.

Entrepreneurs (and sisters) Jaclyn Byles and Jessica Jenkins created a clever solution to the problem, selling a battery box that can also double as a container to collect used batteries which can then be shipped back to BBCo at no cost. The only catch is that customers have to think long term about their battery usage since the boxes include about 40 batteries each. That and the fact that they still aren't as environmentally friendly as rechargeable batteries (which last 2-7 years). But if you do need the convenience of disposable batteries, this is probably the most environmentally friendly option out there - and definitely the only battery brand that is fully carbon neutral.