According to the World Economic Forum, about one-third of the world’s plastic winds up in the ocean—the equivalent of pouring one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. Meanwhile, only 14 percent of plastic is collected to be recycled, and only 2 percent is reused as packaging. TerraCycle has been working to change that and is now partnering with Kroger to continue that mission. How? With an innovative, environmentally friendly platform called Loop.
The Loop system enables customers in select Kroger markets to purchase more than 100 products from leading brands—like Häagen-Dazs ice creams, Cascade detergent, MegaRed supplements, Crest toothpaste, Nature’s Path granola—that have been redesigned with durable containers. Products available on the Loop platform (loopstore.com) are packaged in reusable glass or metal containers and shipped directly to consumers in a specially designed tote. Once used, products are retrieved through free at-home pickup, and then cleaned, refilled and reused—creating a first-of-its-kind circular packaging system.
Founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky, TerraCycle runs the world’s largest supply chain on ocean plastic—in 20 countries—collecting it, recycling it, and putting it into Unilever and Procter & Gamble products (such as Head & Shoulders bottles). “But every day, more and more waste gets put in the ocean and in landfills. And, no matter how much we clean the ocean and/or recycle waste, we’re never going to solve the problem,” Szaky says. “That’s really where Loop emerged. To us, the root cause of waste is not plastic, per se—it’s using things once, and that’s really what Loop tries to change as much as possible.” Learn more at thekrogerco.com/loop.
We Like: Reusable Produce Bags
Do you have a drawer overflowing with flimsy plastic produce bags? Reduce your plastic consumption when you grocery shop with Lotus Produce Bags. Each set comes with three large, three medium and three small bags, each with a drawstring and secure white lock to keep contents safe. Durable, BPA-free and machine-washable. Use them for fruits and veggies, bulk foods, travel organization, even laundering delicates! $19.99, lotustrolleybag.com
Horizon Organic Commits to Becoming Carbon Positive by 2025
Horizon Organic, the largest USDA-certified organic dairy brand in the world, has committed to become carbon positive by 2025. It’s the first national dairy brand to commit to being carbon positive across its full supply chain. “Climate change is the challenge of our lifetime—we are out of time on this issue—food and farming must evolve,” says Mariano Lozano, CEO of Danone North America, the parent company of Horizon. “This includes helping our farmer partners implement breakthrough regenerative soil practices, cow feed and diet management programs, and energy efficiency. These steps and more will play a significant role in helping Horizon Organic become carbon positive.”
In the U.S., agriculture contributes approximately 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Horizon Organic’s ambition to become carbon positive in the next five years will significantly improve its impacts on the environment. The journey to carbon positive will start with new Growing Years whole-milk half gallons, which will be the brand’s first certified carbon neutral product by the end of 2021. Learn more at horizon.com.
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