Washington, DC – Greenpeace USA released a report today highlighting various reuse and refill models around the globe that have continued or can be used during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring strong sanitization or contactless systems for containers. The report, Reusables Are Doable, assures restaurants, retailers, and consumer goods companies that a pandemic does not need to mean shifting toward widespread disposable plastic that threatens the environment and the health of communities worldwide. “Reusable systems are not only possible during a global pandemic, they are needed more than ever,” said Greenpeace USA Plastics Campaigner David Pinsky. “Communities of color on the frontlines of the plastic pollution crisis face increased risks from COVID-19, but the plastics industry continues to churn out dangerous throwaway products and claim they are safe. It is time for restaurants, retailers, and large brands to end their reliance on useless plastic packaging, bags, and containers once and for all.” Greenpeace’s report features a number of reusable systems globally that can instill confidence during the pandemic. Those systems include:

• Contactless coffee systems have been embraced by hundreds of cafes worldwide to minimize waste. With this system, a customer places their reusable container on the counter, backs away, and allows the barista to fill it with a separate cup that doesn’t touch the customer’s.
• Loop, which launched in 2019, offering well-known grocery brands to customers in reusable containers. The company collects used containers, sanitizes them according to FDA standards, and uses them for future products. Loop has reported a sales increase during COVID-19.
• The Wally Shop, which recently expanded to nationwide operations, and Zero, which also offer grocery delivery with reusable containers.
• To-go reusable models, such as CupClub, which enable customers to borrow a reusable cup, use it, then return it at a dropoff point to be cleaned.
• Takeout meal systems, such as Dispatch Goods, which partner with local restaurants to provide meals in reusable containers that customers return for commercial cleaning.
• Algramo, based in Chile, which uses vending machines and an electric vehicle delivery service that allows people to pay for only the amount of product they need in reusable containers.

"When COVID hit ... what scared me honestly was the deluge of reporters calling saying, 'Should we write off the idea of reuse in an age of contagion?'" he recalled during a panel at the Circularity 20 conference in May. Journalists were referring to the slashing of reuse-refill and "zero waste" initiatives taking place across the corporate world. This, combined with cautionary messaging from the plastics industry, contributed to a narrative that reusable systems — a fledgling industry born out of the desire to avoid disposable products and packaging — may be a risky business. Szaky argues, however, that rather than being a threat to the new reuse economy, the pandemic has ushered in an opportunity to professionalize its services. Launched over a year ago to much hype, the Loop concept — still in its trial phase, but partnering with some of the world's largest CPG companies — has been leading the way in terms of reusable, refillable packaging as a niche business opportunity for the grocery and retail sectors. The last several months have seen not less, but more usage of the Loop service and, as a result, Szaky has pointed to it as a hopeful example for what the post-pandemic future of reuse could look like. Loop's strict cleaning protocols, he says, should quell any fears about contamination and its online portal allows consumers to shop from the safety of home. These features may offer a solution to some of the risks associated with reusable circularity that brands and retailers worry about moving forward. As the world rebuilds in the wake of the pandemic, Szaky and others in the reuse sector are hoping to shift from a movement centered around DIY, consumer-led programs to one more suitable to industrial applications. This may even come in the form of tighter regulations around reusable systems overall. But some say while raising the profile of these systems is a good thing the industry should be careful about narrowing down to market-driven solutions too quickly. Loop, after all, is still an experiment.

Since it was introduced in early 2019, the amazingly ambitious and potentially game-changing Loop circular shopping platform has expanded rapidly. First launched online in mid-2019 in New York City and Paris, Loop was rolled out nationwide just one year later. Not only has its footprint grown, but so too has the number of brands offering their products through the platform—a pretty impressive accomplishment, given the total redesign that’s typically required for a CPG to make their packaging reusable. One recently added brand is Open Farm Pet Food, the first pet food company to partner with Loop. Evan Shuster, VP of Marketing for Open Farm, says Loop was a good fit for Open Farm, given the two organization’s shared values around sustainability. Toronto-based Open Farm has built its business on delivering clean, nutritious pet-food products made from ethically sourced and whole ingredients. “Joining the Loop platform presented an amazing opportunity to further our mission and continue leading the way in sustainable packaging,” Shuster says. Open Farm and Loop’s sister company, TerraCycle, already have a long and successful history in advancing sustainable packaging. In 2014, they established a recycling program for pet-food bags, 95% of which are considered unrecyclable. To date, the program has recycled 275,000 of them.

Tom Szaky, the chief executive and founder of TerraCycle, imagines a world where shoppers take their trash with them to the grocery store. In his vision, people purchase products like ice cream and deodorant in reusable containers. At the cashier, they pay an additional cost: a refundable packaging deposit. They return empty containers to the store, which collects them for cleaning and reuse. The consumer gets each deposit back and buys another tub of ice cream or stick of deodorant from the shelf. The cycle starts again. Soon Mr. Szaky is going to find out if his idea can work in the real world. Retailers including Kroger Co. next year plan to make space in stores for Loop, TerraCycle’s refillable packaging platform. Tesco PLC in the U.K. and Carrefour SA in France also are planning to install in-store Loop “corners”—areas of a store designed for products packaged in Loop’s containers—in the next 12 months. Loblaws Inc. in Canada and Woolworths Group Ltd. in Australia will bring Loop stations to stores sometime in 2022, a Loop representative said. Aeon Co., Japan’s largest supermarket group, plans to introduce Loop corners to 16 stores in the greater Tokyo area next March. “We want people to come in and fall in love with these really cute, beautiful packages, understand the message and get excited about it,” said Satoshi Morikiyo, general manager of  convenience goods at Aeon. “Shopping trips are not necessarily something people look forward to, but this is a cool experience that offers something of a discovery—something new and fun.”

As part of our series about strong women leaders, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jacqueline Prehogan, co-founder, Open Farm Pet. At Open Farm, Jacqueline is focused on bringing the brand’s mission and values to life through brand marketing and product innovation. A self-described “crazy dog lady,” Jacqueline’s lifelong passion for animals and commitment to sustainability inspires her to create products that “do some good” for pets, farm animals and the planet. Jacqueline is also the Founder & CEO of Canada Pooch, a leading pet apparel & accessories company, and the recipient of the 2015 EOY Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Jacqueline graduated from Queen’s University in 2007 and went on to earn her CA & CPA before starting her first business in the pet industry.

While is wasn’t the first crowdfunded startup to trace its origin story to a college dorm room, TerraCycle may be the only one that’s turning our trash into an investment opportunity. The company with its roots in a Princeton college dorm room in 2002 is gaining traction among alternative equity crowdfunding watchers eyeing the low minimum set to invest in TerraCycle stock. TerraCycle has established a network of third-party logistics providers and facilities to convert collected waste into raw materials that are then sold to and used by manufacturers to create new products. It captures the waste streams that most of us contribute to but probably never thought could be turned into profitable raw materials: potato chip bags, coffee capsules, cigarette butts, beauty and oral care disposables, child car seats, disposable contact lenses and packaging. The list is seemingly endless.

While is wasn’t the first crowdfunded startup to trace its origin story to a college dorm room, TerraCycle may be the only one that’s turning our trash into an investment opportunity. The company with its roots in a Princeton college dorm room in 2002 is gaining traction among alternative equity crowdfunding watchers eyeing the low minimum set to invest in TerraCycle stock. TerraCycle has established a network of third-party logistics providers and facilities to convert collected waste into raw materials that are then sold to and used by manufacturers to create new products. It captures the waste streams that most of us contribute to but probably never thought could be turned into profitable raw materials: potato chip bags, coffee capsules, cigarette butts, beauty and oral care disposables, child car seats, disposable contact lenses and packaging. The list is seemingly endless.

While is wasn’t the first crowdfunded startup to trace its origin story to a college dorm room, TerraCycle may be the only one that’s turning our trash into an investment opportunity. The company with its roots in a Princeton college dorm room in 2002 is gaining traction among alternative equity crowdfunding watchers eyeing the low minimum set to invest in TerraCycle stock.

Do good for the planet and animals while looking good with these cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, and environmentally sustainable makeup, skincare, and hair care brands sold at Sephora. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many amazing cruelty-free & vegan-friendly beauty brands available at Sephora are also committed to social, environmental, and sustainable practices. Whether it’s developing non-toxic and clean formulas that are more gentle on our skin and our waterways or choosing to use responsibly and sustainably sourced ingredients with respect to the welfare of the workers, protecting the planet and its resources, as well as, supporting local communities. But it doesn’t stop there. In addition to using sustainably sourced and natural ingredients, these eco-friendly makeup and beauty brands are also dedicated to reducing our reliance and overconsumption of single-use plastic that often end up in the landfill or our oceans. To be part of the solution, these ethical cosmetics companies are committed to using minimal packaging either made of recycled materials and/or recyclable components including FSC-certified paper derived from responsibly managed forests. Of course, it goes without saying that no beauty brand is perfect so although their efforts to creating sustainable makeup and cosmetics products are being recognized and appreciated, there’s always going to be ways to improve and do better. But it’s a step in the right direction and I think it’s important to highlight these conscious beauty brands doing good things.

By moving away from disposable packaging, companies can address the global problem of plastic waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, only about 9 percent of the 9.9 billion tons of plastic generated globally since the 1950s has been recycled. And almost half^PDF of the plastic waste poisoning marine life, contaminating food, and clogging waterways and sewers comes from consumer packaging. As citizens and governments wake up to this plastic pollution problem, they’re turning to business to solve it. In response, companies are trying to craft new approaches to plastic, whether reducing overpackaging or rolling out biodegradable materials made of seaweed and cornstarch. But one solution — the reuse and refill business model — stands out for its potential to shift consumer behaviors while unlocking new revenue streams and cost savings for companies. It’s easy to see why cheap, sturdy, and lightweight plastic quickly became a convenient, even innovative, packaging option for consumers. The popularity of plastic skyrocketed in developed countries in the 1970s after the invention of the polyethylene shopping bag. Within two decades, plastic packaging had flooded the world; consider how, in developing countries, companies have marketed items as varied as shampoo and hot sauce in tiny single-use sachets. Products in cheap, throwaway packaging solved immediate consumer problems — for example, by offering unbeatable value pricing to millions of low-income consumers — but created a long-term health and environmental disaster. Now, businesses such as Chilean startup Algramo, literally meaning “by the gram,” are tackling the crisis by offering the same value to consumers, but in reusable containers. Algramo makes products including rice, detergent, and other everyday staples available in small, affordable quantities via smart vending machines and reusable containers. Its bottles are equipped with RFID tags that allow consumers to earn discount credits with each use, incentivizing them to refill rather than throw away the containers. Flush with funding from Closed Loop Partners, Algramo is set to introduce this innovation in the U.S., too. It has good reason to do so: On a per capita basis, North America, Japan, and Europe generate the most plastic waste. Algramo is in good company. As part of the New Plastics Economy initiative, launched two years ago by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the U.N. Environment Programme, more than 400 organizations have set concrete targets toward reducing plastic use by 2025. Many of those companies, both startups and established brands, are testing reuse and refill solutions. Their motivations aren’t strictly altruistic: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates a US$10 billion business opportunity in converting even 20 percent of global plastic packaging to a reusable model.