JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A new service allows retail shoppers to check out reusable bags at in-store kiosks and return them for fresh ones during their next shopping trip.

GOATOTE, a winner of the Beyond the Bag Challenge, is piloting its system in select CVS Pharmacy and Target stores across New Jersey, advancing reusable bag alternatives as the state enacts a ban on single-use plastic bags, according to the company. 

For the pilots, GOATOTE is partnering with 99Bridges for the technology platform that powers its reusable bag system.

"We're excited to see GOATOTE and 99Bridges' progress and continued work with the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag Partners, such as CVS Health and Target. Their work today builds on the collaboration established through the Consortium, and the collective insights gained from the Beyond the Bag pilots, paving the path forward for more circular bag solutions," said Kate Daly, managing director of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners. "As the demand for reusable bag alternatives rises, especially amidst recent policy changes and a growing plastic waste crisis, we look forward to seeing continued impact on the ground, as innovators further develop and grow reusable bag solutions."