Asda launching new ‘sustainability store’ with refill stations

Customers will be able to refill containers with cereal, coffee, rice, pasta and tea

(iStock)

Asda has announced plans to launch a new “sustainability store” where customers can refill containers with food products including coffee, tea and cereal.

From May, the supermarket‘s branch in Middleton, Leeds will become the first Asda store in the UK to offer shoppers refill stations.

When consumers bring their own containers to the store, they will be able to fill them up with Asda own-brand coffee, rice and pasta, in addition to Kellogg’s cereals and PG Tips tea.

The sustainability store will also sell plastic-free flowers and loose food produce such as cucumbers and mushrooms that are free from plastic packaging.

Shoppers who venture to the eco-conscious store will be asked to provide feedback on various trials being conducted by the supermarket for at least three months.

The feedback they provide will help Asda decide whether or not to roll out sustainability store across all its branches, conduct a re-trial or stop the environmental initiative altogether.

“We’re on an ongoing quest to remove and reduce the amount of plastic in our business and to find new ways to help our customers to reuse and refill our products,” said Roger Burnley, Asda chief executive.

Mr Burnley said he is “delighted” large food manufacturers such as Kellogg’s and Unilever (who own PG Tips) have agreed to take part in the scheme.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will be testing and learning from the customers in Middleton to understand how we can reduce our environmental impacts whilst still maintaining the great service and quality our customers demand,” he stated.

Since 2018, Asda has removed 8,000 tonnes of plastic from its own-brand packaging.

The firm has pledged to reduce its plastic use by 15 per cent by February 2021 and committed to ensuring all its own-brand packaging is 100 per cent recyclable by 2025.

In October, it was reported that Asda was urging customers to bring their own refillable containers with them when they shop at the supermarket.