Nine of the UK’s largest supermarket chains have announced a “Statement of Intent” to explore reusable packaging across physical stores and online channels. Supported by WRAP and governments from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, this initiative aims to significantly reduce single-use packaging.
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Coalition of Major Retailers Taking Action
The partnership involves Aldi, Asda, Co‑op, Lidl GB, Morrisons, Ocado Retail, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose. They plan to introduce a system offering prefilled reusable containers that can be returned, cleaned, and refilled, and will be available broadly both in-store and online. The stated goal is to eliminate unnecessary single-use packaging through a unified, “interoperable” system by 2030.
Types of Products Involved
Although the original joint “Statement of Intent” doesn’t specify which product types will be included, earlier pilot programs show reuse is being tested on 18 priority categories, identified in GoUnpackaged’s modelling as most suitable for shift to reusable formats:
- Bath & shower products
- Beers, wines & spirits
- Biscuits & sweet snacks
- Cereals & breakfast foods
- Coffee (beans & ground)
- Detergents & softeners
- Dishwashing
- Fruit
- Fruit juice
- Home cooking (sauces, dried products e.g. rice, pasta, pulses, fresh & premium rice & pulses, salt & gravy granules, spices & condiments)
- Household cleaning
- Milk
- Oils & vinegars
- Pasta & pasta sauces
- Pizza (chilled, cook at home)
- Ready meals
- Tea
- Yoghurts
Why Reuse Matters: Economic and Environmental Impacts
The same research suggests that shifting just 30 % of packaging to reusable formats could generate annual savings of £ 136 million in producer‑responsibility fees, while slashing CO₂ emissions by 95 % for those items. Additional overall system savings range from £ 314–577 million, due to reduced waste and logistical costs. The full modelling highlights that retrieving containers just a few times delivers dramatic gains in emissions and cost reduction.
Cross-Sector Support & Innovation Lab
The initiative is coordinated through the UK Plastics Pact, with backing from DEFRA, DAERA, WRAP, and all UK governments. Innovate UK’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge organized a three-day Innovation Lab to design the foundations of this interoperable reuse system.
WRAP’s Role as Secretariat
WRAP will oversee alignment among retailers, infrastructure providers, and citizens, acting as secretariat throughout the process. WRAP’s director emphasized this move as a “bold step” toward mainstreaming reusable packaging and demonstrating what coordinated action can achieve.
Next Phase: Industry Consultation
Building on insights from past pilot schemes, the partnership is preparing a September webinar. This will invite brands, manufacturers, and suppliers to shape practical steps toward full-scale deployment.
Conclusion
This joint declaration signals a fundamental shift in UK grocery packaging strategy. By embracing a unified reuse framework, supported by strong research and cross-sector collaboration, retailers are aiming to dramatically cut waste, emissions, and costs. With commitments from government and industry to work in unity, reusable packaging is being positioned as the new standard, in effort to phase out single-use materials for good.
