The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag

This Action aligns with the following Calls to Action from the Circular Economy Action Agenda for Plastics

2. Incentivize and support product design for reuse and recycling of plastics 

10. Investigate environmental and socio-economic impacts of renewable material inputs for plastics 

Ambition 

The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag has committed more than $15 million to launch the Beyond the Bag Initiative that aims  to reinvent the single-use plastic retail bag by identifying, testing and implementing viable design solutions and models that more  sustainably serve the purpose of the current retail bag. The consortium members support the research in exploring reusable systems, altogether bagless solutions and innovative materials for a less wasteful future.

Objectives 

The Consortium has analysed a pool of over 450 sustainable bag submissions from more than 60 countries and selected nine winners to the Beyond the Bag Challenge based on their ability to maintain the convenience of the single-use plastic bag, delight the customer, complement existing retail environments, reach a broad range of consumers and create long-term value in 2021. In August, the Consortium launched a series of tests and first-of-a-kind multi-retailer pilots to advance sustainable alternatives to the single-use plastic bag and accelerate their potential to scale.

Partners 

Closed Loop Partners, Ocean Conservancy, CVS Health, Target, Walmart, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Dollar General, Kroger, The TJX Companies, Inc., Ulta Beauty, Ahold  Delhaize USA Brands, Albertsons Companies, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Wakefern Food Corp., Walgreens, Conservation International and Ideo