Reposting from ♥️ @ideo ♥️ Stoked to see these animated illustrations go live, so much fun to make! Stay tuned for extra making-of materials soon! 🎨 Will you help us dream up a new way home? It’s estimated that the U.S. uses 100 billion single-use plastic bags per year, and less than 10% are recycled. Despite its convenience, the plastic retail bag has an average use of 12 minutes, and by some estimates, a lifespan of 400+ years. That’s right: a plastic bag can stick around for longer than many living things, and this type of plastic production and pollution disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. There’s got to be a better way to get our stuff home. Many have been trying to create an option that’s kinder to the planet, and new preferences and technologies have opened up opportunities for design. What if the solution isn’t to replace bags but to eliminate them? Technology-driven solutions, like autonomous vehicles, container tracking, and data analytics could make the experience of purchasing and getting goods home more sustainable. For instance, it’s likely that lighter, short-distance drone deliveries will be a reality within a matter of years. Instead of giving consumers bags to use and toss, many brands are experimenting with new ways to own a vessel throughout its lifecycle. Some are dropping off products in glass jars and bottles and durable bags at customers’ homes. And once empty, consumers leave them outside for the brand to pick up, disinfect, refill, and reuse. But no current retail bag option truly delivers on convenience and sustainability. That’s where you come in. @OpenIDEO and Closed Loop Partners have launched a Challenge to redesign how goods get home. The #BeyondtheBag Challenge seeks to replace the single-use plastic retail bag through technology, reusable models, new materials, and... well, you tell us! Submit an Idea to the Challenge by Friday, October 2nd using the link in our bio. The Consortium is looking for solutions to pilot in live retail environments and partner with long-term. Winners are eligible for a portion of $1M in funding and the chance to participate in an Accelerator to scale their Idea. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFSVctFHk1J/?igshid=1o7hny8hywrrp