Asda will be encouraging shoppers to bring their own refillable containers in an effort to reduce single-use plastic across their stores.
The supermarket has announced they will be implementing reusable and refillable packaging trials for “at least” three months in 2020.
A spokesperson for Asda said these trials could involve shoppers using in-store dispensers to refill glass or plastic containers when they shop.
It has not yet been confirmed which products will be available in this form, but Waitrose are currently offering pasta, rice and cereal in dispensers so it’s likely Asda may be following in their footsteps.
Asda are aiming to create a third of their own-brand plastic packaging out of recycled materials by the end of 2020, in addition to reducing single-use plastics.
Roger Burnley, Chief Executive of Asda said, “The elimination of avoidable plastic, and crucially single-use plastic, is at the top of our minds – and at the top of our customers’ minds.”
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He added, “Our focus is on removing unnecessary plastic, and where packaging is beneficial to the life of a product we will trial new solutions that are as recycled and as recyclable as possible.”
Since February 2018, Asda state that more than 6,500 tonnes of plastic packaging has been cut from its own-brand range and they hope to reduce the total amount even more.
So if you’re trying your best to be eco-friendly, Asda’s new packaging trials could be ideal for you.
Earlier this year, Asda trialled a second-hand section in one of their stores in an effort to encourage customers to recycle their unwanted clothing in-store.
In a statement, Melanie Wilson, Senior Director for Sustainable Sourcing at George said, “As a country, we throw away far too many clothes.
“At George, we’re committed to doing the right thing by our customers and the planet by improving the sustainability of our products, making sure they are built to last – including our 100 day satisfaction guarantee – and ensuring that any surplus stock we have is repurposed or recycled.”
We’re interested to see if both these trials have been a success, and what that could mean for our weekly shop in the future.
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