7/31/24 7/31/24

Revolutionizing Reusables: A Bold Step Towards Global Sustainability

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.26.0" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="7px|||||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="-14px|auto||auto||" custom_padding="||0px|||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.27.0" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" min_height="254.3px" custom_padding="||0px|||" global_colors_info="{}"]

In a world increasingly aware of the environmental impact of single-use items, Petaluma, California, is setting a remarkable example with its new reusable cup initiative. Starting next month, over 30 eateries in the downtown area will adopt a vibrant purple reusable cup, replacing disposable options. This innovative pilot program, which includes local cafes and major chains like Petal Pie Company, aims to make reusing cups as effortless as tossing a disposable one. This initiative not only marks a significant step for Petaluma but also sets a precedent for global efforts in making reusables convenient and economical.

A Collaborative Effort for Global Sustainability

The reusable cups will be provided free of charge and can be easily returned to designated bins located throughout the city. After use, the cups will be cleaned and redistributed to participating establishments, potentially eliminating hundreds of thousands of disposable cups from circulation. This initiative is spearheaded by the Center for the Economy at Closed Partners, with Kate Daly highlighting its significance as a pioneering effort in the U.S. to normalize reusable cups in restaurants.

The Importance of Consistency for Global Impact

For the program to succeed and be replicable globally, a shift from individual store initiatives to a city-wide approach is essential. Daly emphasizes that consistency and ease of use across various retailers are crucial to meeting customer expectations. Starbucks, which has conducted reusable cup trials globally, recognizes the challenges of ensuring cups are returned effectively to maximize environmental benefits.

A New Strategy for Returns on a Global Scale

Unlike previous attempts that relied on incentives for cup returns, the Petaluma pilot focuses on simplicity and accessibility. By saturating the city with the program and providing pickup services for cups taken home, the initiative encourages returns without requiring additional incentives. The messaging throughout Petaluma will reinforce the motto “Sip, Return, Repeat,” promoting a culture of reuse that can be emulated worldwide.

Designed for Functionality and Global Adoption

The reusable cups are designed for both hot and cold beverages, balancing functionality with an unattractive aesthetic to discourage customers from keeping them. The project will be monitored closely until November to assess its effectiveness, with feedback from restaurant staff being crucial to its success. This practical design and feedback loop can serve as a model for other cities and countries looking to implement similar initiatives.

A Blueprint for the Future of Reusables

With an estimated 50 billion single-use cups discarded annually in the U.S. alone, initiatives like the Petaluma project aim to shift away from this unsustainable practice. Daly envisions a future where a combination of personal reusable mugs and community options could eliminate single-use cups entirely, marking a significant step toward sustainability. This vision, if adopted globally, could lead to a substantial reduction in waste and a more sustainable approach to everyday consumption.

Leading the Way for Global Change

As this initiative unfolds, it could serve as a model for other cities and countries looking to reduce single-use waste and promote a more sustainable future. The Petaluma project exemplifies how community collaboration and innovative thinking can pave the way for meaningful change in our consumption habits. By making reusables convenient and economical, Petaluma is leading the way for a global shift towards sustainability.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

4/10/24 4/10/24

Embracing Circularity: 5 Compelling Reasons for Leaders

In an era of tightening environmental regulations and growing consumer sustainability awareness, embracing circularity is no longer just a choice for C-suite executives – it’s a strategic necessity. By minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization, circular practices can mitigate risks, reduce costs, drive innovation, and create competitive advantages.

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="7px|||||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="-14px|auto||auto||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" min_height="373.3px" global_colors_info="{}"]

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability and resource efficiency have become paramount concerns for enterprises across industries. As all leaders navigate the complexities of modern-day operations, embracing circularity – a regenerative approach that minimizes waste and maximizes resource utilization – is no longer just a buzzword; it's a strategic imperative.

Here are the top five reasons why C-suite leaders should prioritize circularity in their organizational strategies.

1. Innovative Sustainability. Mitigating Environmental Impact and Regulatory Risks

As environmental regulations tighten and consumer awareness of sustainability issues grows, companies that fail to adopt circular practices risk facing hefty fines, repetitional damage, and potential legal liabilities. By embracing circularity, enterprises can proactively mitigate these risks, reduce their environmental footprint, and position themselves as responsible corporate citizens.

2. Sustainable Profitability. Enhancing Resource Efficiency and Cost Savings

Circularity is inherently geared towards optimizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.

By embracing circular business models, such as product-as-a-service, remanufacturing, or closed-loop reusables, enterprises can significantly reduce their reliance on finite raw materials, lower operational costs, and unlock new revenue streams through innovative product life-cycle management.

3. Driving Innovation and Circular Competitive Advantages

Embracing circularity fosters a culture of innovation within organizations.

By rethinking traditional linear business models and exploring new ways to create value from existing resources, enterprises can develop cutting-edge products, services, and processes that differentiate them from competitors and create sustainable competitive advantages.

4. Elevating Brand Equity. Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Today's workforce, particularly younger generations, is increasingly conscious of environmental and social issues. By demonstrating a genuine commitment to circularity and sustainability, enterprises can enhance their employer brand, attract top talent, and foster a sense of purpose and engagement among their employees.

5. Future-Proofing Business Operations with Circularity

As the global economy transitions towards a more sustainable and circular model, enterprises that fail to adapt risk becoming obsolete. By embracing circularity now, all leaders can future-proof their organizations, positioning them to thrive in an increasingly resource-constrained and environmentally conscious world.

"The circular economy is becoming a core component of forward-looking business strategy. By rethinking the way we design, make, and use products and materials, companies can open up new opportunities for growth and value creation while reducing risks and increasing resilience." - Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility

Implementing circularity is not just a matter of compliance or public relations; it's a strategic imperative that can drive long-term value creation, innovation, and resilience for enterprises. As leaders, the time to act is now – by integrating circularity into their organizational strategies, they can pave the way for a more sustainable, efficient, and future-ready business landscape.

Want to learn more about embracing circularity. Let's grab a coffee.

4/4/24 4/4/24

Reusable Packaging Made Easy: 1000’s of Toad&Co Customers Rave About LimeLoop Mailers

Discover why Toad&Co customers are raving about the LimeLoop Reusable Package for sustainable shipping. Read real reviews and learn how this eco-friendly option is transforming e-commerce packaging. Join the movement towards a greener future today!

At LimeLoop, we're dedicated to revolutionizing product shipping and delivery, championing innovative sustainable packaging solutions that minimize waste and promote environmental stewardship. Our esteemed partner, Toad&Co, has enthusiastically embraced this mission by integrating the LimeLoop Reusable Mailer into their shipping options, providing customers with an eco-conscious alternative. Let's delve into the firsthand experiences of Toad&Co customers utilizing the LimeLoop Mailer and explore the seamless implementation of reusable packaging.

How Reusable Packaging Opt-In Works for Toad&Co Customers.

When Toad&Co customers opt-in to the reusable packaging program, their order will be shipped via Ground service. Opting for Toad&Co's LimeLoop shipping option means they’ll receive their order in a durable, eco-friendly reusable mailer crafted from upcycled billboards. Once they receive the LimeLoop Reusable Mailer, they simply return it to us for reuse, perpetuating a cycle of sustainability.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://thelimeloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3.png" title_text="3" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]

Giving Packaging a Makeover. Toad&Co Customer Reviews.

Real talk: Packaging is one of the biggest sustainability hurdles we face. There were 131 billion packages shipped worldwide in 2020 – and this number is expected to double in the next five years. With no signs of this slowing, Toad&Co is focusing on doing everything they can to lessen their impact when it comes to shipping and packaging. Here are a few of many reviews from their customers.

1. Eco-Friendly and Convenient

"What a fantastic idea. I wish more vendors did this. I received 3 items in a black bag that still folded up and fit (just) in our mailbox. Each garment came in a lightweight and easily recyclable (or reusable) paper envelope. The bag they came in was zippered around the edge and secured with 2 snaps. In addition, there was a zip-tie that secured the zipper-pull to a loop on the shipping bag.!" Sarah D.

2. Reducing Waste & Ensuring Product Safety

"Awesome shipping method! These are so sturdy and well made. They have a soft lining to protect the contents. Plus, they don’t look like a retail shipment, so I don’t worry as much about the package being stolen out of my mailbox or off my porch." - Heather W.

3. Effortless Reusability

"I'm not one to want to do an extra step like return a mailer to the post office, but honestly it was really easy. They have plenty of time to return it so you didn't feel rushed. But honestly, if they charged you for being late to return it I wouldn't mind. Sometimes you need a little motivation. I love that using the mailer saves using a box, unlike the million boxes I just got from an Amazon order (eek!)!" - Lindsay L.

4. The Feel-Good Sustainable Experience

"I’ve always been happy with my Toad threads. The LimeLoop Mailer makes the whole experience even better! One more way that the Toads are demonstrating their caring for our environment!" - Linda P.

5. Empowering Sustainability

“Thank you Toad&Co for using these LimeLoop mailers! I feel a lot better ordering from any company that is committed to sustainability in tangible ways.” Amanda Z.

At LimeLoop, we're honored to collaborate with visionary partners like Toad&Co in pioneering sustainable practices within the e-commerce packaging landscape. Together, we're driving positive change towards a greener future, one reusable mailer at a time. Join us in our mission to reduce waste and safeguard our planet. Opt for the LimeLoop Mailer in your next Toad&Co order and become a part of the eco-friendly revolution!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://thelimeloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5.png" title_text="5" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://thelimeloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/6.png" title_text="6" _builder_version="4.24.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

2/19/24 2/19/24

Single use packaging is NOT sustainable

There are so many brands out there that claim they use “sustainable” packaging for their products. However, if it isn’t reusable, it isn’t sustainable.

Let’s dig into this.

Why reusable?

In the last year, packaging has been in the spotlight. Yet the term “packaging” can be vague and can encompass a number of different areas. It could be the actual packaging your product is in or it could be the packaging used in transport. Regardless, most companies are using single-use packaging throughout their entire supply chain and that just isn’t sustainable.

Reusable packaging is sustainable.

Reusable packaging refers to containers, crates, pallets, and other packaging materials designed to withstand multiple uses throughout their lifecycle. Unlike single-use alternatives, which are disposed of after one use, reusable packaging is intended for repeated use, minimizing the need for continuous production and disposal.

Even if something is recyclable or compostable, it still requires the use of virgin materials and taps into our precious resources. This then adds to the waste output and harms the environment, your bottomline and your impact long-term.

3 harmful single-use packaging options

The single-use spirals are as follows:

Compostable packaging, while biodegradable under specific conditions, may not break down effectively in landfill environments, where oxygen and microbial activity are limited. Seemingly, about 60% fail to disintegrate after 6 months. Moreover, the production of compostable materials can still require significant resources and contribute to pollution if not managed properly.

Recyclable packaging, although touted as a sustainable solution, faces challenges such as contamination and limited recycling infrastructure, leading to much of it ending up in landfills or incinerators. Additionally, the energy-intensive recycling process itself may outweigh the environmental benefits in some cases.

Other single-use packaging, while convenient, contributes heavily to the global plastic pollution crisis. With millions of tons of plastic waste entering oceans and ecosystems each year, the detrimental impact on wildlife and human health cannot be overstated. Furthermore, the extraction and production of single-use materials deplete finite resources and exacerbate climate change.

We can’t wait

The term “sustainability” is a buzz word and it’s constantly evolving. Consumers demand greater transparency and accountability from businesses, and brands spend more time prioritizing how they can provide more value and more worth with their sustainability efforts.

With governments worldwide implementing stricter regulations and consumers favoring eco-conscious brands, look at the EU especially, the time to prioritize reusable packaging is now. We can’t wait to prioritize a circular economy if we want to see real change in the next year, or even the next few years.

Consumerism isn’t going to change, so why not change the mode of transportation to consumerism which we can control?

Reusable packaging is just better packaging.

Let’s talk about how we can get you into reusable packaging and save 35% or more on your packaging costs. It is truly better for the environment and for your budget. Schedule a call.

8/21/23 8/21/23

The underlying fear of making a change

On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not at all and 10 being absolutely, how comfortable are you with change?

So many of us fall somewhere in the middle, but it really does depend on the circumstances. Sometimes, change can be really simple and other times, it can cause stress and/or anxious thoughts. Change, though it is inevitable, is often met with fear and resistance. This is especially true in supply chain management with all of the complexities that come in this industry.

We hear pretty consistently from those in supply chain that if it isn’t broken, why fix it?

While this may be an unpopular opinion at times, I’d say that if it isn’t broken AND you aren’t looking to make it even better, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity…

Why we fear change

Change can be downright intimidating.

Despite its potential for growth and opportunity, change often triggers a deep-rooted fear within us due to our innate tendency to seek stability and familiarity. Over 30% of Americans fear the unknown. Our brains are wired to resist change as a survival mechanism. For some, this comes in the form of job security, others financial wellness, and for some it could be a need for validation.

I want you to think about your current day-to-day life for a moment. If you had to audit it, I bet you could find at least four areas where you could adjust and make your day more efficient–whether that is in time management, commuting, quality time with friends and family, etc.

What is holding you back from making those changes?

Sticking to your routine, the same strategies, is safe; it’s comfortable. However, when you adapt to change, you grow and adapt to the landscapes around you that are constantly shifting and evolving like technology, customer preferences, and market trends.

What you’ll miss

If you can’t adapt, you won’t stay relevant and your competitors will run you right out of your place.

Technology

Always evolving, always changing. Technology is constantly getting better and there are always going to be new technologies coming into focus. While you won’t need to be an expert at them all, you do need to have some form of technological growth in your roadmap. It’s important here to remember that not all tech is created equal so aligning your tech and partnership with your goals is increasingly more important.

Customer preferences

We all want to say that we are driving our business forward, but it’s really your customers that help drive momentum. You aren’t adjusting your product to fit every customers’ needs but there’s a trend happening that your customers want and look to you to provide. One big one these days is around doing better for the environment. Over 60% of consumers want to purchase from a brand that prioritizes the environment and can prove it. There are so many ways to make greener choices in your supply chain yet making the “change” to do it is daunting. It doesn’t have to be…

Market trends

Again with the word “trend”. Trends come and go. The market fluctuates. What stays is your brand and your mission behind your brand. If you can make changes internally and externally that adhere to what the market and consumers are looking for while staying true to your mission and brand values, you’re winning. And there are ways to do this that put your ROI in a positive position.

Change is inevitable

Let’s flip the script. Change is inevitable so rather than letting it hold you back, why not embrace it?

Do you have any fears about change in your current supply chain? Is cost holding you back? Or maybe it’s the time you think it will take? Maybe it’s a fear of implementing something that ends up being a failure?

Just remember that change is natural and it will happen regardless. Rather than be a passive bystander, be the changemaker that brings a more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly process to your business.

To learn more about positive change in your supply chain that can save you money and help you reach your ESG goals, schedule a call. Together, with reusable packaging, we can deliver a world without waste.

1/26/22 1/26/22

Designing for an Ecommerce economy

We now live in a digital culture.

And it has fundamentally shifted the shopping and packaging experience from the corner store (1900’s) to the store and the door (1990’s). Key examples include companies that have embraced the change – Warby Parker (once Lenscrafters), Third Love (once Victoria Secret, now For Love and Lemons ), Everlane (once Gap), and Casper (once Serta). Companies are using digital to create a brand, and a brand experience, rather than push products. For example, Casper, which doesn’t promote itself as merely a mattress company, but rather a digital-first brand focused around the concept of sleep. Jonathan Ringan noted, in Fast Company:

“Casper sees itself less as a simple mattress company and more as a lifestyle-driven enterprise that looks at sleep as a unique, optimizable category comparable to exercise or cooking or travel.”

With increased clickable convenience, online shopping continued to gain momentum. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center study, by desktop or mobile, 79 percent of Americans made purchases online – compared with 22 percent in 2000. In addition, 15 percent of adult shoppers made an online purchase once per week and 28 percent made multiple monthly online purchases. In 2017, 5 billion items worldwide shipped with Amazon Prime (63 percent of Amazon customers).

Further still, momentum propelled ecommerce forward as the pandemic kept people inside and shifted retail away from brick and mortar, seeing a 25% spike in March 2020 alone. The digital age transformed the supply chain over the years, but the future of ecommerce is here. Therefore, designing for an ecommerce economy, for a circular economy, requires retail and ecommerce retailers to think outside the current systems still designed for the corner store, from point of order to delivery. If not, we’ll see a widening post-purchase gap, rising unsustainable costs to people and the planet, and a continuing shift in global relations and processes.

Post Purchase Gap

First, it is important to look at the experiential economy or specifically in this case, the post-purchase gap and how it relates to future generations. Millennials crave a new experience both in store and at the door. Gen Z, at 60 million strong in the United States, demand it. “Compared to any generation that has come before, they are less trusting of brands. Authenticity and transparency are two ideals that they value highly,” says Emerson Spartz, CEO of the digital media company Dose.

Today, when a customer makes a purchase online, there’s an “experience gap” from the time the customer checks out to when the product arrives. This is the new experiential moment for digital shoppers. According to Amit Sharma at HBR,

“Providing a positive experience at this time of anticipation is a tremendous opportunity for retailers to deepen their relationships with customers and build loyalty for their brands. Surprisingly, only 16% of companies are focused on customer retention, even though it costs at least five times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one.”

More than ever, customers want personalized shopping experiences from point of order to delivery and beyond. And with customer LTV becoming more and more important as the ecommerce momentum continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, retailers find themselves paying higher and higher costs while the gap between consumer and retailer continues to widen. When is enough, enough?

UNSUSTAINABLE COSTS

Ecommerce customers, today, receive their products in a cardboard box, most likely in an OCC (old corrugated cardboard). The continued growth of online shopping and retail closings (70 million sq ft to close in 2018) have created a massive transition in the OCC (old corrugated containers) recovery market.

“There is a shift taking place and it’s more from the consumers. It’s a question of where that packaging material is going to end up and is it going to be as easy for us to capture,?” said Ben Harvey of Massachusetts hauler.

The United States designed its current recycling program over 50 years ago to take on cardboard consumption from retailers. While effective in its day, recycling centers and the planet can’t keep up with the ecommerce influx. And, the world is changing more in 10 years now than it used to change in 100 years, including rates and ways each generation consumes.

To keep up with the rapid change, innovative recycling companies are revamping their current systems. For example, Recology, a San Francisco serviced recycling center, is investing over $11 million dollars to add new processing equipment and supporting citywide taxes (15%) to account for the massive shift in receiving recycling from consumers versus retailers. While Recology is revamping to create temporary solutions, we must consider if the rest of the country can keep up with the rising cost and the impact to the environment we live in.

Today, humans are currently consuming nature 1.7 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate. The average American consumes its weight in trash each month and 165 billion packages and envelopes are shipped each year. Sixty-five billion parcel packages are shipped worldwide. 178 million parcel packages are shipped daily. This is a daily consumption of 1.2 million trees, 242 million gallons of water, and 5 million gallons of oil.

With the future of retail, we must consider the triple-bottom line – people, planet, and profit – as we build out more sustainable systems and collectively work to reduce and reuse what’s in circulation already, rather than just recycle.

SHIFT IN GLOBAL RELATIONS

To top it off, a recent shift in global policy will continue to impact the current supply chain systems in place. For example, the U.S. exports about one-third of its recycling, and nearly half goes to China. For decades, China has used recyclables from around the world to supply its manufacturing boom. But last year, it declared that this “foreign waste” includes too many other non recyclable materials that are “dirty,” even “hazardous.” In a filing with the World Trade Organization the country listed 24 kinds of solid wastes it would ban “to protect China’s environmental interests and people’s health.”

With e-commerce on the rise, the question becomes, do we revamp outdated systems or design a new one to solve for the growing costs to people and the planet? At LimeLoop we are designing a new one for the digital culture. Specifically, we are reimagining the packaging experience. First, by replacing recycled packaging with reusable packaging. Second, with sensored packaging to complete the brand experience loop. Packages that are received and sent back and reused, over and over again. With insights in where your package is and its state at all times, too boot. In return, is a high integrity system and experience for an environmentally sound world for many generations to come.