Reusable Packaging with TerraCycle’s Loop
August 21,2024
Category: Packaging Development, Sustainability
Episode Summary:
Loop’s reusable packaging is being adopted across the globe, giving companies a viable option to create a circular economy. With this system in place, we’re now seeing more companies invest in reusable packaging options that not only enhance sustainability but that incentivise consumers who invest in the idea as well to continue the practice moving forward. In an episode of our Unpacking Excellence podcast, we’re joined by Industrial Design Manager at TerraCycle and Loop Kelsey Moffitt on the recent achievements, future direction and goals of the Loop program.
In this episode, we cover:
About Our Guest
Kelsey Moffitt
Manager, Industrial Design, Loop and TerraCycle
Kelsey Moffitt is a manager of industrial design for both Loop and TerraCycle and has been in her present roles for over two and a half years. She works as a product designer for recycling solutions with a great interest in exploring socially and environmentally innovative solutions that create all-around more enjoyable product experiences.
Listen to the Episode
0:00:01 - Intro Powered by Adept Group, this is the Unpacking Excellence podcast, bringing together top packaging professionals to share insights and knowledge on all things packaging. Now, introducing Adept Group.
0:00:21 - Adept Group
Welcome to Adept Packaging's Unpacking Excellence Podcast. My guest today is Kelsey Moffitt, a senior industrial packaging designer for Loop. Welcome to the show, Kelsey.
0:00:32 - Kelsey
Hi. Thanks for having me.
0:00:34 - Adept Group
So we talked to someone from Loop soon after you guys launched back in 2019, and I know that in the early stages, you were pretty focused on CPG and bottled beverages, and then earlier this year, you got a lot of attention for announcing a program that you're doing with Burger King. Can you talk a little bit about how Loop has broadened its horizons since you launched in 2019?
0:00:57 - Kelsey
Yeah, sure thing. So from the beginning, Loop's vision has always been to tackle single-use packaging waste in as many regions, or as many areas, as it could. That did initially present itself as our e-commerce model, which we launched in the U.S. and France in 2019. And since then, we've been working with retailers in all the regions that we're operating in to push Loop from e-commerce to more in-store. So I think that's the biggest change from when we launched in 2019. We've shifted focus from e-commerce to moving into your local grocery store and convenience store. We also partnered with Ulta Beauty. So we worked with them to focus on the beauty and personal care industry specifically.
That one right now is an e-commerce launch, but we're looking to move into the consumer's regular, everyday interaction with buying products. So we want to make it as easy for our users as possible to transition from single-use to durable and reusable. We’re going to be launching with grocery stores. We're already live with Carrefour in France and Aeon in Japan, and we're going to be launching with Tesco very shortly in the U.K. and Kroger and Walgreens in the U.S. Those are all going to be in-store launches that are coming up really soon, and we're really looking to expand everywhere you would buy products that have single-use packaging. We want to be able to intercept that and change that packaging over to durable so that we can eliminate that single-use packaging waste.
0:02:42 - Adept Group
That's exciting to hear. It was an exciting idea when I first heard about it, and to hear that things are going well and that expansion is continuing as planned is exciting. Earlier in 2020, I remember reading some news that Loop was still experiencing growth, even with things shutting down during COVID, and not that we're out of the woods yet, but things have opened up a lot from where they were. How did the pandemic and things shutting down impact Loop's business and how you were doing things overall?
0:03:19 - Kelsey
It worked out in that we were, at the beginning of the pandemic, focused on e-commerce, so we were already ready to deliver products right to the user's home, which I think saw a big bump at the beginning of the pandemic. We were all in quarantine and stuck at home, but I think it also worked out that we were already planning to focus on in-store launches, and then now that things are opening up, we're really excited to keep the momentum and push to be in-store and be as accessible as possible because I think e-commerce delivery isn't as accessible to some people.
If you live in a city and don't have secure delivery accepted where somebody can't drop it off at your doorstep or something like that, it's just a lot easier to go to the store and pick stuff up sometimes. So we really try to be as accessible as possible. And I think also, just as another note on the COVID side of things, I know there was a minute there where everyone was really concerned about the cleanliness of reusing packaging. Loop has always been focused on cleaning the packaging to a super high standard, so at the beginning of the pandemic, we did all sorts of testing and everything to ensure that and to reassure our brands, retailers and consumers that the packaging is totally, completely sanitary and safe to reuse. Even in a global pandemic, we've seen our consumers really respond to that, which has been great.
0:04:50 - Adept Group
That's good to hear. Speaking of the testing and different design challenges and things, can you talk a little bit about some of the unique challenges that you’ve had to overcome to build the Loop system, such as any kind of projects that stand out because they're particularly difficult or because the solution to the problem was really clever.
0:05:12 - Kelsey
Oh, so many things. We're building a semi-new circular supply chain for a lot of these products. So a lot of the system currently is just set up in a very linear way, so there have been quite a few hurdles to get it to come back around and be circular again.
Things that come to mind are a lot of the challenges that our team has had to work really hard like aligning the product and the packaging material together so making sure that the product that's going into these reusable containers works well with it along with making sure it doesn't react with the material and making sure it works well throughout its shelf life. It’s also about making sure the shape works well with the material that's inside and the product that's inside and aligning all of that with our cleaning process as well to make sure that everything is completely sanitary and reusable. So it's been a lot of R&D work with figuring out what materials, what coatings and what finishes will make the container and the product last throughout its shelf life, as well as through multiple different products, reuse cycles, shelf lives and the cleaning cycle.
0:06:29 - Adept Group
Yeah, I can imagine, just based on the variety of products, as you're creating this whole supply chain, for that really hasn't existed for returnable packaging. But there are a lot of different challenges for, say, designing a package for ice cream versus designing a reasonable package for shampoo, right?
0:06:48 - Kelsey
Yes, definitely, and we've learned. I know our R&D team has learned a whole heck of a lot about the implications of that. I think it's really nice that we have such a strong team, and we've developed, a knowledge base of information on reusable packaging, and I think it's really been great to be able to offer that to our brand partners and their manufacturers and everything like that you touched on a little bit earlier on.
0:07:14 - Adept Group
The plan’s to expand to more retail and convenience stores, and in terms of geography, serve different regions. Can you give us some insight into what's next or how you see Loop continuing to grow in the coming years?
0:07:33 - Kelsey
Yeah, like I said, our big next push is for retailers and to work with consumers with how they're already used to buying their products. We're already asking users to take their empty containers back, which is a pretty big behavior change for users. So we don't want to add too many more things to that so we can just catch them where they already are. They're already at the grocery store. Let's catch them there. Let's see if we can get them to move from the single-use to reusable packaging and have them buy into the platform where it's most convenient for them and then also provide the most convenient ways to get them to return their packaging and make everything circular. So we're launching in grocery stores globally. We're also working with Woolworths in Australia, and we’ve partnered with Loblaws in Canada. We did launch in fast food, or quick-serve, restaurants, which is a new industry for Loop.
We launched with McDonald's, a pilot in the U.K., in July, which has been going really well. So we're in six of their stores in the U.K. where we have reusable hot cups, so like coffee cups. Users or consumers in that region can go to McDonald's, order their McCafe coffee or whatever and then opt for the reusable packaging, and they'll actually get a discount with that. They put down their one-pound deposit, and they get that back once they return the cup. And McDonald's is also running a discount thing so you get around 20 cents off or 20p off your next order, which is an incentive there to get people to move towards reusable and show them how easy it is to go to reusable, which is exciting. And then we will be launching with Burger King and Tim Hortons as well, which we're really excited about.
I think the quick-serve and fast food restaurants are a really big opportunity to move to reusable. At home, we’re all eating off of reusable plates and stuff, and that's totally normal, but I think it's a really big opportunity to be able to move to reusables in that fast food industry. And then, that industry is so revolved around convenience, and I think the challenge is just making reusables as hyper-convenient as fast food already is.
0:10:04 - Adept Group
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to talk to me today. Obviously, a lot of people have heard about Loop, and you get little pieces of news here and there. But it was good to hear about the big picture of what you guys are working on and how well things have been going so far.
0:10:20 - Kelsey
Yeah, thanks so much for asking these questions. It's exciting to get to talk about it. I think, after being stuck at home for over a year, it's exciting to actually get to, talk to people who are also excited about Loop and interested in hearing what's next.
0:10:35 - Adept Group
Thanks again, and hopefully we'll get a chance to catch up with you as you guys continue to grow.
0:10:42 - Outro
Thank you for listening to the Unpacking Excellence podcast with Adept Group. For more resources on all things packaging, head to our website, www.adeptpackaging.com. Don't forget to subscribe, and thanks again for listening.
About Adept Group
Adept Group is a premier packaging partner for some of the most iconic brands in the food & beverage, CPG, pharmaceutical, medical device and industrial industries. Our team has expertise in over 60 specialized areas of focus and is the go-to for packaging needs, from cost optimization to regulatory compliance to design and engineering services. We work with clients to help them maximize the value of their packaging with personalized strategies specific to their industry and goals. Throughout the years, we’ve helped clients save hundreds of millions of dollars through cost-saving approaches to packaging that also coincide with sustainability efforts, helping build trust and credibility with consumers. If you have a packaging challenge, we’re up for it. Get in touch with our team of packaging engineering experts today to get started.
Loop’s reusable packaging is being adopted across the globe, giving companies a viable option to create a circular economy. With this system in place, we’re now seeing more companies invest in reusable packaging options that not only enhance sustainability but that incentivise consumers who invest in the idea as well to continue the practice moving forward. In an episode of our Unpacking Excellence podcast, we’re joined by Industrial Design Manager at TerraCycle and Loop Kelsey Moffitt on the recent achievements, future direction and goals of the Loop program.
In this episode, we cover:
- Loop’s vision as it relates to reusable packaging
- Challenges to overcome building the Loop program
- How it’s being incorporated into more everyday consumerism
- Brands that have implemented it and how they’re using it
About Our Guest
Kelsey Moffitt
Manager, Industrial Design, Loop and TerraCycle
Kelsey Moffitt is a manager of industrial design for both Loop and TerraCycle and has been in her present roles for over two and a half years. She works as a product designer for recycling solutions with a great interest in exploring socially and environmentally innovative solutions that create all-around more enjoyable product experiences.
Listen to the Episode
0:00:01 - Intro Powered by Adept Group, this is the Unpacking Excellence podcast, bringing together top packaging professionals to share insights and knowledge on all things packaging. Now, introducing Adept Group.
0:00:21 - Adept Group
Welcome to Adept Packaging's Unpacking Excellence Podcast. My guest today is Kelsey Moffitt, a senior industrial packaging designer for Loop. Welcome to the show, Kelsey.
0:00:32 - Kelsey
Hi. Thanks for having me.
0:00:34 - Adept Group
So we talked to someone from Loop soon after you guys launched back in 2019, and I know that in the early stages, you were pretty focused on CPG and bottled beverages, and then earlier this year, you got a lot of attention for announcing a program that you're doing with Burger King. Can you talk a little bit about how Loop has broadened its horizons since you launched in 2019?
0:00:57 - Kelsey
Yeah, sure thing. So from the beginning, Loop's vision has always been to tackle single-use packaging waste in as many regions, or as many areas, as it could. That did initially present itself as our e-commerce model, which we launched in the U.S. and France in 2019. And since then, we've been working with retailers in all the regions that we're operating in to push Loop from e-commerce to more in-store. So I think that's the biggest change from when we launched in 2019. We've shifted focus from e-commerce to moving into your local grocery store and convenience store. We also partnered with Ulta Beauty. So we worked with them to focus on the beauty and personal care industry specifically.
That one right now is an e-commerce launch, but we're looking to move into the consumer's regular, everyday interaction with buying products. So we want to make it as easy for our users as possible to transition from single-use to durable and reusable. We’re going to be launching with grocery stores. We're already live with Carrefour in France and Aeon in Japan, and we're going to be launching with Tesco very shortly in the U.K. and Kroger and Walgreens in the U.S. Those are all going to be in-store launches that are coming up really soon, and we're really looking to expand everywhere you would buy products that have single-use packaging. We want to be able to intercept that and change that packaging over to durable so that we can eliminate that single-use packaging waste.
0:02:42 - Adept Group
That's exciting to hear. It was an exciting idea when I first heard about it, and to hear that things are going well and that expansion is continuing as planned is exciting. Earlier in 2020, I remember reading some news that Loop was still experiencing growth, even with things shutting down during COVID, and not that we're out of the woods yet, but things have opened up a lot from where they were. How did the pandemic and things shutting down impact Loop's business and how you were doing things overall?
0:03:19 - Kelsey
It worked out in that we were, at the beginning of the pandemic, focused on e-commerce, so we were already ready to deliver products right to the user's home, which I think saw a big bump at the beginning of the pandemic. We were all in quarantine and stuck at home, but I think it also worked out that we were already planning to focus on in-store launches, and then now that things are opening up, we're really excited to keep the momentum and push to be in-store and be as accessible as possible because I think e-commerce delivery isn't as accessible to some people.
If you live in a city and don't have secure delivery accepted where somebody can't drop it off at your doorstep or something like that, it's just a lot easier to go to the store and pick stuff up sometimes. So we really try to be as accessible as possible. And I think also, just as another note on the COVID side of things, I know there was a minute there where everyone was really concerned about the cleanliness of reusing packaging. Loop has always been focused on cleaning the packaging to a super high standard, so at the beginning of the pandemic, we did all sorts of testing and everything to ensure that and to reassure our brands, retailers and consumers that the packaging is totally, completely sanitary and safe to reuse. Even in a global pandemic, we've seen our consumers really respond to that, which has been great.
0:04:50 - Adept Group
That's good to hear. Speaking of the testing and different design challenges and things, can you talk a little bit about some of the unique challenges that you’ve had to overcome to build the Loop system, such as any kind of projects that stand out because they're particularly difficult or because the solution to the problem was really clever.
0:05:12 - Kelsey
Oh, so many things. We're building a semi-new circular supply chain for a lot of these products. So a lot of the system currently is just set up in a very linear way, so there have been quite a few hurdles to get it to come back around and be circular again.
Things that come to mind are a lot of the challenges that our team has had to work really hard like aligning the product and the packaging material together so making sure that the product that's going into these reusable containers works well with it along with making sure it doesn't react with the material and making sure it works well throughout its shelf life. It’s also about making sure the shape works well with the material that's inside and the product that's inside and aligning all of that with our cleaning process as well to make sure that everything is completely sanitary and reusable. So it's been a lot of R&D work with figuring out what materials, what coatings and what finishes will make the container and the product last throughout its shelf life, as well as through multiple different products, reuse cycles, shelf lives and the cleaning cycle.
0:06:29 - Adept Group
Yeah, I can imagine, just based on the variety of products, as you're creating this whole supply chain, for that really hasn't existed for returnable packaging. But there are a lot of different challenges for, say, designing a package for ice cream versus designing a reasonable package for shampoo, right?
0:06:48 - Kelsey
Yes, definitely, and we've learned. I know our R&D team has learned a whole heck of a lot about the implications of that. I think it's really nice that we have such a strong team, and we've developed, a knowledge base of information on reusable packaging, and I think it's really been great to be able to offer that to our brand partners and their manufacturers and everything like that you touched on a little bit earlier on.
0:07:14 - Adept Group
The plan’s to expand to more retail and convenience stores, and in terms of geography, serve different regions. Can you give us some insight into what's next or how you see Loop continuing to grow in the coming years?
0:07:33 - Kelsey
Yeah, like I said, our big next push is for retailers and to work with consumers with how they're already used to buying their products. We're already asking users to take their empty containers back, which is a pretty big behavior change for users. So we don't want to add too many more things to that so we can just catch them where they already are. They're already at the grocery store. Let's catch them there. Let's see if we can get them to move from the single-use to reusable packaging and have them buy into the platform where it's most convenient for them and then also provide the most convenient ways to get them to return their packaging and make everything circular. So we're launching in grocery stores globally. We're also working with Woolworths in Australia, and we’ve partnered with Loblaws in Canada. We did launch in fast food, or quick-serve, restaurants, which is a new industry for Loop.
We launched with McDonald's, a pilot in the U.K., in July, which has been going really well. So we're in six of their stores in the U.K. where we have reusable hot cups, so like coffee cups. Users or consumers in that region can go to McDonald's, order their McCafe coffee or whatever and then opt for the reusable packaging, and they'll actually get a discount with that. They put down their one-pound deposit, and they get that back once they return the cup. And McDonald's is also running a discount thing so you get around 20 cents off or 20p off your next order, which is an incentive there to get people to move towards reusable and show them how easy it is to go to reusable, which is exciting. And then we will be launching with Burger King and Tim Hortons as well, which we're really excited about.
I think the quick-serve and fast food restaurants are a really big opportunity to move to reusable. At home, we’re all eating off of reusable plates and stuff, and that's totally normal, but I think it's a really big opportunity to be able to move to reusables in that fast food industry. And then, that industry is so revolved around convenience, and I think the challenge is just making reusables as hyper-convenient as fast food already is.
0:10:04 - Adept Group
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to talk to me today. Obviously, a lot of people have heard about Loop, and you get little pieces of news here and there. But it was good to hear about the big picture of what you guys are working on and how well things have been going so far.
0:10:20 - Kelsey
Yeah, thanks so much for asking these questions. It's exciting to get to talk about it. I think, after being stuck at home for over a year, it's exciting to actually get to, talk to people who are also excited about Loop and interested in hearing what's next.
0:10:35 - Adept Group
Thanks again, and hopefully we'll get a chance to catch up with you as you guys continue to grow.
0:10:42 - Outro
Thank you for listening to the Unpacking Excellence podcast with Adept Group. For more resources on all things packaging, head to our website, www.adeptpackaging.com. Don't forget to subscribe, and thanks again for listening.
About Adept Group
Adept Group is a premier packaging partner for some of the most iconic brands in the food & beverage, CPG, pharmaceutical, medical device and industrial industries. Our team has expertise in over 60 specialized areas of focus and is the go-to for packaging needs, from cost optimization to regulatory compliance to design and engineering services. We work with clients to help them maximize the value of their packaging with personalized strategies specific to their industry and goals. Throughout the years, we’ve helped clients save hundreds of millions of dollars through cost-saving approaches to packaging that also coincide with sustainability efforts, helping build trust and credibility with consumers. If you have a packaging challenge, we’re up for it. Get in touch with our team of packaging engineering experts today to get started.