UK grocers Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer have formed a partnership committing to the roll-out of refill stations across their store estates.

Waitrose Botley Road 3

The four supermarket retailers – as well as supply chain operations company CHEP – have joined forces to form part of the Refill Coalition group, overseen by Unpackaged, a company that operates refill stations in small farm shops and Planet Organic stores.

The coalition will roll out unpackaged options in their stores, as well as allowing customers to refill essentials at the door during home deliveries.

Items included in the scheme are dry goods such as pasta, rice, cereals, seeds, grains, nuts and dried fruits; as well as household items such as shampoo, laundry detergent and handwash.

The supermarkets plan to start the roll-out by the end of the year in a bid to ensure “every shopper in the UK” has access to refillable alternatives to plastic packaged goods.

M&S, Morrisons, Ocado, Waitrose & Partners and CHEP said in a joint statement: “We’re delighted to be joining forces with the mutual objective of reducing single-use plastic packaging. 

“The universal end-to-end solution being developed by the Refill Coalition presents a landmark opportunity for us to make a step-change in the commercialisation of refills, which we know can play a significant role in the reduction of single-use plastic packaging.”

Unpackaged founder Catherine Conway added: “Working together to create a universal system gives us the best chance of scaling refills so they become accessible to every shopper in the UK, as we know consumers want less single-use plastic packaging on the items they buy.

“An industry-wide approach will lead to a refill system that works for everyone in the supply chain and will make refilling easier for shoppers.”

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