‘Edu-tainment’
Developed as part of a larger educational initiative for TerraCycle’s website, this animated video introduced visitors to the concept of “finding value in waste” by breaking down the core idea: every object is made of composition, form, and purpose—and all three can be preserved or repurposed.
The Hierarchy
of Waste
The animation was designed to simplify a complex topic while capturing the tone of TerraCycle’s mission—informative, optimistic, and actionable. Drawing inspiration from the Waste Hierarchy model, the video visually guided viewers through the lifecycle of everyday items like a plastic bottle, showing how different disposal paths (reuse, upcycling, recycling, and energy recovery) retain or lose value.
Working in close collaboration with the creative team, the animation used clear motion storytelling and bold, approachable visuals to:
Illustrate abstract concepts like embodied energy and material hierarchy in an accessible way.
Emphasize how TerraCycle’s platforms (like Loop and upcycling initiatives) reclaim value from waste.
Reinforce the shift away from traditional disposal and toward circular solutions.
This piece now lives as part of TerraCycle’s educational web experience, helping visitors understand that waste isn’t just a problem—it’s an opportunity to rethink how we use resources.