Plastic carrier bag charge to be extended to convenience retailers
The government’s decision to extend the plastic carrier bag charge to all retailers has been welcomed by the convenience retail industry.
Recyclable wine cans from Ehrmanns’ Beefsteak Club brand
Ehrmanns Wines has launched its Beefsteak Club Mendoza Malbec wine in 250ml cans.
New poll says UK consumers favour “all-in” deposit return scheme
A new consumer poll has shown that British consumers support a deposit return scheme that covers all types of drinks containers, but with a variable level of deposit according to pack size.
Ban on plastic straws not yet enforced due to coronavirus
The government has confirmed that the proposed ban on the sale or supply of plastic drinking straws, stirrers and cotton buds has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Retail trade associations welcome DRS exemption amendment
Retail trade organisations ACS, NFRN and SGF have welcomed the Scottish government’s decision to amend the regulations for the country’s forthcoming deposit return scheme for food and drink packaging to include a new exemption for return points.
Scotland to press ahead with deposit scheme despite virus disruption
The Scottish Parliament has voted to go ahead with its plan to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for food and drink packaging in two years’ time.
Heart of England Co-op to fit refillable sanitisers in 35 stores with LocoSoco deal
The Heart of England Co-operative Society has agreed a new distribution agreement with LocoSoco, the social enterprise which offers a wide range of refillable household products, including sanitisers, at value price points.
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme delayed until July 2022
Scotland has delayed the implementation of its Deposit Return Scheme until July 2022 due to fears over the impact of the coronavirus.
Food waste app Gander drives up sales of reduced-priced items in NI
The introduction of food waste app Gander in Northern Ireland has resulted in a 45% increase in sales of reduced-price food in the country, according to the app’s founders.
A cost-neutral scheme for plastic
The Environment Bill, which first made an appearance in the Queen’s Speech, made its long-awaited return to Parliament at the start of this year and more recently had its Second Reading, writes James Lowman of ACS.
Lincolnshire Co-op rewards customers who use reusable cups
Lincolnshire Co-op is encouraging membership card-holders to “help the environment” by rewarding them with 25p every time they use a reusable cup to purchase their hot drinks.
Stores' Deposit Return Scheme concerns raised in Westminster debate
Parliament heard concerns about the impact of a Deposit Return Scheme on small retailers in England and Wales during the second reading of the Environment Bill yesterday (26 February).
Taking a swipe at food waste
Could mobile phone technology hold the answer to cutting food waste? C-Store talks to retailers such as Hendersons who are seeing success from apps that help sell-through reduced lines
Co-op launches TV ad showcasing recyclable packaging credentials
A new TV advert from the Co-op Group highlights the benefits to the environment of its recyclable pizza packaging.
Support for ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme grows among Scottish consumers
Three-quarters of Scottish consumers believe that all drinks containers, including metal cans, plastic and glass bottles, coffee cups, cartons and pouches, should be included in Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS), a new survey of 1,019 Scots has found.
Refillable solutions: Thrill and spills
There’s a huge public appetite for reducing plastic in retail, but there’s more to establishing a successful refillable solution than meets the eye. C-Store looks at the issues to consider
Ethical retailer Hisbe crowd-funds to help open second store
Ethical supermarket Hisbe is seeking to raise £450,000 via a new crowd-funding campaign to help it launch a second store in the West Sussex town of Worthing this spring.
A.F. Blakemore reports early success from trial of food waste app
A.F. Blakemore has saved 500 bags of food from being wasted in the first week of trialling the food waste app Too Good to Go at 15 of its Spar stores.
Legislation to introduce Deposit Return Scheme in England enters Parliament
Powers to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme in England and set new charges for single-use plastic items will be included in the Environment Bill, which is being introduced to Parliament today (30 January).
New Reverse Vending Machine designed for small stores
A new Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) has been designed specifically for small stores ahead of the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland.
MSPs call for more details on proposed Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have called for more detail from the Scottish government on its proposed Deposit Return Scheme, including further clarity on handling fees and manual returns.
Value refill solution designed to help stores join eco revolution
Convenience retailers keen to join the “refill revolution” are being offered a new route in, with the help of new social enterprise LocoSoco which offers a wide range of refillable household products at value price points.
Blakemore Retail signs up 68 company-owned Spar stores to water refill app
Blakemore Retail has registered 68 of its company-owned Spar stores on the Refill app, which enables people to search for places where they can fill up water bottles for free and avoid the need to buy a plastic bottle.
Most grocery shoppers influenced by brands’ eco policies, says Kantar
More than three-quarters (77%) of UK grocery shoppers have switched, avoided or boycotted certain products - or would consider doing so in the future - because of the brands’ environmental policies, according to new research by global analyst firm Kantar.
Nisa urges retailers to sign up to fast-growing food waste app
Nisa is encouraging its members to sign up to a fast-growing app that helps retailers reduce food waste, recover costs for unsold stock, and potentially gain new customers.
Small stores cut staff hours to offset rising energy costs, study reveals
More than a third of small retailers have reduced workers’ hours in a bit to offset rising energy costs, a new survey commissioned by Utilita Energy has revealed.
Ethical c-store elevates war on waste with cup ban and paper bag charge
Sustainable independent retailer Hisbe is hoping to accelerate the reuse revolution by ending the sale of single-use coffee cups from January and calling on other retailers to join its campaign.
Surge in sales of throwaway plastic 'bags for life', report reveals
Sales of plastic-packed ‘bags for life’ have soared by 30% in the past year as UK shoppers increasingly buy them as replacements for single-use bags, a new study by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Greenpeace has revealed.
Retailers urged to offer water refill stations as plastic bottle sales surge
Retailers are being challenged to reduce plastic water bottle sales by introducing refill stations, as new figures reveal that supermarket sales of plastic water bottles have risen 8.2% year on year.
Coca-Cola multipack cans to go plastic-free in waste reduction drive
Coca-Cola multipack cans across Europe are soon to be fitted with a new recyclable paperboard topper which will replace plastic shrink film, in a bid to drive down packaging waste.