Target Reveals 9 Candidate Designs for Retail Bag of the Future

that are “guest-friendly” and environmentally sound, said the retailer. The winning designs were selected via the consortium’s Beyond the Bag initiative, which also included CVS Health and Walmart. The Consortium and member retailers will work with winners to test the bag designs for user experience, performance, health and safety, recyclability and compostability, it said. Among the potential designs are Sway’s seaweed-derived type that removes carbon from the environment when it’s made rather than adding to it; it’s said to match the strength and performance of existing plastic bags. Chico Bag’s lightweight and compact reusable bag can hold up to 25 pounds; the service allows customers to borrow bags on-site as part of the sharing economy. CircularID by Eon uses the IoT to help retailers track inventory, manage reverse logistics and understand how bags are used by monitoring impact throughout the bag’s lifespan. Domtar is developing a bio-based, recyclable material of 100% cellulose fiber that is said to be stronger and more stretchable than paper bags. Goatote is a kiosk system that provides easy access to clean reusable bags, offering a reusable alternative for customers who forgot their own bag. Connected-USE uses IoT technology to connect reusable “smart” bags at a store to digital systems enabled by RFID tags and QR codes, allowing retailers to reward customers with points each time they use reusable bags.