REPOSIT has announced the latest expansion of its pre-filled returnable packaging scheme across the UK.
The rollout has been spearheaded by the cross-sector partnership of Reposit, City to Sea, M&S, and Ecover.
The consortium came together in 2023 to devise a ‘buy anywhere, return anywhere’ scheme which could function at scale, launched last October and supported by UK Research & Innovation’s (UKRI) Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Fund.
As it reaches its first year in operation, the full returnable platform is now present across multiple channels and growing across industry sectors.
The new phase looks to power the shift in the beauty and personal care industry towards the returnable packaging market, while also addressing the problem of plastic waste generated from online shopping and meeting customer demand – as latest research shows 82% of Brits want brands to offer more products in returnable packaging.
According to research from City to Sea, the plastic packaging crisis is at the forefront of people’s minds, with 95 percent of the public concerned about plastic pollution, up from 86 percent in 2018.
Moreover, almost half of consumers (45%) said the biggest barrier preventing them from buying products in reusable packaging is the lack of availability where they shop, indicating the urgent need for an industry-wide solution.
After Scotland-based beauty brand Beauty Kitchen pioneered this initiative in 2019, ARRAN Sense of Scotland and Mama Bamboo are now following suit and offering products in returnable packaging, in September and October 2024.
Alongside its own website, six Beauty Kitchen products will be additionally available for consumers to shop in Reposit returnable packaging through Abel and Cole, as part of the Club Zero reusable scheme, including their best-sellers Bright Night Intensive Cream and Bright Eyes Probiotic Serum.
The Reposit returnable system incentivises consumers to return their empty packaging after use with a ‘return for reward’ framework, which gives them a money-off reward redeemable against their next purchase.
To return the packaging, consumers simply scan the QR code on the base of the empty item after use to find their nearest return point, which includes relevant stores and Freepost. The returned items are then professionally cleaned in Reposit’s state-of-the-art facility and put back into circulation, helping to close the loop on plastic waste.
A founding member of the partnership, M&S initially launched its system in six stores in spring 2022, before announcing it is being rolled out to an additional 19 stores in January 2024. Figures from the retailer show that more than 10,000 people have now engaged with the reuse system during their grocery shop.
The new additions mean that the returnable ecosystem now includes more than 60 products across multiple product categories on sale online on the corresponding websites, in M&S stores and two ARRAN Sense of Scotland stores in Scotland, available in leased standardised reusable containers.
Stuart Chidley, Co-founder of Reposit, said, “By working with key names across industry we have been able to grow our in-store presence and, as we approach our first-year milestone, expand into new industries.’
“The vision for return and reuse is to unlock further industries and channels through multiple partnerships, and we thank those brands and retailers who have worked alongside us to make this game-changing system a reality.
“The project has demonstrated its success as a commercially, operationally and environmentally scalable reuse platform, cutting down on the scourge of single use plastic produced by supermarkets and brands, and accelerating growth towards a circular economy.”
Kevin Meechan, CEO at ARRAN Sense of Scotland, added, “At ARRAN Sense of Scotland, we’re proud to introduce our new Reuse & Refill programme, in partnership with Reposit — another important step in our business’ ESG strategy & further reducing our environmental footprint. This initiative empowers our customers to make sustainable choices without sacrificing quality or luxury. By reusing packaging and offering prefilled returnable options, we’re actively reducing waste and contributing to a circular economy, where wellbeing-focused bath and body care go hand in hand with sustainability. This is just one of many actions we’ve taken as part of our broader sustainability journey.”
Jo Chidley, co-founder of Beauty Kitchen, commented “At Beauty Kitchen, we’ve always been at the forefront of driving sustainability in the beauty industry, setting a new standard for reducing environmental impact. As the leaders of the B-Corp Beauty Coalition, we’re pioneering the shift away from single-use plastics with our innovative reusable packaging system.
We believe the beauty sector must take decisive action to address plastic pollution, and we urge more brands to step up and join this movement. By adopting reusable packaging solutions, we can collectively transform the industry, meet growing consumer demand for sustainability, and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”
Laura Crawford, founder and CEO at Mama Bamboo, said, “It was essential for us to find the right partners to develop our Baby Care range with. We want to push the boundaries of what is ‘acceptable’ in the Beauty industry, and drive towards what is ‘right’. Our products will tick all the boxes for vegan, organic and cruelty-free, as well as being high quality and high performing, but the additional choice to use reusable packaging is key for us. We believe every new product should be designed with circularity in mind; only by designing in sustainability, can reverse the crisis we now find ourselves in.”
Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea, said, “One year on from launch and reusable packaging schemes are gaining momentum across the country. Working with this consortium of retailers and industry specialists has helped to create a system that works for people and the planet.’
“Reusable packaging has a key part to play in transitioning to a more circular economy, giving businesses and consumers the opportunity to make sustainable packaging a part of their everyday lives. However, as ever, we’d welcome support and intervention from government to expediate the positive effects of these programmes; it’s time the government stepped up for reuse and finally put an end to single-use plastic packaging.”
