‘Buy, recycle, re-fill, re-use’ has taken a step forward in the food and beauty spheres. Today Loop, a state-of-the-art circular shopping system, officially launched its pilot program in the Mid-Atlantic region of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C.—as well as announced Kroger Co and Walgreens—as the founding retailers in the U.S.
 
First announced at the World Economic Forum in January, Loop enables consumers to responsibly consume a variety of commonly used products from leading consumer brands in customized, brand-specific durable packaging that is delivered in a specially-designed reusable shipping tote. When finished with the product, the packaging is collected, cleaned, refilled and reused—creating what’s been called “a revolutionary circular shopping system.”
 
“Kroger’s commitment to embrace innovation on our path to Zero Hunger | Zero Waste aligns perfectly with Loop’s mission to create a convenient circular packaging solution for consumers,” said Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs. “We believe in giving our customers sustainable packaging choices they can feel good about. As the exclusive grocery retail partner for Loop in the United States, Kroger is taking another big step toward a world with zero waste.”
 
Consumers in the pilot region who want to sign up for Loop can visit www.loopstore.com and apply to become a participant or log on to www.thekrogerco.com/loop or www.walgreens.com/loop. In the future, the partners aim to enable more consumers to purchase Loop products online and in stores in select Kroger and Walgreens markets.
 
“Walgreens is excited about this opportunity to help consumers purchase sustainably packaged products and contribute to a healthier planet,” said Lauren Brindley, Walgreens group vice president of beauty and personal care. “Innovative collaborations with partners like Loop are critical to solving the complex issue of reducing single-use plastics. Our customers look to us to innovate so that together we can reduce waste and increase re-use.”
 
Consumer product companies on Loop in May and onwards:
 
 
–           Procter & Gamble: Pantene, Tide, Febreze, Cascade, Venus, Gillette, Oral-B CLIC toothbrush, Crest
–           Unilever: REN Clean Skincare, Love Beauty and Planet, Love Home and Planet, Hellmann’s, Seventh Generation, Pure Leaf, and minim, a new deodorant format joined by Degree, Dove, and AXE
–           Nestle: Häagen-Dazs, Purina Tidy Cats, Chameleon Cold-Brew
–           The Clorox Company: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Hidden Valley Original Ranch Topping and Dressing, Glad Food Protection
–           The Body Shop – Tea Tree Oil
–           Colgate-Palmolive
–           Greenhouse: Kombucha
–           Preserve: Everyday Tableware and Cutlery
–           Teva Deli: Sweet Potato Burger & Classic Burger
–           Nature’s Path: Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola
–           Burlap & Barrel: Spices
–           RB: Move Free, MegaRed, Neuriva, Airborne
–           Reinberger Nut Butter
–           Soapply: Hand wash
–           Melanin Essentials: Organic Curly Hair Products
–           International Harvest: Premium Organic Dried fruits, nuts, snacks and superfoods
–           Purely Elizabeth: Nutrient rich granolas, oatmeals and bars
–           SC Johnson: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day hand soap
–           The Honest Company
–           WellPet: Old Mother Hubbard All-Natural Dog Treats
–           Bilal’s EasyKale: Bioactive Concentrated Kale
–           Arbor Teas: Organic loose leaf tea
–           ECOS (Earth Friendly Products)
–           PepsiCo: Tropicana
 
“Loop was designed from the ground-up to reinvent the way we consume by leveraging the sustainable, circular milkman model of yesterday with the convenience of e-commerce,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of Loop and TerraCycle. “TerraCycle came together with dozens of major consumer product companies from P&G to Nestle to Unilever, the World Economic Forum Future of Consumption Platform, logistics and transportation company UPS and leading retailers Kroger and Walgreens to create a simple and convenient way to enjoy a wide range of products, customized in brand-specific durable and reusable packaging.”
 
In addition to the launch of the platform, Loop also unveiled a real estate partnership with Brookfield Properties to offer the shopping platform first in New York as an amenity to employees at Brookfield Place (BFPL) in Lower Manhattan and then residents at One Blue Slip at Greenpoint Landing in Brooklyn.
 
How Loop works:
Consumers will go to www.loopstore.com, www.thekrogerco.com/loop or www.walgreens.com/loop to place an order. They will receive their durable products in Loop’s exclusively designed shipping tote. After use, consumers place the empty containers into their Loop totes and go online to schedule a pickup from their home. Loop will clean the packaging with cutting-edge technology so that each product may be safely reused and will promptly replenish products as needed to the consumer.
 
Loop is an initiative from TerraCycle, www.terracycle.com
 

Watch a video about Loop here.

 See the slideshow on participating brands here.