As part of our Buy Into Retail campaign, we’re spotlighting the work retailers are doing when it comes to growth, people and sustainability. Today, we focus on the road to net-zero, and the way in which BRC member Ocado are leading the way with smart, sustainable packaging that’s cutting waste and setting new industry standards.
Packaging is a big part of Ocado’s Planet Together strategy, with the goal to cut the environmental impact of its packaging in half by 2030. And they’re well on their way.
Thanks to its online-only model, Ocado Retail has more flexibility to rethink how products are packed. Since 2021, they’ve removed 193 tonnes of packaging and eliminated 32 million unnecessary bits—including 45 tonnes in just the last year.
Some clever changes include:
● Bacon packs now use recyclable mono-material plastic, reducing plastic use by 60% and saving 6 tonnes a year.
● Their dip range ditched cardboard sleeves thanks to a new lid design—saving 7 tonnes of cardboard and 1.9 million components.
● QR codes on 60+ products giving customers quick access to recycling tips and sustainability info.
Ocado Retail is also using cutting-edge tech. In partnership with Polytag, they’re testing UV invisible tags on labels. These tags help track bottles at recycling centres, giving valuable data for reporting and improving recycling rates.
One of the biggest milestones? In August 2024, Ocado launched a reusable packaging system - and it’s been a hit. At its peak, it made up 43% of sales compared to single-use options, showing that customers are ready to shop more sustainably.
But they’re not stopping there. Ocado Retail is working with UKRI, WRAP, and DEFRA to look at how reusable packaging could work on a national scale, from the tech to the infrastructure needed to make it happen.
And they’re investing in the future, too - backing the IOM3 Starpack Schools Competition to get young people excited about packaging and careers in the industry, and sponsoring the Packaging Startup Awards to support new ideas and innovations.
Ocado Retail is showing what’s possible when sustainability is part of everyday business. They’re proving that packaging can be smarter, greener, and still deliver for customers.
Find out more at sustainability.ocadoretail.com.
Laura Fernandez, Senior Packaging and Sustainability Manager, at Ocado Retail said:
The progress we’ve made towards our Planet Together strategy has been driven by working collaboratively with partners and suppliers. We know there is a lot of work to do and we’re encouraged by the results of our existing trials.
