Closed Loop Partners Encourage Retailers to Cut Plastic Bag Reliance

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Closed Loop Partners, in association with Target, CVS Health and Walmart has released a guide for retailers, urging them to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic bags. The recommendations in the guide are based on a collaborative reusable bag pilots conducted in select stores of the above retailers in Northern California last year. The guide will help guide retailers looking to adopt reusable bag service models.

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The U.S. consumes approximately 100 billion single-use plastic bags every year, with a majority of them ending up as waste in landfills and the environment. The reuse models play a key role in addressing packaging waste generated by single-use plastic bags. It calls for partnering with the right stakeholders, measurement of impact at every stage and further scaling of reuse systems to optimize efficiency.

Kate Daly, Managing Director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners noted that the collaboration with the nation’s largest retailers to test and pilot reusable bag solutions is a critical step toward reducing single-use plastic bag waste. Furthermore, he hoped that the report will serve as inspiration for forward-thinking organizations looking to bring reuse to the next level. 

The extensive research and in-market testing of designs and innovative bag solutions will continue over the next year.