Tesco Wants to Close the Loop
The British supermarket chain Tesco has joined forces with the Loop initiative: products are now offered in reusable packaging in online shopping in the UK. The pilot project is to be successively expanded if customer feedback is positive.
The magic four “R’s” have also been adopted by Britain’s leading retail chain: Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. That is why Tesco has teamed up with Loop. Customers in the UK can now order 150 products including sauces, yoghurts, soaps, cereals, moisturisers, chocolate and detergents in durable and fully recyclable packaging.
The aim is to reduce plastic waste. Tesco compares the concept to the milkman of old: he came to the front door, took used milk bottles and left fresh milk in a new container.
Use in “endless loop“
A similar principle applies to Loop: after use, customers simply place the empty containers in the bag in which the food arrived. And go online to plan the collection of the packaging and the second delivery. A deposit is paid on each piece of packaging, which is fully refundable on return. Loop cleans all packaging returned by customers and these are then refilled by the manufacturers.
Refilled products are then delivered to customers’ homes in cleaned packaging. According to Tesco, the pilot project is the key to finding a scalable, reusable packaging solution. Tesco says it will examine the feedback and gradually expand its range of products.
