Loop's Global Reuse Shopping System Is Eliminating Waste Through A Global Reuse Economy

Loop is a system that partners with companies and retailers to reconstruct the packaging of household products from single-use to multi-use, refillable designs. To build a circular system, from purchase to return, Loop designed a branded reusable bag deposited directly into the collection unit and their empty containers for cleaning and reuse.

The inner parts of the tote are created from flexible foam to cradle all types of packaging without using disposable materials. The compartments can be moved around to fit various products and removed to allow the tote to fold into itself and convenient space. Loop truly is reinventing the world of global packaging in a way that's both approachable and manageable for huge big-box brands, something I didn't think was going to happen for years and years.

Loop is a global reuse system that partners with companies and retailers including Nestle, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Tesco and Carrefour, to transform the packaging of household products from single-use to multi-use, refillable designs. Loop’s goal is to eliminate waste by building a global reuse economy designed to make sustainability accessible and convenient for the everyday consumer. 

With 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean each year or, the equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute, recycling will never solely be enough to solve the waste crisis. One solution is to address waste at the root cause. Loop prevents waste from being produced in the first place, implementing a reuse model to create a circular economy. 

Loop applies reusability to a diverse set of branded products that were previously not only single-use, but unrecyclable, such as Häagen-Dazs ice cream, Gillette razors, and Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid. Any items that cannot be reused, such as razor heads, are recycled through Loop’s parent company, TerraCycle.

Loop’s in-house Design and Research & Development team works with Loop’s brand partners to design packaging that can be used, cleaned, relled and reused multiple times over. Instead of disposable containers, products are now available in stainless-steel, glass, and engineered plastic with wash-o labels or permanent decoration that is built to last many uses. 

Loop’s design guidelines were developed with the support of the World Economic Forum in partnership with a multi- stakeholder coalition of leading retailers, manufacturers, NGO’s, and government authorities. The goal of the guidelines is to enable a shared framework of standards into which all products can be redesigned. The three requirements of the Loop design system are: durability, cleanability, and life cycle analysis. Once these requirements are met the goal is to optimize the products design to reduce the operational cost of running a full use cycle. 

Loop is available online in the U.S., UK and Canada, and products are shipped in the Loop tote, a collapsible padded container that is made of fabrics that can be cleaned, reused, recycled and turned back into totes. The inside compartments of the tote are made exible foam to cradle all types of packaging without use of disposable materials. The compartments can be shifted to accommodate various products and also can be removed to allow the tote to fold into itself and t into a convenient space. 

Loop launched in-store in select Carrefour locations around Paris, France in September 2020. Loop products are available in a “Loop section” within the store where consumers can purchase products and return empty packaging on site. 

Loop developed a container collection unit, known as the Loop Passive Collection Bin, to enable returns in-store. The collection unit safely and securely collects and stores users’ empty containers, and utilizes a unique coding system to ensure users receive back the proper container deposit values through the Loop app. To create a completely circular system, from point of purchase to return, Loop developed a branded reusable bag that users deposit directly into the collection unit along with their empty containers for cleaning and reuse. 

The bag is made from recycled PET and intended to last between 30 and 50 uses. Like the Loop tote, the fabric is strong and durable, and can easily be cleaned and repaired to remain in circulation for as long as possible. At end of life, the bags will be recycled by our parent company, TerraCycle. At scale, the bags recycled content will be used to create new bags. 

Loop is available in the United States (the 48 contiguous states), France, the UK and Canada. Loop has plans to expand to Japan and Australia by the end of 2021. Retail partners are: Kroger, Walgreens and Ulta Beauty (U.S.), Tesco (UK), Loblaws (Canada), Aeon (Japan) and Woolworths (Australia).

Loop now carries over 300 products from about 100 brand partners in four countries and continues to expand its assortment by adding new product categories and partnerships. In March 2021, Loop launched a partnership with Ulta Beauty as Loop’s rst beauty retail partner, making it the rst reuse packaging system adopted by a major national retailer for beauty and personal care products. 

Beyond traditional retail partnerships, also in 2021, Loop will launch reusable packaging pilots with McDonald’s, Burger King and Tim Horton’s, some of the largest quick-serve restaurants in the world. 

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