CINCINNATI, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co.
(NYSE: KR) and Loop, the revolutionary circular e-commerce platform
developed by TerraCycle, today announced an exclusive grocery
retail partnership agreement in the
United States, advancing Kroger's zero-waste vision by
reducing single-use plastics in the environment.
Through this partnership, Kroger and Loop will pilot the new
reusable packaging system, enabling customers in select markets to
purchase more than 100 products from leading consumer brands that
have been redesigned with durable containers.
"Our commitment to innovative solutions on our path to Zero
Hunger | Zero Waste aligns perfectly with Loop's mission to create
a convenient circular packaging platform for consumers," said
Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice
president of corporate affairs. "Customers are increasingly seeking
out sustainable products and services that fit their lifestyle. As
the exclusive grocery retail partner for Loop in the U.S., Kroger
is taking another big step toward a world with zero waste."
Products available on the Loop platform 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, then cleaned, refilled and reused – creating a
first-of-its-kind circular packaging system.
During the first phase of the U.S. launch, a select number of
consumers in New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C. will be able to experience
Loop. Beginning May 21, consumers in
these states who are interested in being part of the Loop pilot are
encouraged to visit www.thekrogerco.com/loop for information
on how to apply to become a participant.
In the future, based on consumer response, Kroger and Loop
envision creating an in-store Loop experience in a Kroger
community.
"Loop was designed from the ground-up to reinvent the way we
consume by leveraging the sustainable, circular milkman model of
yesterday with the convenience of e-commerce," said Tom Szaky,
founder and CEO of Loop and TerraCycle. "TerraCycle came together
with dozens of major consumer product companies from P&G to
Nestle to Unilever, the World Economic Forum, logistics and
transportation company UPS and leading retailers Kroger and
Walgreens to create a simple and convenient way to enjoy a wide
range of products, customized in brand-specific durable and
reusable packaging."
Kroger's partnership with Loop is the retailer's latest
commitment to reduce single-use plastics under its Zero Hunger |
Zero Waste plan. In 2018, the company became the first U.S.
retailer to commit to phasing out single-use plastic grocery
shopping bags. As of April 1,
Kroger's QFC division in the Pacific Northwest no longer offers
customers single-use plastic bags. Kroger also continues efforts to
optimize Our Brands product packaging – including Simple
Truth® and Simple Truth Organic® items – as
part of its 2020 Sustainability Goals.
Kroger customers across the country can learn more about Loop
and request updates on Zero Hunger | Zero Waste at
www.thekrogerco.com/loop.
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose:
To Feed the Human Spirit™. We are nearly half a million
associates who serve nine million customers daily through a
seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores
under a variety of banner names, serving America through food
inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste
communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our
newsroom and investor relations site.
About Loop
Loop is an initiative from TerraCycle, www.terracycle.com, an
innovative waste management company whose mission is to Eliminate
the Idea of Waste®. Operating nationally across 21 countries,
TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies,
retailers, cities, and facilities to recycle hard to recycle waste.
Loop has been designed to addresses the issue of waste at its
source by providing consumers a circular shopping platform while
encouraging manufacturers to own and take responsibility for their
packaging on the long term.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.