Kroger subsidiary, Fred Meyer will undertake a test with Loop, to establish the practical and financial feasibility of reusable containers.  Successful trials have been conducted in France and Japan.The Tesco chain in the U.K. and Woolworths in Australia have participated in tests.  A number of QSRs have also initiated trials with Loop.

To date Loop operates a collection, sanitizing and redelivery program for 190 stores and restaurants worldwide.  It is anticipated that 150 manufacturers including multinationals such as Nestle will participate in Loop recycling.

According to an Associated Press release on September 27th, customers will pay a deposit on purchases in addition to the cost of the item.  When the container is returned to the store for recycling, the deposit is refunded through a Loop app.  Most QSRs are anticipated to offer reusable coffee cups and sandwich containers.

Consumers in the U.K., the E.U. and especially Japan are more amenable to recycling and will accept reusable containers. Whether their counterparts in the U.S. will embrase the principle of a deposit with the purchase of a beverage or food items in a re-used, albeit sanitized container is questionable. There is a strong whiff of “freedom” currently circulating and if the packaging and restaurant sectors lobby-up the initiative could be delayed through the tenure of a few administrations.

The entire project will evaporate if even a single case of foodborne infection or chemical contamination is traced back to a supermarket or QSR using the system.