Waitrose trials packaging-free initiative

Supermarket chain Waitrose has announced plans to help to reduce the usage of plastic in its store, by trialling a packaging-free initiative at its Botley Road store in Oxford.

The trial is designed to see how customers shopping trends may change in the future and will run for a period of 11 weeks until 18 August with survey available for customers to rate the service.

Packaged equivalents of the products will remain in their usual areas to create an effective test.

The products vary from fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables to coffee and “essential refillables”.

There will also be four beers and wines available on tap, for customers to choose from, in a bid to reduce glass usage.

Tor Harris, head of corporate social responsibility, Waitrose, said: “We are determined to build on the work we’ve already done to reduce packaging, and this test will take our efforts to a whole new level as we help the growing number of customers who want to shop in a more sustainable way.

“This test has huge potential to shape how people might shop with us in the future so it will be fascinating to see which concepts our customers have an appetite for. We know we’re not perfect and have more to do, but we believe this is an innovative way to achieve something different.”