GBM #3 Recap: The Rounds
By Erika Cheng
Many students at GW may recognize The Rounds as the company handing out free toilet paper in Kogan Plaza, but this startup has so much more to offer than just bathroom essentials. As a zero-waste refill and delivery service created by Alex Torrey and Byungwoo Ko, The Rounds introduces a new way to get your groceries using a more eco-friendly approach. Currently focusing on busy city locations, The Rounds has expanded from Philadelphia to Washington D.C, where sustainability is an important topic for many people.
A Q&A event with Torrey revealed that the inspiration for the company actually stemmed from his experience living in a city setting without a car, and having to deal with the inconvenience of ordering and dealing with package waste. In addition to being a nuisance, typical packaging is often unsightly since it is made to stand out on a shelf rather than match the aesthetic of a home. Instead of cardboard packaging and plastic wraps, The Rounds utilizes mason jars and reusable containers or delivers the items loosely. For instance, paper towels would be delivered as is whereas coffee beans would come in a mason jar.
The Rounds also works with small and local businesses, which is a sustainable action in itself as it gets rid of the need to transport items to places using numerous boxes. Torrey believes strongly in the importance of shopping locally, and also brought up the fact that much of the money spent locally stays local. By purchasing goods from these establishments, customers can actually buy their items for lower prices.
The delivery process works in three easy steps:
Browse a huge range of over one hundred household, personal care, pantry, baby, and pet products
Create a delivery schedule that fits your needs
Enjoy your groceries and leave the remains outside to be picked up when you’re done!
These simple steps can help prevent excess packaging waste that comes with deliveries! For a monthly fee of $6, members can have their deliveries run on the schedule they design, and for $20 a month, customers can make arrangements for Rounds employees to enter their homes and have them restock their pantry, household items, and more.
GW students receive free membership with The Rounds, meaning that all costs are solely for the products purchased and nothing else. With the bone chilling cold that is quickly approaching DC in the following months, turning to The Rounds is definitely something to consider.