The online supermarket Ocado Retail and the UK Refill Coalition have launched a new reusable packaging scheme pilot that aims to reduce single-use packaging from customer’s weekly shops.
The trial will be staged across two phases and supply a reusable vessel developed to deliver food cupboard staples and laundry products at scale with no extra cost to the customer.
Phase One of the trial, starting in August, will include Ocado Reuse Basmati Rice 2kg and Ocado Reuse Penne Pasta 1kg.
Phase Two, coming later this year, will add Ocado Reuse Non-Bio-Liquid Detergent 3L and Ocado Reuse Skies Fabric Conditioner 3L to the trial.
The reusable container is pre-filled with product and delivered to customers alongside the rest of their Ocado shop.
Customers then return the empty container to their next Ocado driver. The containers are then collected from Ocado and hygienically washed before being filled again at the supplier.
Each vessel replaces up to five single-use plastic items and is designed to be used over 60 times, Ocado Retail said.
We’re proud to be the first major supermarket to pilot an online reusable packaging scheme.
Savanta and Ocado Retail surveyed more than 2,000 consumers found there is growing public demand to reduce the use of single-use plastic from grocery shops.
72% said they are concerned about the amount of waste generated by single-use packaging of grocery products, with one in three opting to use retailers that provide refillable options for their pantry staples.
73% also agreed that more supermarkets should offer refillable options, especially across essential items such as pasta (66%), rice (67%), liquid laundry detergent (50%) and fabric conditioner (46%).
GoUnpackaged, the refill company that convened the Refill Coalition in 2020, will manage the washing and logistics for Ocado Retail for this part of the trial.
Since October 2023, Aldi UK has trialled the Refill Coalition’s vessel-based in-store refill solution in two stores and are showing promising results.
Across the trial stores, Ocado Retail said the loose products available via the refill solution represent up to 30% of sales within their categories.
Simon Hinks, Product Director at Ocado Retail, commented: “We’re proud to be the first major supermarket to pilot an online reusable packaging scheme.
“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.”
