Beauty Takeback Scheme: M&S collaborates with Handle to recycle empties across UK

12 Jun 2023 --- British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has introduced a takeback scheme to recycle empty beauty containers in partnership with packaging recycler Handle. The initiative will allow customers to return any form of plastic or aluminum beauty packaging from any retailer by dropping it into dedicated boxes.

M&S details the drive is estimated to collect over two metric tons of empty beauty packaging within the first 12 months. The Handle program, available at 40 participating store’s beauty sections, is designed to support a circular system for M&S beauty, where new products and packaging are created from the materials collected.

“Plastic is one of the biggest challenges facing the beauty industry and while there is still a lot 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,” says Carmel McQuaid, head of ESG [environmental, social and governance] at M&S.

“Alongside our other schemes, including Shwopping and plastic takeback, it’s one of the many ways we’re driving the circular economy on our roadmap to net-zero.”

M&S further states that packaging is one of the beauty industry’s biggest sustainability challenges. It cites data from the UK government, which estimates recycling rates in the country to range from 9-50%.

The low recycling rate can be attributed to certain beauty packaging types not being processed through the infrastructure available in mainstream recycling.

Handle works with retailers, brands and manufacturers to plug these gaps and seek better end-of-life options for beauty packaging, such as lids, tubes, pumps, sachets and pipettes that often fall out of mainstream municipal recycling.

The M&S initiative will allow customers to return plastic or aluminum beauty packaging from any retailer. Reducing packaging waste
M&S is incentivizing its Sparks members with a discount of 10% to mark the launch of the takeback scheme. Customers can scan a QR code on the Beauty Takeback box in-store for the offer to be added to their Sparks’ Hub.

The retailer also launched its own-brand skin care range, Fresh Elements. Furthermore, the M&S 2023 Sustainability Report released last week revealed that the retailer removed over 100 million units of plastic from its products and supply chain between April 2022-April 2023.

M&S launched Plan A in 2007 to streamline its environmental sustainability goals. It includes initiatives such as Shwopping – a clothing recycling scheme in partnership with Oxfam – and a plastic takeback scheme in its Food Halls, allowing customers to recycle more of its packaging, including “soft” plastics that are not typically collected for recycling by local authorities in the UK.

M&S also introduced refill alternatives in its beauty and wellness range Apothecary, to use 80% less plastic and remove all plastic windows and cello wrapping from packaging – which equates to 250,000 pieces of plastic.

Regarding the empties takeback partnership, Tom Murgatroyd, co-founder of Handle Recycling, comments: “We seek partners who wish to engage in complex issues and 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 of our planet and future generations.”

Beauty packaging circularity
PackagingInsights previously highlighted collaborations between Garnier and Loop Industries, and Sephora and Pact Collective to illustrate how the beauty industry is closing the loop with packaging innovations that drive circularity.Low UK recycling rate can be attributed to certain beauty packaging types not being processed through the infrastructure available in mainstream recycling.

Garnier piloted a limited edition upcycled bottle for its Micellar Cleansing Water in collaboration with Loop Industries. Meanwhile, to make the process of reducing hard-to-recycle material waste more approachable and accessible for consumers, Sephora partnered with Pact Collective to roll out the Beauty (Re)Purposed program across North America.

We also looked at how the cosmetics industry can achieve packaging circularity with inputs from Pact Collective and Eastman. “Circularity requires an industry-wide approach,” said Carly Snider, program director at Pact Collective.

“To achieve it, we will need to move beyond our brand-centric view of sustainability and over to a brand-agnostic one to create a unified solution that operates using the same language and requirements.”

Last month, Alice Chang, CEO and founder at Perfect Corp., told us: “Today’s consumers are prioritizing and supporting brands that work to reduce their carbon footprint and implement environmentally-conscious business practices.”

“However, with the beauty industry alone creating 120 billion units of plastic packaging each year, brands are under increased pressure to deliver on sustainability and ESG agendas. Embracing planet-friendly solutions like AI and AR tech is key for brands to become more sustainable and eco-friendly.”

By Radhika Sikaria

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