Case Study | Ridwell
CASE STUDY
How Ridwell Scaled Recycling Access with a Custom-Designed Mail-In Kit Program
Ridwell partnered with EcoEnclose to transform an innovative idea into a nationwide recycling solution.
After building a loyal following through its doorstep recycling service, Ridwell set out to make responsible disposal accessible to households everywhere — keeping hard-to-recycle plastics out of landfills and in the circular economy.
Together, we designed and produced Ridwell Mail-In Kits made with recycled materials, custom inserts, and carbon-neutral shipping — creating a seamless, scalable take-back experience that makes circularity easy for everyone.
This is what partnership looks like.
Meet Ridwell
Ridwell began as a father-and-son project called Owen’s List, with a simple mission to keep batteries, light bulbs, and other everyday items out of the landfill. That local effort in Seattle quickly grew into a movement spanning multiple states and more than 250 employees nationwide.
Today, Ridwell helps individuals and communities close the loop by offering transparent, traceable recycling and reuse services that make responsible disposal accessible to everyone.
Their programs already helped divert millions of pounds of hard-to-recycle materials from landfills, proving that small actions, done collectively, can lead to lasting environmental change.
Expanding Access, Without Expanding Waste
Ridwell’s local pickup program was already making a significant impact in the regions it served. But thousands of interested households across the country lived outside Ridwell’s service area and without access to recycling for things like plastic film, multilayer plastics, and pill bottles.
To close this gap, Ridwell set out to design a scalable mail-in recycling program that could deliver the same trusted experience and verified end-of-life outcomes as their doorstep pickups.
Ridwell needed to:
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Create a compact, durable kit that customers could easily order, use, and return
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Maintain the brand’s hallmark transparency on recycling outcomes
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Keep costs attainable and minimize carbon emissions
To meet these goals, Ridwell required a packaging partner who understood both circular logistics and sustainability tradeoffs—and could execute at scale.
A Mail-Back Kit Designed for Real Circular Impact
Ridwell began by launching an initial mail-in program out of their own office, leveraging part-time help to expand the reach of their original pickup service. Customers responded enthusiastically, with a surge in demand to send in hard-to-recycle items on their own schedule.
With this successful proof of concept, Ridwell needed a partner to help them scale their program with thoughtful packaging and efficient fulfillment.
Ridwell partnered with EcoEnclose to bring their vision for Ridwell Mail-In to life: a take-back program enabling anyone in the U.S. to recycle tricky materials from the comfort of their home.
EcoEnclose helped design Ridwell’s Mail-In Kit to balance sustainability, protection, and brand presentation. The complete kit includes:
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Prepaid Return Mailers made with 50-100% recycled content and optimized for right-sized shipping efficiency
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Instruction Cards and Fridge Guides printed on recycled paper
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Prepaid Labels for Carbon-Offset Shipping printed on EcoEnclose’s Zero-Waste Release Liners
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Compact Outbound Packaging designed to minimize shipping weight and emissions
Every component was built for functionality and environmental responsibility—reinforcing Ridwell’s mission while creating a rewarding, intuitive customer experience.
With EcoEnclose’s kit assembly and logistics support based at EcoEnclose HQ in Boulder, Colorado, Ridwell could launch nationally without compromising their sustainability standards or operational efficiency. Today, EcoEnclose assembles and ships about 500 Ridwell Mail-In Kits each day.
“EcoEnclose has been an incredible partner in bringing our mail-in recycling program to life. Their leadership in sustainable packaging and ability to grow with us make them an essential part of how we deliver real recycling to more communities.”
– Kevin Shawver, Vice President New Initiatives at Ridwell
From Concept to Nationwide Circularity
Ridwell Mail-In now enables households anywhere in the U.S. to responsibly recycle plastic film, multilayer plastics, and other materials. The program diverts waste, cuts emissions, and sparks meaningful community engagement.
Key outcomes:
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National accessibility: Expands Ridwell’s reach beyond local pickup regions.
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Verified recycling: Designed to facilitate effective recycling through partners like Trex.
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Carbon-neutral logistics: Every shipment offset for net-zero emissions. Ridwell works with a carrier that guarantees the offset of all shipping emissions and sends the hard-to-recycle materials to the closest of their 10 warehouses.
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Customer enthusiasm: Ridwell Mail-In now reaches thousands of households across all 50 states, with an industry high diversion rate of 97%+.
Ridwell’s program proves that mail-in recycling can expand inclusion, reduce contamination, and support domestic recycling infrastructure while remaining carbon-neutral and customer-centric.
“After saving up my plastic, I’m amazed how much there is. My garbage can is mostly empty now… And those bags hold a lot!”
— Karen B., Colorado Springs, CO
“Having the ability to send back a bag is so easy—especially knowing it WILL be properly recycled.”
— Lisa B., Stevenson, WA
A Model for Accessible Take-Back Programs
As other brands consider take-back programs, this model offers a practical blueprint for scaling impact responsibly
Ridwell’s Mail-In success demonstrates what’s possible when take-back programs are built on clear vision, operational rigor, and authentic sustainability.
Their approach reflects EcoEnclose’s philosophy:
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Start with responsible products and supply chains
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Build take-back systems that keep materials circulating
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Track and share results transparently to inspire systemic change
Ridwell’s model shows what’s possible when packaging and purpose align to bring circularity closer to home.
Design Circular Systems That Actually Work
Ridwell’s experience offers key takeaways for any brand exploring a take-back or mail-in model:
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Accessibility matters. Convenience drives participation and scale.
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Transparency builds trust. Show where materials go and what they become.
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Sustainability must be holistic. Optimize not just recycling, but materials, partners, and emissions.
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Partnerships make it possible. Collaborate with experts who can handle logistics, data, and design to create a system that works.
Together, these lessons empower brands to move from intention to implementation and make circularity part of everyday business.
Packaging That Powers Real Progress
Ridwell’s journey proves that when thoughtful design meets bold purpose, circularity scales. Together, we built a take-back system that empowers households to waste less, recycle more, and see real results.
At EcoEnclose, we simplify sustainable packaging. Our team makes it easy to turn impact goals into lasting wins with solutions built for your operations and workflow.
From design to delivery, we ensure your take-back experience is seamless for customers and worry-free for your brand.
Ready to launch your take-back program or mail-in initiative?
Partner with EcoEnclose for sustainable custom packaging that brings your circular vision to life.
Join Ridwell Mail-In to start recycling from home.
Ridwell Mail-In accepts thin plastics, multi-layer films, and more. With convenient prepaid mailers and trusted recycling partners, it’s never been easier to do your part to keep waste out of the landfill.