There’s an awesome new development in the world of zero waste groceries! Loop is a coalition of major brands like Tide, Crest and Haagen-Daaz. It’s a return to the milkman model. Loop products come in sleek, reusable stainless steel containers. The customer gets the product but the company owns the package. When your item is done, you put out your empties and Loop does the rest. They take care of the washing and then reuse the containers.
A Zero Waste Groceries Solution
Loop zero waste groceries are the brainchild of TerraCycle, who recycle hard to recycle items like juice boxes, coffee capsules, pens, plastic gloves, and cigarette filters. Tom Szaky, TerraCycle’s CEO and co-founder says:
“We can’t just recycle our way out of the garbage crisis. While recycling is critically important, it is not going to solve waste at the root cause.”
We need foundational changes. For example, TerraCycle already collects and reuses Ocean Plastic for Unilever and Procter & Gamble products. But every day, more plastic goes in the ocean, so no matter how much is reused, it doesn’t solve the problem. The root of the problem is our disposable culture.
How Loop Zero Waste Groceries Work
The goal of Loop is to make zero waste groceries simple. So here’s the solution: order your groceries online and they’ll arrive at your door in a reusable Loop tote. When you’re done, put your empties into the tote and request pickup via UPS, or drop them off at a retail partner. Loop mimics the benefits of disposable product packaging while solving the problem. Therefore, there’s no need to wash or clean before returning them.
We’re trying to emulate the way you do your recycling at home. Just like a disposable object, you take your used packages and put them into the container for collection. With Loop, we pick them up. Also, you have the option to have your groceries auto-replenish, so that you can actually make your shopping even easier, because your empties can trigger re-orders.
Zero Waste Partners
The Loop coalition represents major brands: Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Mars, Clorox, Coca-Cola, and Danone have joined. Having these big brands sign on is huge; Because it’s an acknowledgment that packaging needs to change.
“We are in a garbage crisis, and brands are really looking to bring solutions to end the crisis.”
Brand collaboration on the packaging led to some innovative changes in the products. For instance, because a toothpaste tube is too difficult to reuse, Unilever designed toothpaste tablets that consumers chew to activate. These tablets come in a reusable, zero-waste container.
We think the Loop packaging is beautiful. So you see, zero waste groceries are not only better for the environment, but also provide for a more premium experience.
Loop Pilot Launch
Loop zero waste groceries will launch this spring in three test markets: Ile-de-France (Paris), the New York region, and Toronto, Canada. To begin with, about 300 zero waste products will be available.
Loop is leading the way for zero waste groceries! In short, we’re looking forward to the return of the milkman.
Sign up to close the loop here.
Want to transition to zero waste? Check out our top tips here.
