UK | Marks & Spencer has announced it is expanding its popular ‘Refilled’ scheme, in partnership with Reposit, on own-brand cleaning and laundry products as part of its commitment to reducing and removing plastic packaging and offering customers more sustainable choices.
Following a successful trial in six stores last year, the scheme will roll out in 19 M&S stores across the UK, including Liverpool One, which opened at the end of last year – bringing the total number to 25.
M&S ‘Refilled’ allows customers to choose from 10 pre-filled, own-brand homecare products, including cleaning sprays, laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and washing-up liquids. The initial purchase includes a £2 cost for the returnable bottle, which can be returned to the store after use. Upon return, customers receive a £2 voucher, which can be redeemed against a second purchase in the M&S Refilled range.
Over 10,000 M&S customers have engaged with the scheme – the most popular product being the Citrus Washing Up Liquid. Expanding into more stores across the UK is expected to remove an estimated 150,000 pieces of plastic, supporting M&S’ Plan A target to remove one billion units of plastic packaging by 2027, on their roadmap to net zero by 2040.
Last month, M&S met its target to remove 75 million units in 2023/24, four months earlier than planned. At the end of last year, M&S became the first national retailer to launch coffee cups that are 100 percent recyclable in the paper waste stream and switched from plastic to paper bags in Food and Clothing & Home.
Lucinda Langton, Head of Sustainability at M&S Food, said that M&S wants to support customers to live more sustainably.
“We know they care deeply about us reducing plastic packaging and are continuing to look for ways they can make small changes in their everyday lives. Our Refilled scheme has proven hugely popular – showing high demand for refillable and great value options – so we’re delighted to introduce this into even more of our stores across the UK this month,” said Langton.
Stuart Chidley, Co-Founder at Reposit, said that the company was delighted to have worked closely with M&S to build a scalable, standardised, returnable packaging solution that works for businesses and customers. This scale-up results from strong customer engagement, which Chidley hopes will result in more action across the retail industry to offer customers a convenient alternative to single-use packaging.
Jane Martin, Head of Development at City to Sea, shared that the business’s consumer research shows customers were ready to shop more sustainably. Still, a major blocker is being able to access alternatives to single-use on the high street.
“By participating in this cross-industry collaboration, M&S is leading the way to unlocking the circular economy,” said Martin.
M&S, in partnership with Reposit, Ecover and City to Sea, is part of a project to demonstrate returnable packaging systems at scale. The project is supported by UK Research & Innovation’s (UKRI) Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Fund.
