In a bid to reduce packaging, supermarket giant Asda is trialling selling fabric conditioner in reusable pouches from vending machines – a move that could lead to a revolution in retail packaging.
The trial, which is been funded by
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), is being run in the retailer's Barnsley store and will be rolled out across four other Asda stores over the next two weeks.
The fabric conditioner will be piped from a 1,000 litre industrial bulk container from the back-of-store via overhead pipes to the vending station.
The new dispensing service allows customers to purchase concentrated fabric conditioner in
reusable pouches that can be refilled up to 10 times at automated machines, saving 30p each time compared to the same volume of product in traditional plastic bottles.
The self-dispensing technology has been developed by
Eziserv, in-store dispensing experts, with support from partners that include Unilever.
WRAP says the new technology not only offers carbon impact reduction across the entire
supply chain, it also frees up in-store space and offers
transportation and
storage cost savings.
Richard Swannell, director of retail at WRAP, believes the trial could signal a radical change in the retail environment: “
Reusable packaging offers us an opportunity to fundamentally rethink the retail experience. We have already seen positive responses from consumers in relation to carrier bag reuse and if this trial enjoys similar success, it could mark the start of a reusable revolution.
"The retail industry is watching this trial with a great deal of interest because there are clear opportunities for reusable packaging in relation to all manner of products ranging from food and drink to health and beauty products and the DIY sector.”
The announcement follows research published earlier this month that shows massive support among consumers for renewable packaging.
The resarch, carried out by the
Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK, found 90 per cent of UK consumers think that food and drink packaging should contain renewable materials, with the main reason being the importance of using sustainable resources,
The fabric conditioner trials will explore logistical and economic opportunities as well as assess consumer acceptance and a final report will be published in Autumn 2010.
Julian Walker-Palin,
Asda’s head of corporate policy for sustainability and ethics, said: “This project directly engages our customers with the process and gives them the chance to live a more sustainable lifestyle at no extra cost.”
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