CONSORTIUM TO REINVENT THE RETAIL BAG
BEYOND THE BAG
Leading retailers unite to address single-use bag waste
The Beyond the Bag Initiative, launched by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, is a multi-year collaboration across retail sectors that aims to identify, test and scale innovative design solutions to create a system that serves the function of the current retail bag, providing customers with convenient, accessible and environmentally-sound solutions.
Through in-market tests and a data-powered strategy, we’re driving near-term impact and long-term systems change. We scale proven strategies that aim to reinvent the retail bag – by engaging consumers on the ground, providing data that can inform supportive policies and testing new solutions in-store and through pickup.
Newly Released
Sparking a National Culture Shift to Reduce Plastic Bag Waste
From the Consortium’s largest in-market reusable bag tests in Denver and Tucson in 2023, we unlocked groundbreaking insights on what it takes to encourage and support new consumer behaviors that enable reuse and reduction––such as bringing your own reusable bag or opting to go without one.
Why Does the Current Retail Bag Need Reinventing?
For decades, single-use plastic bags have reigned as the dominant design solution for one of the most common human activities: getting a purchase home. But that popularity comes at a great cost; almost all plastic bags end up in a landfill, are incinerated or leak into the environment as trash.
The early history of retail reveals a reality we’re trying to return to: when a purchase and bags were not always a package deal; when the question wasn’t “Paper or plastic?” but rather “How would you like to get this home?”
Consortium Partners
The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag has convened industry leaders to find scalable solutions.
Our Approach to Reinventing the Retail Bag
In the News
Press Release
Leading Retailers Accelerate Industry Collaboration…
Target, CVS Health, Kroger and other retailers reaffirm…
Blog Post
The Most Sustainable Bag Is Likely the One You Already…
How often do you get to the checkout counter only to…
Press Release
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Join the Beyond the Bag…
The retailer aims to reduce dependency on single-use…
Press Release
Leading Retailers and Local Shops Join Forces in Beyond…
Beyond the Bag’s multi-city pilot tests whether collective…
Beyond the Bag Consortium Launches Its Largest Reusable…
CVS Health, Target, other Fortune 500 retailers and…
Press Release
Closed Loop Partners Releases Playbook of Tangible…
Playbook highlights tried and tested solutions from…
Blog Post
Purposeful Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
Through our NextGen and Beyond the Bag consortia, Closed…
Reuse
Blog Post
How Do We Spark a Seachange for Reuse?
It will take unprecedented collaboration to address…
Press Release
Closed Loop Partners Releases Key Insights from First-of-a-Kind…
New report from Closed Loop Partners shares insights…
Press Release
Ulta Beauty Joins the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail…
The nation’s largest beauty retailer joins leading…
Blog Post
What Tomorrow’s Retail Bag Looks Like
Hint: It’s not a single-use plastic bag.
Press Release
Closed Loop Partners joins with CVS Health, Target…
The Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop…