The Refill Revolution: UK Coalition Unveils Scalable Solution to Cut Single-Use Plastic
The fight against single-use plastic is taking a major step forward in the UK, as The Refill Coalition unveils a groundbreaking, standardized solution to deliver refills at scale for both in-store and online shopping.
At the heart of this initiative is a reusable bulk vessel designed to replace single-use plastic packaging for key food staples like cereals and pasta, as well as household essentials such as cleaning and personal care products. By eliminating unnecessary packaging at every stage—from supplier to customer—the coalition aims to drive efficiency and sustainability in retail.
Three Key Refill Solutions
The Coalition’s reusable vessel will power three new refill solutions:
1. In-Store Refill Stations – Launched in Aldi UK on October 23, 2023, replacing traditional bulk dispensers with pre-filled, reusable vessels. Customers bring their own packaging to refill with an easy weighing system. Each vessel eliminates 24 single-use plastic packs.
2. Tareless Weighing & Liquid Dispensing – An upcoming innovation set to launch next year, simplifying the refill process for customers.
3. Bulk Home Delivery Refills – Launching with Ocado Retail on August 8, 2024, this system delivers pre-filled consumer-sized vessels alongside regular grocery orders. Customers return the empty vessels to the Ocado driver, cutting out five single-use plastic packs per vessel.
The Coalition, which has worked on this solution for over three years, sees this as a landmark moment in the commercialisation of refills.
"We’re thrilled to introduce this system, first with Aldi and soon with Ocado Retail. Reducing single-use plastic is a shared mission, and we believe this solution will drive a major shift in refill adoption."
As consumer demand for sustainable shopping grows, initiatives like this could pave the way for a waste-free future—one refill at a time.
