A new joint statement from nine major supermarket chains, backed by WRAP and UK governments, signals a bold move toward a standardised, interoperable reusable packaging system across stores and online – with an eye on reducing single use packaging by 2030.
Nine of the UK’s largest grocery retailers have joined forces with WRAP and national governments to explore how reusable, prefilled packaging (Prefill packaging is designed to be filled, used, returned and refilled multiple times within a supply chain as a sales unit) can be adopted at scale across the country’s retail landscape.
The initiative was formalised in a Joint Statement of Intent, announced today (15 July), in which Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Morrisons, Ocado Retail, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose committed to working together to design an interoperable system for reusable packaging — one that works both in-store and online.
The aim is to make prefilled packaging as convenient and accessible as single use alternatives, while reducing the environmental and financial costs associated with disposable packaging.
Recognising the challenges to achieving this at scale, we intend to collaborate on an approach that has the potential to deliver a reduction in single use packaging by 2030
In the statement, the retailers said: “We… have a common ambition to work together to enable increased consumer adoption and participation in a circular economy by exploring how reusable packaging (with a focus on prefill) could be implemented through interoperable systems.
“Recognising the challenges to achieving this at scale, we intend to collaborate on an approach that has the potential to deliver a reduction in single use packaging by 2030.”
The announcement follows growing pressure to reduce single use plastic and packaging waste, with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation introducing new costs and incentives for producers. According to figures from GoUnpackaged, moving just 30% of grocery packaging to reusable formats could save UK producers £136 million annually in EPR compliance costs — while slashing CO₂e emissions by 95% for the products in scope.
A collaborative turning point
The move has been described as a key step toward systemic change. James Bull, Chair of the retailer group, said: “Unlocking reuse for UK retailers and their customers will only be achieved through collaboration and shared goals.
“Today’s joint statement of intent is an important first step in realising our collective ambition. It also signposts to our wider supply chains our intent to build reuse at scale, increase circularity in our packaging and help customers move away from single use to a more reusable future.”
Unlocking reuse for UK retailers and their customers will only be achieved through collaboration and shared goals.
The initiative has been supported by Innovate UK, which convened the retailer group through a three-day Innovation Lab to explore practical and scalable reuse solutions.
Paul Davidson, Challenge Director for Innovate UK’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) Challenge, commented: “Reuse has always been a high priority for Innovate UK’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge and directly contributes to the UK Plastics Pact targets.
“We recognised that achieving an interoperable system was the next logical step… we are delighted to see this statement of intent as a tangible outcome.”
What comes next?
The group will now work together to explore how learnings from previous localised reuse pilots — often small-scale or store-specific — can be used to develop a more consistent national model. WRAP will act as secretariat to support coordination across partners and ensure citizen needs remain central to system design.
Keith James, Interim Director for Behaviour Change & Business Programmes at WRAP, welcomed the commitment: “WRAP is proud to support this pioneering partnership. It marks a bold step towards a future where reusable packaging is the norm, not the exception.
It shows what is possible when we work with retailers and governments with a shared purpose that can benefit everyone.”
The next milestone will be a webinar in September, giving brands, manufacturers, and suppliers the opportunity to engage with the initiative, share insights, and prepare for potential involvement in future rollout phases.
If successful, the UK’s reusable packaging partnership could become a blueprint for large-scale circular packaging systems internationally — creating consistency, cutting waste, and helping consumers shop more sustainably.
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