Preserve (company)

Preserve sources the plastic used to make their products from both individuals looking to recycle and companies collecting #5 plastic.^[6] The company uses the recycled polypropylene plastic - most notably sourced from yogurt and hummus containers - to create eco-friendly, well-designed household products. So far, Preserve has reused over 100 tons of recycled materials.^[6]

To further encourage the recycling of No. 5 plastic, Preserve initiated the Gimme 5 Program in 2009 - a nationwide program run in conjunction with Whole Foods Market.^[6][7] Gimme 5 is a partnership between Preserve and various like-minded companies such as Stonyfield Farm^[8] and Berry Plastics. Gimme 5 collection bins are set up in over 200 Whole Foods Markets, nationwide. These bins serve to collect these companies’ #5 plastic containers, as well as Brita pitcher and water bottle filters^[9] and Plum Organics caps. Consumers can drop off their clean, rigid plastics stamped with a “5” at any Gimme 5 station nationwide.^[8] Berry Plastics, Whole Foods and Preserve manage all of the collection and recycling.^[6][9] As a result of the program, Whole Foods recycled nearly 300,000 pounds of No. 5 plastics in 2012. Approximately 10-20% of the No. 5 materials used in Preserve products came from the Gimme 5 program.^[6] A partnership with Recyclebank also allows consumers to earn points for their recycling efforts.^[1][6] As of 2022, Preserve's Gimme 5 program has closed down. Their testimony as to why can be found below "Gimme 5 Overview" on their online store.