UK's largest grocery retailers set sights on prefill to take more single use packaging off shelf

• UK retailers and WRAP collaborate on reusable packaging ambition.
• Joint statement of intent begins work exploring how reusable packaging could become an interoperable system across all stores and online.

Nine of the UK’s largest grocery retailers, with support from UK Governments and WRAP, have today issued a joint Statement of Intent to explore how reusable packaging could be implemented across their stores and online. 

The plan is to offer a system that makes it easy to shop for prefilled* items in stores and online and marks a bold commitment towards a standardised in-store and online system to reduce the amount of single use packaging put on the market, to give shoppers a better experience outside of single use packaging. 

The announcement follows data from GoUnpackaged showing that moving to just 30% reuse could deliver huge 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**.

UK Plastics Pact Grocery retailer statement of intent states

“We, the grocery retailers of the UK (Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Morrisons, Ocado Retail, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) supported by Innovate UK, WRAP and DEFRA, DAERA, Scottish Government and Welsh Government have a common ambition to work together to enable increased consumer adoption and participation in a circular economy by exploring how reusable packaging (with a focus on prefill) could be implemented through interoperable systems. 

“Recognising the challenges to achieving this at scale, we intend to collaborate on an approach that has the potential to deliver a reduction in single use packaging by 2030.”

James Bull, Chair of the retailer group, said “Unlocking reuse for UK retailers and their customers will only be achieved through collaboration and shared goals. Today’s joint statement of intent is an important first step in realising our collective ambition. It also signposts to our wider supply chains our intent to build reuse at scale, increase circularity in our packaging and help customers move away from single use to a more reusable future.”

Paul Davidson, Challenge Director - Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging, Innovate UK said, “Reuse has always been a high priority for Innovate UK’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Challenge (SSPP) and directly contributes to the delivery of the UK Plastics Pact targets, we recognised that achieving an interoperable system was the next logical step. SSPP convened the grocery retailers in an Innovation Lab setting for 3 days to forge a collaborative approach and we are delighted to see this statement of intent as a tangible outcome.’’

With learnings from previous localised pilots, the group will consider a more co-ordinated approach and solution where reusable packaging (prefill) is possible and easy to use wherever you shop. 

Driven by a shared understanding that change at scale only happens when everyone moves together, WRAP will act as secretariat for the group in aligning goals, infrastructure and citizen needs. 

Keith James, Interim Director for Behaviour Change & Business Programmes WRAP explains “WRAP is proud to support this pioneering partnership.  It marks a bold step towards a future where reusable packaging is the norm, not the exception.  It shows what is possible when we work with retailers and governments with a shared purpose that can benefit everyone.”

The next stage will be a September webinar for brands, manufactures and suppliers to engage with the reuse leaders’ group.