Case Study on Returnity’s Reusable Packaging System for Happy Returns’ Return Bar Network Included in 2020 Guide to Achieving Circular Economy for Plastic.

Brooklyn, NY – USA | December 02, 2020 –(Press Release Wire)– The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new Upstream innovation guide has been released and highlights the recent Returnity and Happy Returns partnership, along with other practical solutions for a circular economy for plastic. The guide is designed to inspire and empower marketers, product designers, and packaging engineers who are new to the circular economy concept, as well as seasoned practitioners, to take action on upstream innovation and achieve a circular economy for plastic, in which plastic stays in the economy and out of the environment. The Upstream innovation guide provides the tools necessary for that as well as more than 100 case studies from companies across a range of sectors.

Upstream innovation is about preventing waste from being created in the first place. It requires a shift in mindset, and involves rethinking not just the packaging itself, but also the product and the broader business model.

Returnity and Happy Returns recently partnered on an initiative to use a reusable packaging system for Happy Returns’ Return Bar network. The physical drop-off points are designed for consumers to easily return items to e-commerce retailers without printing, packaging, or person-to-person contact. All items are then bulk shipped inside Returnity’s reusable boxes to Happy Returns’ regional Return Hubs, where they are sorted and returned to the original retailer. The reusable packaging is then returned to the Return Bars in bulk.

“There are over 2,600 Happy Returns Return Bars within the U.S. and our collaboration will eliminate the use of over a million carboard boxes,” said Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity. “Businesses save money on shipping costs and significantly reduce carbon emissions by aggregating items in Returnity’s reusable containers and shipping them in bulk, rather than one at a time. We are proud to work with Happy Returns and pleased to have this work recognized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative with the case study included alongside other impactful solutions.”

The guide can be accessed at plastics.emf.org/upstream.

About Returnity:
Returnity Innovations is the pioneer in the elimination of single use shipping packaging and delivery. Returnity builds out solutions and empowers the systems necessary for the shipping and delivery of reusable packaging, allowing companies to shift to the new circular economy. Returnity has replaced the use of millions of shipments of cardboard boxes and poly mailer bags with reusable packaging. For more information, please visit www.returnity.co.

About The Ellen MacArthur Foundation:
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a UK-based charity, committed to the creation of a circular economy that tackles some of the biggest challenges of our time, such waste, pollution and climate change. In a circular economy nothing becomes waste and everything has value, creating benefits for society, the environment and the economy. The Foundation collaborates with its Strategic Partners (BlackRock, Danone, DS Smith, Google, H&M Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, IKEA, Philips, Renault, SC Johnson, Solvay, Unilever, The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, SUN, MAVA, players of People’s Postcode Lottery (GB)) and its wider network of businesses; governments, institutions, and cities; universities; and emerging innovators, to drive collaboration, explore opportunities, and to develop circular business initiatives. For more information, please visit www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

About The New Plastics Economy:
Since 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative has rallied businesses and governments behind a positive vision of a circular economy for plastics. Its 2016 and 2017 New Plastics Economy reports captured worldwide headlines, revealing the financial and environmental costs of waste plastic and pollution. The initiative is supported by Wendy Schmidt as Lead Philanthropic Partner, and the Oak Foundation as a Philanthropic Funder. Amcor, Borealis, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, L’Oréal, MARS, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Veolia and Walmart are the initiative’s Core Partners. For more information, please visit www.newplasticseconomy.org.

Press & Media Contact:
Kaity Bandura
Returnity
+1-201-321-2092
https://returnity.co