Return-from-Home
Description
Users subscribe to a delivery and collection service that allows them to return empty packaging from home. A business or service provider then takes care of the cleaning and redistribution of the packaging (3).
At a glance
Key benefits:
- Improved packaging design for functionality and/or aesthetics is possible since the packaging remains an asset to the business and its costs are spread over many uses, allowing companies to provide a better user experience (3).
- User convenience can be enhanced by businesses keeping track of stock and reordering using a subscription service (2).
Key cautions:
- Economics and efficiency of operations, in particular reverse logistics, can be improved by businesses sharing logistics, cleaning facilities, or universal packaging design across brands, sectors, or wider networks, potentially through a third-party service provider (3). Carefully designing pickup and delivery routes and leveraging existing operations maximizes efficiencies and minimizes environmental impact (1). To maintain affordable prices for customers, scaling up quickly is key (2).
- Return of empty packaging can be eased by offering subscription services in which the empty packaging is collected at the same time as the next delivery of goods, which also improves brand loyalty and delivers insights on users. Return rates can be improved by using plain packaging, incentives such as deposits on packaging or a free refill after a certain number of returns, or penalties for not returning the packaging (3).
- Packaging should be designed to be easily cleanable to reduce costs and resource use during cleaning (3).
Where to start
- E-commerce products that are delivered at relatively high frequency, ideally through a subscription model, are increasingly popular with customers and allow the collection of empty packaging to be combined with the delivery of new products. This saves users from storing empty packaging for long periods of time (3). Typical e-commerce products suited for return-from-home models include groceries, meal delivery, and personal-care, home-care, and beauty products (2). E-commerce allows reusable products to stand out and facilitates customer education and engagement (4).
- Urban areas in which transport distances, both between deliveries and from delivery to cleaning/refilling sites, tend to be shorter are well-suited for return-from-home reuse models.
Current applicability per plastic type
Note: High in this instance implies the solution is highly applicable to the plastic type. Medium indicates potential to apply this solution to the relevant plastic type in some cases, but there are obstacles. Low implies major barriers and, generally speaking, this solution cannot be used in conjunction with the plastic type.
Solutions. and case studies
Many examples of successful reuse programs for plastic packaging are currently from outside the U.S. However, more U.S. case studies are emerging and will be included in the future. The following are used for general information and illustrative purposes and do not reflect a preference of or an endorsement by The Recycling Partnership or our affiliates or vendors.
- Club Zero from Abel & Cole (UK): A service delivering dried food (e.g., lentils, pasta, and oats) in low-cost, plain reusable transport containers. The containers are designed to be functional so the user is not tempted to keep them. Upon delivery, users decant into their own reusable jars and, at the next delivery, return the transport containers with the reusable delivery box (3).
- Loop (globally): A global reuse platform, offered online and in store by major retailers, that provides more than 500 products in reusable packaging (including various big brands). When a container is empty, there is no need for the user to clean or sort it as it is either stored and then picked up from the user’s home or dropped off at a participating store. The containers are then professionally cleaned, refilled, and sold to another customer (3).
- The Wally Shop (North America): Customers order local, organic groceries and products online, and the service’s shoppers/couriers visit farmers’ markets and bulk shops to acquire fresh produce and other household essentials. Products are delivered on the same day directly to the customer, all via bicycle. Empty packaging is picked up on a subsequent delivery, and The Wally Shop cleans and reuses the packaging (2).
- Good Club (UK): Monthly delivery of eco-friendly products in returnable containers. Good Club collects the empty containers and packaging the next working day and cleans and reuses them. [Link]
- Signal toothpaste tabs (globally): Signal (Unilever) is supplying toothpaste in tablet format in a reusable jar that replaces the standard single-use non-recyclable tube. Tablets can be purchased online with home delivery and auto-replenishment available through the Loop platform (5).
Reports and References
(1) Closed Loop Partners, IDEO: Bringing Reusable Packaging Systems to Life. Lessons Learned from Testing Reusable Cups. (Link)
(2) Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Reuse. Rethinking Packaging. (Link)
(3) Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Upstream Innovation. A guide to packaging solutions. (Link)
(4) Zero Waste Europe & Reloop: Reusable vs single-use packaging. (Link)
(5) EMF Upstream Online Guide. (Link)
