Asda unveils sustainability store

UK retailer Asda has opened a new sustainability concept store. The first of what is planned to be a national project features product refill options, loose and unwrapped produce, and a pledge that

“customers will not pay more for greener options”.

The pilot store in Leeds, was accompanied by a new plastics reduction strategy that aims to remove 3 billion pieces of plastic from Asda’s own-brand products by 2025.

In a statement, Asda said that the initiative is aimed at helping shoppers reduce, reuse and recycle with ease. It estimates that the numerous initiatives being trialled in the Leeds store will save one million pieces of plastic per year. Asda has also announced the launch of

“Greener at Asda Price”,

a national price promise that loose and unwrapped products will not cost more than wrapped equivalents.

The sustainability store will feature:

• 15 huge refill stations offering customers a selection of more than 30 household staples sold in refillable format.

• 53 fresh produce lines in total sold in loose and unwrapped format including 29 new lines such as cauliflowers, mushrooms, apples, cabbages and baby plum tomatoes. In addition, all Asda plants and flowers are sold either unwrapped or with a paper wrapping.

• Removal of the outer plastic wrapping on several popular Heinz and Asda Brand canned multipacks including beans and soups.

• Recycling facilities for items that are difficult to recycle in kerbside collections such as crisp and biscuit packets, plastic toys, cosmetic containers and toothpaste tubes.

• Asda’s first reverse vending machine for cans, plastic and glass drinks bottles and a hanger recycling facility that will be rolled out across all stores.

• The store will also showcase sustainable fashion lines through George including clothing made from recycled polyester and coat hanger-less denim.

• A new community zone for pop ups and partnerships with charities; the first is a three-month trial with the Salvation Army of a Drop and Shop outlet for customers to donate their unwanted clothing and bric-a-brac seven days a week.