Waitrose packaging-free trial means wine, pasta and washing up liquid will be sold through dispensers

4 June 2019

Waitrose has launched a packaging-free trial with products including pasta, wine and washing up liquid being sold through dispensers.

Customers will be able to fill up their own containers in a “refill zone” of the supermarket under the scheme, which also includes a “pick-and-mix” for frozen fruit.

The supermarket said shoppers will also be able to “borrow a box” from the store to shop with in the new sections and then return them on their next visit.

Waitrose’s move, which has been described as “genuinely bold” by green campaigners, is a bid to reduce the plastic use and is being tested at a store in Botley Road, Oxford.

Bosses at the food chain said the scheme has the potential to save on thousands of tonnes of unnecessary plastic and packaging.

Frozen, pick-and-mix fruit will be available at a food station in the store under the scheme

The trial will run for 11 weeks until August 18, and the supermarket is seeking as much feedback as possible.

Tor Harris, from Waitrose & Partners, said: "We are determined to build on the work we've already done to reduce packaging, and this test will take our efforts to a whole new level as we help the growing number of customers who want to shop in a more sustainable way.

Packaging-free trial: Waitrose has launched a 'bold' bid to cut plastic waste

"This test has huge potential to shape how people might shop with us in the future so it will be fascinating to see which concepts our customers have an appetite for.

"We know we're not perfect and have more to do, but we believe this is an innovative way to achieve something different."

Waitrose's plan unpacked

The scheme includes:
- 160 loose fruit and vegetable products

- Frozen mango, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, pineapple and raspberries available as pick and mix

- Plastic removed from flowers and plants and replaced with 100% recyclable craft paper

- A partnership with Ecover providing an automatic detergent and washing up liquid dispenser

- Four wines and four beers available on tap to take home in reusable bottles

- Four coffees can be ground to take home in a reusable container

- 28 products including pasta, rice, grains, couscous, lentils, cereals, dried fruit and seeds available through dispensers

Ariana Densham, ocean plastics campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said: "This is a genuinely bold step from Waitrose to trial food dispensers so customers can use refillable tubs and jars.

"Lots of supermarkets are starting to sell loose fruit and vegetables, which is good, but more importantly this kind of innovation could spark a refill culture that's so desperately needed to cut plastics in mainstream shops.

"The top 10 UK supermarkets produce 810,000 tonnes of throwaway packaging each year, so we need to see other major retailers taking plastic reduction seriously and following Waitrose's lead."

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Waitrose packaging-free trial means wine, pasta and washing up liquid will be sold through dispensers

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