Sustainability

A cute jar symbolizing reducing packaging waste sits on a cartoon earth with a smiley face.

Convenience doesn't have to come at a steep price to the planet.

Modern retail generates a ton of waste. We believe that waste is the result of bad design. So, we're designing a different version of commerce, one that wastes less. Our mission? Reduce the waste in our homes so everyday choices have a positive impact in our neighborhoods.

82.2

Million Tons of packaging discarded a year

According to the EPA

62%

Of that Waste ends up in landfills

According to the EPA

Of that waste is successfully recycled

According to the OECD

82.2 million lbs of packaging waste are discarded in a year.

Our solution:

We deliver your essentials in reusable packaging like a modern day milkman.

A cartoon earth with a smiley face is surrounded by an illustration of The Rounds circular delivery system. The Rounds sources in bulk, fills reusable containers, delivers to your door, collects your empty containers, then sanitizes them for reuse.

Items in reusable packaging

We've delivered more than 2 million products in reusable packaging! This number doesn't include the products we deliver without packaging.

Pounds of waste saved

By eliminating single-use packaging from your essentials, we saved 1 million pounds of waste. That's equivalent to the weight of 500 hippos!

Our Approach

A woman puts an empty reusable container from The Rounds into a green reusable bag for pickup.

Bean2Bean coffee is roasted in Philadelphia and delivered to The Rounds in reusable containers.

Sustainable Sourcing

We source in bulk to avoid waste throughout the supply chain.

Our first line of defense is working with our vendors to source essentials in bulk quantities without individual retail packaging. That can look like ordering dish soap in reusable 55-gallon drums, receiving produce in reusable plastic crates, or sourcing pasta in 25 pound sacks. When we can't eliminate packaging entirely, we order in wholesale quantities and look for compostable and recyclable options from sustainability-oriented brands.

Farmers in pennsylvania growing local produce for The Rounds.

Local Partners

We partner with local producers & purveyors to reduce impact.

We believe in staying stocked from up the block. Sourcing locally avoids the transportation impact of shipping products from further afield. We work with our local partners to find creative ways to reduce waste — like packaging spring mix from the local farm in a reusable container or closing the loop by getting coffee from our neighborhood roaster in reusable bins. Even better, offering local options helps our communities thrive.

A delivery person for The Rounds delivers groceries loaded on an electric e-bike with a trailer.

Green Delivery

We optimize our scheduled deliveries to maximize efficiency.

Yes, we deliver via e-bike and electric van, but efficiency goes beyond our vehicles. Our once-a-week delivery model makes it possible to map out the most eco-friendly delivery routes for you and your neighbors. Scheduled delivery also makes it possible to predict and fulfill your orders with less packaging and food waste.

Convenient cOMPOSTING

Reducing food waste, one clean bucket at a time.

Our once-a-week deliveries makes it easy to offer the most convenient composting service around, so you can save time while you divert your waste from the landfill.

A woman uses The Rounds composting service and receives a clean composting bucket at her door via The Rounds delivery.

Meet our team of reusable packaging:

A glass jar full of pasta from The Rounds.

Mason Jars

Our most versatile packaging. Glass mason jars hold snacks, staples, and more.

A glass jar full of olive oil from The Rounds.

Oil Bottles

A taller glass bottle that suits pourable products like oils and vinegars of all sorts.

A glass jar full of soap from The Rounds.

Pump Bottles

Glass containers that dispense a dollop. Used for soaps & body care products.

A reusable plastic spray bottle full of cleaning spray without packaging waste.

Spray Bottles

Plastic spray bottles hold your essential cleaning products, and look great under-sink.

Tote Bags

Our signature classic and insulated green bags hold your weekly order.

A reusable spice jar filled with salt from The Rounds.

Spice Jars

Spice jars hold all seasonings, making it easy to add a sprinkle or a spoonful.

A reusable plastic clamshell container from The Rounds.

Clamshells

A classic takeout shape made from hard plastic that keeps baked goods safe.

An environmentally friendly reusable ice pack from The Rounds.

Ice Packs

Ice packs keep your perishables cold and are re-frozen once returned.

Looking AHEAD

We're not going to solve the problem of household waste overnight. If we don't get started until our solutions are perfect, we'll never start at all. We work every day to make our system more efficient, to source better products, and to find new ways to reduce waste. Through innovation and the cumulative buying power of our Members, we can create a future where sustainability doesn't come at the cost of convenience.