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Waitrose joins the Unpackaged Movement

Geoff Riley

4th June 2019

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The circular economy in action! This could well become one of the key points of non-price differentiation between grocery retailers in the UK. Waitrose is trialling refilling stations for dried fruits, pasta, wines and beers using a bottle deposit system in a bid to cut their use of plastic.

Prices are typically 15% cheaper than the packaged alternatives providing an added incentive.

28 products including grains, cereals, coffee beans, dried fruit & seeds have been taken out of packaging and will be available through dispensers. Refillable bottles can be used to purchase a small range of beers and wines.

More here from the Unpackaged Blog

Hopefully this will scale across the country. If such a trial doesn't work on the Botley Road Waitrose in Oxford then it is unlikely to work anywhere!

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.