Ocado Retail is currently trialling a reusable packaging programme for the delivery of household items. The aim is to replace up to five single-use plastic packaging items per container and reduce plastic waste when shopping for groceries online.
It is estimated that if every UK household reused one item per week, over 1.4 billion single-use packaging items could be saved each year, so Ocado’s reusable products package commonly purchased items to optimise the reduction of single-use plastic.
The trial will be carried out in two phases, using a specially designed reusable container to deliver laundry detergent and staples on a large scale. The first phase will deliver 2kg packs of basmati rice and 1kg packs of penne pasta; the second phase will see the launch of 3-litre packs of Skies’ non-organic liquid laundry detergent and fabric softener later this year.
The containers are pre-filled with product and delivered with a standard Ocado store. Once a pack is empty, consumers can return it to the driver of their next delivery. The containers are then collected by the delivery person, washed and refilled. Consumers do not have to pay anything extra to participate in this service.
It claims to replace up to five single-use plastic items per jar used and that the products can be reused over 60 times. If successful, they are expected to enable a “significant reduction” in single-use plastic.
“We’re proud to be the first major supermarket to trial an online reusable packaging program,” said Simon Hinks, product director at Ocado Retail. “Most people understand the concept and know it works in a physical store, but this trial brings the solution directly to customers’ doorsteps.”
“Our customers are already used to returning their bags to our drivers for recycling, so this is a really meaningful next step for us to help our customers reduce their use of single-use plastic in products they frequently purchase.”
In a study conducted by Ocado Retail and Savanta, 72% of nearly 2,000 respondents expressed concern about the waste generated by single-use food packaging, with one in three saying they prefer to shop at retailers that offer refill packs for pantry items.
In addition, 73% of respondents agreed that more supermarkets should offer refill packs for everyday products. In particular, 67% were in favour of reusable rice packaging, 66% called for reusable pasta packaging and 50% and 46% respectively thought that a reusable option should be offered for liquid detergent and fabric softener.
Yet The Big Plastic Count estimates that up to 90 billion units of single-use plastic are sold in UK grocery stores each year. The UK government’s EFRA committee’s 2023 report states that “increasing the use of reusable packaging is critical to reducing the overall amount of packaging consumed in the UK.”
Ocado hopes its trial will help develop an industry standard for reusable packaging in e-commerce that any supplier or retailer can use. A widely applicable system will ensure the industry adopts reuse faster and reusable packaging becomes more accessible to consumers.
Ocado Retail is a founding member of the Refill Coalition. A joint statement from the coalition said: “We are delighted that Ocado Retail is launching a reusable packaging solution for direct-to-consumer sales. As a coalition, we share a common goal of reducing single-use plastic packaging and believe that the solutions we have developed represent a groundbreaking opportunity for us to take a decisive step in the commercialisation of reusable packaging, which we know can play a significant role in reducing single-use plastic packaging.”
GoUnpackaged convened the coalition in 2020 and will oversee washing and logistics in the new trial. Director Rob Spencer commented: “We are proud to have convened the Refill Coalition to enable the collaboration needed to bring these new solutions to market. An industry-wide approach will result in a reuse system that works for everyone in the supply chain and makes it easier for shoppers to participate in reuse through online purchases.”
“GoUnpackaged is delighted to partner with Ocado Retail to manage the washing and logistics of the consumer containers for this trial.”
Paul Davidson, Director of the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge – run by Innovate UK and co-funding the work of the Refill Coalition – added: “Online retail offers a unique opportunity to integrate reuse and refill into our everyday shopping experience and we are delighted that the Ocado Retail trial is getting underway. The trial offers an opportunity to explore how refilling can be made convenient and habit-forming for consumers, and enables them to make a real contribution to reducing single-use plastic packaging through their online shopping.”
Towards the end of last year, the Refill Coalition tested an in-store dry goods refill system, both online and in an Aldi store in Solihull, England. It was a reusable bulk container to deliver essential staples such as cereal or pasta, as well as cleaning, personal care and other household products on a large scale. And, like the current trial, it was designed to reduce the use of single-use plastic.
Recently, Abel & Cole announced that its Club Zero Refillable Milk delivery service will use lightweight, reusable polypropylene bottles from Berry Global. The bottles are designed to replace glass alternatives and can reportedly be refilled up to 16 times before being recycled, saving 450,000 single-use plastic milk bottles and 23 tonnes of plastic each year.
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