A Loop Venture called Arkipakkaus was formed together with Kesko, Unilever Finland, Metsä Tissue, Encore Ympäristöpalvelut, Enexus and Orthex. Arkipakkaus was a pilot for monthly subscription model to buying everyday necessities such as toilet paper and detergents. The model included delivery of the products and take out for the plastic waste. The pilot was organized in May and June 2019.  

Mission behind the Arkipakkaus concept was to make consumers’ every day life easier with a new kind of service. We know that there is a will to recycle plastic waste amongst consumers but the way to do it in practice isn’t easy enough. We wanted to make recycling more approachable and convenient by combining it with subscription model of everyday items. This kind of business model requires collaboration across traditional borders. These companies were ready to create a circular loop which opens doors to create new innovative ventures. 

This venture is an excellent example of collaboration between big corporations. Kesko provided the subscription model, Metsä Tissue and Unilever the sustainable products. Encore Ympäristöpalvelut and Enexus were the ones organizing the take out for the waste and Orthex gave a second life for the plastic packages. Facilitating and testing a new business model isn’t always a piece of cake but in this case seamless teamwork enabled fantastic results. 

To sum up, this pilot was a success and it indeed motivated consumers to recycle more than before. Arkipakkaus was a great opportunity to learn about new service models catering several consumer needs as well as corporations’ collaboration. Circular loop with a wide variety of companies can make a difference!