Ocado is testing offering everyday products such as pasta, rice and washing liquid in refillable packaging in a first by an online supermarket.
The scheme will trial a reusable vessel that can take food or laundry products with no extra costs for customers.
The first phase of the trial, starting this month, will include 2kg packs of basmati rice and 1kg of penne pasta, both under the Ocado Reuse brand. Phase 2 coming later this year, will add 3 litre containers of Ocado Reuse non-bio liquid detergent and Skies fabric conditioner.
Under the scheme the reusable containers are pre-filled with product and delivered to customers with the rest of their shop. Empty containers are returned to drivers when they deliver the next order and then washed and refilled by suppliers.
Simon Hinks, product director at Ocado Retail, said: “Most people understand the concept and know it works in a physical store but this trial brings [refillable packaging] 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.”
The company says each vessel can replace up to five single-use plastic items and is designed to be used more than 60 times.
Ocado claims that if every household in the UK opted to reuse just one item a week, it would eliminate more than 1.4bn items of single-use packaging a year. The Ocado scheme is part of the Refill Coalition partnership with logistics company CHEP and consultancy GoUnpackaged.
Home delivery specialists such as Milk & More have long been offering refill options such as the traditional milk bottle.
However, with most groceries bought at the main supermarkets, there are concerns about rising levels of plastic entering the environment with up to 90bn single-use plastic items sold with UK groceries every year.
Last year, a parliamentary environment committee report suggested that increasing the uptake of reusables was essential for reducing the amount of packaging consumed in the UK.
Since October 2023, Aldi has been testing an in-store scheme in partnership with the Refill Coalition.
Supermarkets, including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Asda have tested refill options in their stores and previously worked with the Refill Coalition to try to develop an industry-wide standard for dispensers in stores so that they can be easily refilled by different suppliers. Independent specialists have emerged across the country.
However, many refill schemes have struggled as they add costs for either the retailer or consumer, making them less popular or profitable than pre-packaged goods. Support from supermarkets has waned amid concerns over the consumer appetite for refills during the cost of living crisis.
Rob Spencer, director of GoUnpackaged, said: “An industry-wide approach will lead to a reuse system that works for everyone in the supply chain and make it easier for shoppers to engage with reuse via online shopping.”
