Marks & Spencer has announced it is expanding its “Refilled” scheme on own-brand cleaning and laundry products to 19 new stores following a trial last year.
As part of its commitment to help consumers make more sustainable choices, M&S has pledged to remove 1 billion units of plastic packaging from its stores by 2027.
The “Refilled” scheme was launched last year in M&S Aintree, Bluewater, London Colney, London Stratford, Stevenage and Vangarde. The scheme allows consumers to purchase ten pre-filled, own-brand home-care products, including cleaning sprays, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and washing-up liquids.
The initial purchase includes a £2 cost for the returnable bottle, which can be returned to the store after use. Upon return, customers receive a £2 voucher which can be redeemed against a second purchase in the M&S “Refilled” range.
At M&S, we want to support our customers live more sustainably.
M&S says over 10,000 customers have engaged with the scheme and the most popular product was the Citrus Washing Up Liquid. The supermarket estimates the scheme’s expansion into more stores could remove 150,000 pieces of plastic.
Lucinda Langton, Head of Sustainability at M&S Food commented: “At M&S, we want to support our customers live more sustainably. We know they care deeply about us reducing plastic packaging and are continuing to look for ways they can make small changes in their everyday lives.
“Our Refilled scheme has proven hugely popular – showing there is high demand for refillable and great value options – so we’re delighted to be able to introduce this into even more of our stores across the UK this month.”
M&S says it has met its target to remove 75 million units in 2023/24, four months earlier than planned. M&S, in collaboration with Reposit, Ecover and City to Sea, is part of a project to demonstrate returnable packaging systems at scale supported by UK Research & Innovation’s (UKRI) Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Fund.
