A partnership between some of the largest consumer product companies, along with international recycling firm TerraCycle, 24 January unveiled a global shopping system and reuse model, called Loop.
The system will allow costumers to have all there well loved normal products delivered to them in strong reusable packaging, they can then use the product like normal but save the packaging which will then be collected cleaned and refilled.
I was mainly excited to see if anything like this would come to the UK ( as currently it has been launched in the USA), but I can happily say that we can expect to see a pilot of Loop launched in September with retailer Tesco. Will this work for Uk consumers? Will the concept itself be a success?
The idea for Loop was developed by TerraCycle working with consumer product companies Procter & Gamble, Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, Mars Petcare, The Clorox Company, The Body Shop, Coca-Cola European Partners, Mondelēz International, Danone, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Lesieur, BIC, Beiersdorf, RB, People Against Dirty, Nature’s Path, Thousand Fell, Greenhouse, Grilliance, Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices, Reinberger Nut Butter, CoZie and Preserve. Lots of well known and loved brands.
But how much can you buy using loop? Could you do a weekly food shop?
Well the website says 'A variety of products will be available through Loop, ranging from food jars and bottles, through to deodorant and body lotion'. I think for the product to be trailed properly and see if its going to be a sucess it will only include a relativity small range of products.
Do I see the concept being a success?
Again, its very hard to predict how people will react to a new concept. The products themselves will need to be purchased through the loop website and they will turn up in a loop shipping tote which reduces the need for single use cardboard boxes.
I don't know if people will go out of there way to shop on a unfamiliar website such as LOOP, if its also going to only be a section of products available for them. Increasing times that a weekly food/ toiletries shop may already take.
The launch with Tesco in the uk will be really interesting if it can be bought through the Tesco website itself. I think if they can work it into normal online shopping brands such as supermarkets and it highlights the options which can be reused and recycled with loop then I think there would be no reason why they wouldn't be successful.
Everyone is currently saying that they care about the environment but concepts like these will really test whether it's just said or is actually something people are passionate to change. I think the idea of loop sounds great and it isn't a crazy imaginative concept. The idea that would have stopped other brands I can imagine would be the extra effort that the brand would have start up with would be a large one.
For example would have been getting people to commit to the concept in the first place is one thing , and then also having to get delivery drivers two trips to each house one to drop off the products and two to pick up the packaging again ( they have made this an auto renew service so you will be sent full sized products when they run out), the brand is also leaving each costumer a loop box so all the packaging can be picked up as your rubbish would be. If the idea can work this could save thousands of pounds for companies that have re produce new packaging everyday. If they can push past the initial start up costs of this business idea could it change the way we shop everyday?
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