Prefill gains momentum as grocers target packaging reduction

Nine of the UK’s largest grocery retailers have issued a joint Statement of Intent to explore how reusable packaging could be implemented across their stores and online.

With support from the UK Government and WRAP, the retailers (including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons and Ocado Retail) plan to make it easier to shop for prefilled items in stores and online (prefill packaging is designed to be filled, used, returned and refilled multiple times within a supply chain as a sales unit) This is the first stage to a universal system aimed at cutting down single-use packaging in the market.

The announcement follows GoUnpackaged data showing that shifting just 30% of packaging to reuse could save UK producers £136 million annually in EPR costs and cut CO₂e emissions by 95% for applicable products.

James Bull, Tesco’s Head of Packaging and Chair of the retailer group, emphasized the importance of collaboration to scale reuse and increase circularity. Innovate UK’s Paul Davidson added that the initiative builds on the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, which convened retailers to develop a shared approach.

The group will draw on insights from previous pilots to develop a coordinated, user-friendly reuse model across retail formats. WRAP will serve as secretariat, aligning goals, infrastructure, and consumer needs.

Keith James of WRAP called the move “a bold step toward making reusable packaging the norm.” A webinar in September will invite brands, manufacturers, and suppliers to engage with the Reuse Packaging Partnership.