Marks & Spencer has recently announced that it has introduced a beauty recycling scheme in over 40 stores across the UK.
The move will see the retailer partner with beauty recycling experts, Handle, to launch a Beauty Takeback Scheme.
The scheme will 'enable hard to recycle beauty packaging materials and components that commonly end up in landfill to be recycled and turned into new packaging and products'.
Carmel McQuaid, head of ESG (environmental, social and governance) at M&S, commented, “We’re passionate about creating simple solutions that help our customers live lower carbon lives.
"Plastic is one of the biggest challenges facing the beauty industry and whilst there is still lots more to do, we hope this scheme encourages customers to recycle their beauty empties to give them a second life and reduce the amount of packaging that goes to landfill."
How To Return Packaging
From this month, M&S highlighted that its customers will be able to return any form of plastic or aluminium beauty packaging - from bottles and tubes to caps, pumps, and tubs – from any retailer, by dropping their used beauty packaging into dedicated boxes located within the store’s beauty section.
According to M&S the initiative is estimated to collect over two tonnes of empty beauty packaging from participating stores, within the first 12 months.
The HANDLE programme is designed to build from a take back and recycling toward a circular system for M&S beauty where new products and packaging are created from the materials collected.
"Alongside our other schemes, including Shwopping and plastic take-back, it’s one of the many ways we’re driving the circular economy on our roadmap to net zero,” she added.
Promoting Reuse And Circularity
Speaking about the partnership with M&S, Tom Murgatroyd, co-founder of Handle Recycling, commented, "We seek partners who wish to engage in complex issues and that have talented and committed teams to help and support the goals they set out.
"We aim to support the M&S Plan A initiative with projects that promote reuse and circularity, as both are challenging yet critical aspirations for us all to attain for the sake our planet and future generations".
To celebrate the launch of the scheme, until the July, M&S noted that Sparks customers who recycle their beauty packaging will also receive 10% off Beauty at M&S.
Customers can simply scan the QR code on the Beauty Take-back box in store, for the offer to be added to their Sparks’ Hub.
Read More: M&S Introduces ‘Bring Your Own Bag’ Initiative For Click & Collect Service
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more packaging stories, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
