In case you’ve been living under a (plastic) rock for the last month, 2019 is the year of waste-free sustainability. Most us already know the simplest way to embrace the movement is by reducing our single-use plastic—its negative impacts on the environment aren’t news to any of us and while, of course, ditching plastic bottles is a good place to start, there will soon be an easier way to step up your efforts.
Enter: Loop.
Loop is the newest company to land on the zero-waste scene and it’s no exaggeration to say it might just change the way we all shop. The concept is quite simple, with Loop allowing you to order the same groceries and home goods you’re already buying in the supermarket, but online. Yep, you’re right, that does sound just like regular internet shopping—but trust us, there’s a twist. Every single item will be delivered in reusable canisters.
Think of this like the local milkman who used to deliver bottles of the good stuff to your grandma every other day. You’ll order your groceries online, a UPS (or Tesco if you’re in the UK) delivery driver will bring it all to your door and when you’re done, they’ll pick up the empty packages to send to a cleaning facility.
Potentially the best thing about Loop is that it offers the same huge brands your favourite supermarket does, but it’ll all be delivered in reusable packaging. Think brands like Nestle, Rexona, Haagen-Dazs and even premium beauty brands like REN Clean Skincare. The consumer (that’s you guys) will have to pay a deposit fee which will be returned to you unless you choose the automatic subscription top-up service. With some of the products, the packaging has an added bonus of prolonging the shelf life or, as is the case with Haagen-Dazs ice cream, keeping the delicious dessert frozen for hours once removed from the freezer.
Most people find all of the rules surrounding recycling more than a little bit confusing, and that’s why this is so genius. Removing the faff involved in reducing your plastic use and recycling all that you do use, Loop allows you to easily reuse their packaging without having to leave the house.
Currently, the concept is in the early pilot phase but all being well it’s expected to launch in Paris, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania by mid-May, in London later in the year and launches in Tokyo, San Francisco and Toronto are expected in 2020.