TerraCycle's Loop eyes Australian market as reuse gains global momentum

As packaging waste continues to dominate global sustainability conversations, TerraCycle and its reuse platform Loop are proving that large-scale alternatives to single-use packaging are possible.

In France, Loop operates in more than 300 Carrefour stores, offering over 400 products in reusable packaging. Its commercial success, says CEO and founder Tom Szaky, stems from strong retailer commitment, brand engagement, and supportive regulation.

“Carrefour invested in making Loop successful by implementing the system in a large number of their stores (now over 300 stores and growing), putting pressure on their vendors to join (now over 400 products, including their private label), raising awareness among French consumers, and much more,” Szaky told RetailBiz.

Loop partners closely with brands such as Ferrero, Danone, Suntory, and Coca-Cola to make existing packaging reusable and design new refillable options.

“We focus on simplicity so that brands can enable as many reusable offerings as possible as quickly as possible,” Szaky said.

Behind the scenes, Loop manages the logistics — from collection and sorting to cleaning and redeployment — ensuring convenience for both consumers and commercial partners.

“Importantly, Loop builds the operational system for extreme simplicity and convenience. Not just for consumers, but especially for the commercial actors (retailers and brands),” he said.

Regulation and funding also played a crucial role. The Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (Loi AGEC) requires that 10 per cent of packaging be reusable by 2027, creating clear compliance targets for retailers.

“The Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy gave retailers clear mandates to incorporate reusable packaging by 2027, creating compliance targets that drove commitment,” Szaky noted.

French extended producer responsibility (EPR) organisations further accelerated adoption by allocating five per cent of collected fees — around €100 million per year — to reuse infrastructure, covering up to 70 per cent of costs for brands and retailers.

French consumers, Szaky added, responded well.

“They have done so well, both purchasing and returning products, with great results,” Szaky said.

Building momentum in Australia

With the model proven in France, Szaky believes Australia could be next.

“With the right regulatory framework, similar to France’s push for reuse and short-term subsidies, we aim to launch Loop in Australia in the coming years,” he said.

The key, he said, is creating the same combination of regulatory support, commercial commitment, and infrastructure readiness. Australia’s proposed eco-modulated fees under the 2030 Strategy could serve as a catalyst, mirroring France’s approach to incentivising reuse.

Consumer behaviour also suggests readiness for such a shift. Many Australians already participate in reusable cup programs, in-store recycling, and container deposit schemes, signalling a willingness to engage with deposit-return systems.

However, Szaky noted that the financial case for reuse varies by product.

“This is because in a disposable package the entire cost of the package is embedded into the price of the product while in reusable it’s the depreciation of the package as well as the cost to collect and clean it,” he explained.

High-value containers such as perfume or wine bottles are more cost-effective to reuse than low-value packaging, though reusable formats are exempt from EPR fees, improving their economic case.

The path forward

Szaky sees Loop replicating France’s success in multiple markets over the next decade.

“In the next five to 10 years, TerraCycle and Loop aim to operate multiple national reuse systems in countries where policy and retail anchors exist. We hope and believe this will include Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“With the right regulatory framework and commercial commitment, reuse can become a mainstream channel for all consumer goods categories — from beverages to food to home care and personal care,” he added.

As Loop continues to expand globally, its goal remains the same: to serve as a systems integrator that unites brands, retailers, and policymakers in making reuse practical, scalable, and commercially viable.