The first phase of the two-phase trial begins this month and will include 2kg Ocado Reuse Basmati Rice and 1kg Ocado Reuse Penne Pasta 1kg. Phase Two, coming later this year, will add 3L Ocado Reuse Non-Bio-Liquid Detergent and 3L Ocado Reuse Skies Fabric Conditioner to the trial.
The reusable containers will be pre-filled and then returned by customers to their next Ocado driver to be washed and refilled by the supplier. The washing of the vessels and other logistics will be handled by GoUnpackaged for the duration of the trial.
Growing public demand for reusable packaging
Research conducted by Ocado Retail and market research consultancy Savanta revealed that there is growing public demand to reduce the use of single-use plastic from grocery stores.
The majority of consumers (73%) agreed that more supermarkets should offer refillable options, especially across essential items such as pasta (66%), rice (67%), liquid laundry detergent (50%) and fabric conditioner (46%).
Ocado forecasts that each vessel replaces up five single-use plastic items and said they are designed to be used over 60 times.
The Refill Coalition
Ocado Retail is part of the Refill Coalition which was convened in 2020 by GoUnpackaged and includes Ocado Retail, Aldi UK and supply chain solutions company CHEP.
It hopes to become the industry standard for reusable packaging and is supported by the UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge fund.
The Refill Coalition commented: “We are delighted to see Ocado Retail bring a direct-to-consumer reusable packaging solution to market.
“As a Coalition we share the mutual objective of reducing single-use plastic packaging and believe that the solutions we have developed present a landmark opportunity for us to make a step change in the commercialisation of reusable packaging which we know can play a significant role in the reduction of single-use plastic packaging.”
‘First major supermarket to pilot an online reusable packaging scheme’
Simon Hinks, product director at Ocado Retails, said: “We’re proud to be the first major supermarket to pilot an online reusable packaging scheme.
“Most people understand the concept and know it works in a physical store, but this trial brings the solution straight to customers’ doors.
“Our customers are already used to giving their bags back to our drivers for recycling – so this is a really sensible next step for us to help our customers reduce single-use plastic on products they buy frequently.”
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