Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced that it is expanding its popular ‘Refilled’ scheme for own-brand cleaning and laundry products, in partnership with Reposit, a collaborative reusable packaging platform. The move is part of M&S’ commitment to reduce and remove plastic packaging and offer customers more sustainable choices.
Following a successful trial in six stores last year, the scheme will roll out in a further 19 M&S stores across the UK, bringing the total number to 25.
M&S, in partnership with Reposit, Ecover and City to Sea City to Sea, are part of a project to demonstrate returnable packaging systems at scale, co-funded by UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK.
The M&S ‘Refilled’ scheme 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 £2.00 cost for the returnable bottle, which can be returned to store after use. Upon return, customers receive a £2.00 voucher which can be redeemed against a second purchase in the M&S Refilled range.
To date over 10,000 M&S customers have engaged with the scheme – with the most popular product being the Citrus Washing Up Liquid. The expansion into more stores across the UK is expected to remove an estimated 150,000 pieces of plastic.
“Reposit are delighted to have worked closely with M&S to build a scalable standardised returnable packaging solution that works for business and customers. This scale up is the result of strong customer engagement which we hope will result in more action across the retail industry to offer customers a convenient alternative to single-use packaging.”
Stuart Chidley, Co-Founder, Reposit
“It is hugely exciting to see M&S expand their ‘Refilled’ scheme and to see momentum building for refill. This collaborative project is demonstrating that we can deliver meaningful reductions in single-use packaging and that consumers are positively engaged.”
Paul Davidson, Director of the SSPP Challenge
