The Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners has partnered with five retailers, CVS Health, Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Walgreens to form a consortium aimed at reinventing the single-use plastic retail bag.
The goal is identifying, testing and implementing viable design solutions and models that more sustainably serve the purpose of the current retail bag.
Current alternatives to the plastic retail bag have yet to garner industry-wide support or widespread use by the public, and many still have significant environmental impacts. Partners in the coalition, called Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, have committed more than $15 million to launch the Beyond the Bag Initiative.
The three-year Consortium welcomes additional retailers to join in to help create a less wasteful future.
“The status quo has been shaken, presenting a unique opportunity to build back better and reimagine a more resilient and sustainable way of doing business,” said Kate Daly, managing director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners. “During challenging times, unexpected and unprecedented collaboration is required, and we’re excited to work with leading retailers like CVS Health, Target, Walmart, and others – along with the entire industry – to take effective action.”
Studies show that over 100 billion single-use plastic retail bags are used in the U.S. every year, and less than 10 percent of these are recycled. Every year, plastic retail bags are among the Top 10 items found on beaches and waterways worldwide.
Innovative design solutions to serve the function of today’s retail bag will be solicited from around the world through the Consortium’s global Innovation Challenge with an initial focus on implementation in the United States. Launched in partnership with global design firm IDEO, the Challenge invites innovators, suppliers, designers, and problem-solvers to submit their ideas for game-changing sustainable bag solutions. Closed Loop Partners will launch a Circular Accelerator, develop potential piloting opportunities and aim to make infrastructure investments in support of the development of market-ready solutions.
“We know how important it is to bring our customers along on our sustainability journey, keeping in mind that most are looking for convenience with minimal environmental impact,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy and Chief Sustainability Officer, CVS Health. “This collaboration with Target, Walmart and other like-minded retailers and innovators allow for collective reach that can be truly impactful.”
“We believe in serving our guests and communities with actions that reduce our footprint on the planet,” said Amanda Nusz, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, Target. “We’re proud to partner with Closed Loop Partners and other leading retailers to take on a challenge facing the entire industry. We welcome others to join us in this collective effort as we aim to design a better solution.”
“By coming together to tackle the problem, we aim to accelerate the pace of innovation and the commercialization of sustainable solutions,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Walmart. “Through efforts like the Innovation Challenge and the Circular Accelerator, we hope the Beyond the Bag Initiative will surface affordable, practical solutions that meet the needs of customers and reduce plastic waste.”
More information is available here.
Photo courtesy Margarettoigo/Blendswap
