Reinventing the Retail Bag through Innovation

Closed Loop Partner in collaboration with CVS, Target and Walmart is trying to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the retail industry.  

Launched in 2020 by Closed Loop Partners and a combined $15 million from its founding partners, the program requested submissions from inventors, innovators and supply chain and packaging experts around the world for alternatives to single-use plastic bags. Nine winning ideas were chosen from 450 submissions in three categories: reuse and refill, enabling technology and innovative materials. 

The winners worked with design firm to test and refine the solutions. And now, a six-week pilot program has begun to test four of the winning solutions at nine CVS, Target and Walmart stores in Northern California. Walmart will also be testing two solutions through its delivery service: reusable shipping and packaging containers and a data-exchange program that tracks how consumers are using bags and containers across the value chain. The other three winners, which offer material alternatives to plastic, will undergo further testing. 

Read the complete story here.