Nine UK retailers including ASDA, Tesco and Ocado Retail have issued a joint Statement of Intent to explore how reusable packaging could be implemented in-store and online, aiming to offer a prefilled items system and reduce single-use packaging.
Supported by the UK government and WRAP, the retailers plan to offer a system that makes it easy to shop for prefilled items in stores and online and marks a commitment towards a standardised system to reduce the amount of single use packaging put on the market.
The announcement follows data from GoUnpackaged showing that moving to 30% reuse could deliver financial and environmental benefits for the UK including a £136 million annual saving for producers in packaging EPR costs on products in scope, and a 95% reduction in CO2e emissions for the products in scope.
Using learnings from previous localised pilots, the retailer group says it will consider a more co-ordinated approach and solution where prefilled reusable packaging is possible and easy to use wherever consumers shop. WRAP will act as secretariat for the group in aligning goals, infrastructure and citizen needs.
Last year Victoria Hattersley spoke with circular economy consultant Chris Baker as part of our Packaging Europe podcast series. The discussion involved what action is needed to scale up reuse and refill in the retail sector. The second episode of the reuse discussion featured Stephanie Northen, PhD Researcher in Microplastics and Research Associate for Revolution Plastics and the Global Plastics Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth, regarding how reuse can be implemented on a wider scale within the current regulatory landscape, and where collaboration can be most effective.
More recently, environmental charity City to Sea published research suggesting that 69% of UK consumers hold the government responsible for setting legally binding reuse and refill targets in order to tackle single-use packaging waste. The charity added that 77% of consumers want to see all retailers offer long-term reusable, refillable, and returnable packaging schemes instead of short-term pilots.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2025
How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation in 2025
The key to increasing the use of reusable packaging in supermarkets
No comments yet