M&S has expanded its ‘Refilled’ scheme to a further 19 stores, including its new Liverpool One flagship, following a successful trial last year.
The scheme, run in partnership with Reposit, aims to bolster the upmarket grocer’s sustainability commitments to reduce and remove plastic packaging and covers own-brand cleaning and laundry products.
M&S first trialled the refill scheme in six stores last year. Shoppers are able to choose from 10-pre-filled own-brand household products, such as cleaning sprays, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and washing-up soap.
Alongside the price of the initial purchase, there is a £2 fee for the returnable bottle. When it is returned, shoppers receive a voucher of the same amount to be redeemed against a second purchase in the Refilled range.
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The retailer said more than 10,000 customers have engaged with the initiative so far, and predicts that the expansion will remove an estimated 150,000 pieces of plastic,.
It contributes to M&S’ target of removing 1 billion units of plastic packaging by 2027, on its journey to net zero by 2040.
M&S Food head of sustainability Lucinda Langton said: “At M&S, we want to support our customers to live more sustainably. We know they care deeply about us reducing plastic packaging and are continuing to look for ways they can make small changes in their everyday lives. Our Refilled scheme has proven hugely popular – showing there is high demand for refillable and great value options – so we’re delighted to be able to introduce this into even more of our stores across the UK this month.”
Reposit co-founder Stuart Chidley added: “Reposit are delighted to have worked closely with M&S to build a scalable standardised returnable packaging solution that works for business and customers.
“This scale-up is the result of strong customer engagement which we hope will result in more action across the retail industry to offer customers a convenient alternative to single-use packaging.”
