Turning Glass into Opportunity
What if yesterday’s empty bottle could become tomorrow’s building block? At NewfoundSand, that idea is more than a dream—it’s a movement.
Based in Newfoundland and Labrador, NewfoundSand is a glass-to-sand recycling start-up on a mission to keep glass waste out of landfills and give it a second life as reusable sand. From the very beginning, the founders knew they didn’t just want to build a business—they wanted to build a movement. That’s why they chose the co-op model.
The Impact
By turning waste into a resource, NewfoundSand is tackling two challenges at once: reducing environmental impact and creating sustainable, local opportunities for the future.
“Tackling sustainability shouldn’t fall on one person—it should be shared.”
Glass recycling in Newfoundland and Labrador has long been seen as too difficult to tackle. But NewfoundSand is proving otherwise. Owned by its members—local people committed to sustainability—the co-op pools its energy, resources, and ideas to transform glass waste into a valuable material with countless uses. Every member has a voice, a vote, and a role in shaping how the organization grows.
The vision? Create local jobs, cut landfill waste, and build a greener, more sustainable future for the province—one grain of sand at a time.
Why Co-op?
Unlike a traditional start-up, NewfoundSand isn’t driven by a single investor. The co-op model ensures accountability to the community and allows anyone who believes in the mission to take part in building it. That collective ownership turns a recycling project into a shared movement.
Why It Matters
Environmental sustainability is one of the defining challenges of our time. NewfoundSand shows how co-ops can lead the way—offering bold, practical solutions that start small but ripple outward, strengthening both community and planet.
Partner Spotlight
This story is shared in collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives (NFLC), which supports co-ops across the province in building a more sustainable and resilient future.
Want to explore more co-op solutions? Visit our Co-op Resources page for tools, guides, and ways to get involved.