Tom Szaky Home » Sideshifters » Szaky, Tom Full interview The future of packaging: Eliminating waste completelyTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesSociety and CommunitiesBusiness and OrganisationsPersonal DevelopmentEnergy Transport and EnvironmentFinance and FundingTrends Innovation and Technology Short videos What Tom Szaky recommends every person should do to change the world for the betterTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesPersonal Development Why every person’s economic decisions always matterTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesSociety and CommunitiesPersonal Development 1 2 3 … 10 › Breakout videos Our adiction to disposability, waste and the true reason why so little gets recycledTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesEnergy Transport and EnvironmentTrends Innovation and Technology The power of the economic vote: Why every person’s buying decision matters alwaysTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesSociety and CommunitiesBusiness and OrganisationsPersonal Development Loop: Lern all about the philosophy behind the new innovative reuse platformTom SzakyOct 22, 2019Global ChallengesSociety and CommunitiesBusiness and OrganisationsPersonal DevelopmentEnergy Transport and EnvironmentTrends Innovation and Technology 1 2 3 › Tom Szaky CEO, TerraCycle and Loop About the interview Our love of disposability, waste and how we can solve our waste problem completely How can we make objects more recycleable: challenges, attitudes and economics Redesigning our products to last: philosopy and economics behind the Loop system Encouraging recycling and reducing waste: roles of individuals, communities, governments and businesses Acknowledging every person’s power to shape our future with their economic vote [VIEW BIO] About Tom CEO, TerraCycle and Loop CEO of TerraCycle, a recycling company specialising in difficult to recycle materials Determined to eliminate all waste Developed Loop, an innovative system based on refillable packaging Convinced the world's top consumer goods brands like Procter & Gamble and Nestle to switch to the Loop system Frequently in the headlines and sought after speaker after unveiling Loop at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos If you could invite 1 person to a dinner party – who would it be and why? If I really had to narrow it down to one person, I would say environmental entrepreneur Paul Hawken. He has been a pioneer for conscious and natural capitalism for 50 years. What motivates you? Makes you happy? From a professional perspective, I like to solve big problems. I l like thinking about the “what ifs” and coming up with ways to answer them. Seeing things come to fruition that people have thought was either unlikely or difficult is very rewarding. What advice would you give your 10-year-old self? Give it your all and if you fail, at least you learned while trying your hardest. If you could make 1 global change – what would it be? I would try to reduce consumerism. Our urge to buy and own and buy goods that are easily disposable are the main reason we are in the global waste crisis we are in right now. What are your Top 3 achievements? From a business perspective, I would say my top three achievements are: starting TerraCycle, pivoting the company to a new business model while it was successful with the current one, and launching our most recent division, Loop. What does sustainability mean for you? Sustainability to me means trying to create more circular systems so that we can move from a linear model to something that can reduce the amount of waste in our landfills and waterways and the demands on our natural resources. What was the most important event/influence that changed your perspective? When I was young, my family left communist Hungary and emigrated eventually to Canada. Seeing people throw out perfectly good TVs or other items was astonishing. In Hungary, we didn’t even have access to any of this and here, they were garbage. That’s when I became interested in waste. Calling all Sideshifters! Know somebody who should share insights and effective solutions as one of our Sideshifters? Or want to add your own expertise? Get in touch to apply and discuss