Amcor advances reusable packaging partnership with Ocado

Amcor has announced it will continue to produce the containers for the Refill Coalition’s project with Ocado Retail, which allows the retailer to deliver online orders for everyday products such as pasta, rice, and washing liquid in refillable packaging. 

Consumers can then hand back the empty containers to their driver on the next delivery, after they have been cleaned for reuse. 

Florent Souty, general manager, blow molding specialties at Amcor and a member of the Refill Coalition’s advisory panel, says: “We’re proud to be involved in a project that looks to redefine the nature of packaging for the future.”

“By providing the infrastructure for large-scale infrastructure, and planting the seeds for changes to consumer behavior.” 

The project began in 2024, and the scheme is now part of Ocado Retail’s standard range. Amcor designs and manufactures the 2 kg and 3 kg refillable containers used in the project. 

The smaller container features a large opening suitable for filling with dry foods, while the narrower opening of the 3 kg container is designed for liquid refilling. 

“The aim is for the container to become the standard allowing other businesses to deliver efficiencies and scale,” says Amcor. 

Reusable options 

Amcor explains that the container had to meet the different demands from across the reuse and refill process. For example, it had to be free from “trap points” to enable effective washing once returned to Ocado Retail, ahead of refilling.

In addition, the reusable container’s design aims to maximize space, ensure easy handling and rinsing, and uses robust, hygienic materials that can withstand hot washes for multiple reuses.

Reusable options are becoming an increasingly viable solution as the industry adopts methods to reduce single-use plastic. 

A GoUnpackaged report, published around the time of the pilot trial between Ocado Retail and Amcor, found that moving to 30% reusable packaging in the UK retail sector will see a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions and £136 million (US$183.7 million) savings a year due to reduced extended producer responsibility for packaging costs. 

“We estimate each container can be refilled between 50 and 100 times before being taken out of circulation, so the ongoing data from Ocado Retail is critical to establish the recommended usage definitively,” says Catherine Conway, reuse lead at GoUnpackaged.

Laura Fernandez, senior sustainability manager at Ocado Retail, adds: “Ocado Retail has been a leading force in accelerating the adoption of reusable packaging across the wider UK retail sector.”

“Ocado’s online reuse system has been a significant success, surpassing commercial, operational, customer, and environmental targets since its launch.” 

Amcor’s Asia Pacific Innovation Center laboratory has recently received accreditation from the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment. 

In product developments, it partnered with Metsä Group and G. Mondini to enable a fully integrated fiber-based tray system that adopts a lightweight barrier liner and top web, designed for protein and chilled ready meal applications.