Ocado Retail is piloting a reusable packaging scheme to deliver household essentials – a move expected to replace up to five single-use plastic packs per vessel and cut down on plastic waste in online grocery shopping.
It is believed that over 1.4 billion items of single-use packaging could be eliminated annually if every household in the UK reused one item per week. As such, Ocado’s reusable range will package frequently purchased items in a bid to optimize the reduction of single-use plastic.
Staged across two phases, the trial will utilize a specially designed reusable vessel to deliver laundry products and food cupboard staples at scale. The first phase will constitute 2kg packs of basmati rice and 1kg packs of penne pasta; the second phase will implement 3L packs of non-bio liquid detergent and Skies fabric conditioner later this year.
Containers will be pre-filled with a product and delivered with a standard Ocado shop. Once a pack is empty, consumers can return it to the driver of their next delivery, at which point the containers will be collected, washed, and refilled by the supplier. Consumers will not have to pay extra to participate in the service.
Up to five single-use plastic items are set to be replaced for each vessel used, it is claimed, and they are designed to be reused over 60 times. If successful, they are expected to facilitate a ‘significant reduction’ in single-use plastic.
“We’re proud to be the first major supermarket to pilot an online reusable packaging scheme,” said Simon Hinks, product director at Ocado Retail. “Most people understand the concept and know it works in a physical store but this trial brings the solution straight to customers’ doors.
“Our customers are already used to giving their bags back to our drivers for recycling – so this is a really sensible next step for us to help our customers reduce single-use plastic on products they buy frequently.”
In research undertaken by Ocado Retail and Savanta, 72% of almost 2,000 respondents expressed their concerns about the single-use packaging waste generated by grocery products; one in three reported that they chose to shop with retailers that provided refillable packs for pantry staples.
Furthermore, 73% agreed that more supermarkets should offer refillable options for everyday products. In particular, 67% advocated for reusable rice packaging; 66% called for reusable packs for pasta; and 50% and 46% believed a reusable option should be made available for liquid laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, respectively.
Nevertheless, The Big Plastic Count estimates that grocery markets in the UK sell up to 90 billion units of single-use plastics annually. The UK Government’s EFRA Committee report from 2023 asserted that “increasing the uptake of reusable packaging is essential for reducing the total amount of packaging consumed in the UK.”
Ocado hopes that its trial will help develop an industry standard for reusable packaging in online shopping that any supplier or retailer can utilize. A widely adoptable system is anticipated to ensure that the industry implements reuse faster, and that reusable packaging becomes more accessible to consumers.
Ocado Retail is a founding member of The Refill Coalition. In a joint statement, the coalition said: “We are delighted to see Ocado Retail bring a direct-to-consumer reusable packaging solution to market. As a Coalition we share the mutual objective of reducing single-use plastic packaging and believe that the solutions we have developed present a landmark opportunity for us to make a step change in the commercialization of reusable packaging which we know can play a significant role in the reduction of single-use plastic packaging.”
GoUnpackaged convened the coalition in 2020 and will oversee the washing and logistics in the new trial. Director Rob Spencer commented: “We are proud to have convened the Refill Coalition to enable the necessary collaboration to bring these new solutions to market. An industry-wide approach will lead to a reuse system that works for everyone in the supply chain and make it easier for shoppers to engage with reuse via online shopping.
“GoUnpackaged is delighted to be partnering with Ocado Retail to manage the washing and logistics of the consumer vessels for this trial.”
Paul Davidson, director of the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge – delivered by Innovate UK and a co-funder of the Refill Coalition’s work – added: “Online retail offers a unique opportunity to develop and embed reuse and refill in our everyday shopping experience and we are delighted to see the Ocado Retail trial going live. The trial will provide the opportunity to explore how refill can be made convenient and habit-forming for consumers and empower them to make a real contribution to reducing single-use plastic packaging through their online shopping.”
Towards the end of last year, the Refill Coalition piloted an in-store refill system for dry goods, both online and at an Aldi store in Solihull, England. It featured a reusable bulk vessel to deliver key food staples like cereals or pasta, as well as cleaning, personal care, and other household products at scale; and, like the current trial, it sought to cut down on single-use plastics.
More recently, Abel & Cole announced that its Club Zero Refillable Milk delivery service would utilize lightweight, reusable polypropylene bottles from Berry Global. Designed to replace glass alternatives, the bottles can apparently be refilled up to 16 times before they are recycled, saving 450,000 single-use plastic milk bottles and 23 tonnes of plastic every year.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?
Sustainable Innovation Report 2024: Current trends and future priorities
Reuse vs. single use – which is better for the environment?
The ultimate guide to global plastic sustainability regulation
No comments yet