Initially, the company’s stores will only accept EPS related to TV packaging, but the retailer said that it will look to collect different types of EPS packaging as consumer demand increases

Dixons Carphone pr-18-08-2021

Dixons Carphone launches polystyrene packaging recycling scheme in UK. (Credit: Dixons Carphone plc)

Dixons Carphone, a UK-based electrical and telecommunications retailer, has introduced a free recycling scheme that allows customers to return expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging to stores for recycling.

Dixons Carphone’s brand Currys PC World is launching the customer EPS drop-off service at all its UK stores following a successful trial in 14 stores over six weeks earlier this year.

The service is said to be the first-ever polystyrene store take-back initiative in the country.

Initially, the company’s stores will only accept EPS related to TV packaging, but the retailer said that it will look to collect different types of EPS packaging as consumer demand increases.

Dixons Carphone senior sustainability operations and compliance manager Chris Brown said: “We’re proud to be the first retailer to enable customers to drop off their TV packaging in stores for recycling.

“Now customers can have their polystyrene taken away at delivery or drop it off at one of our stores.

“Whatever they choose we’ll take it off their hands and ensure we reuse or recycle it in a responsible way – helping customers do their bit for the planet.”

The new initiative will help the company to reduce its carbon footprint by extending the material’s lifecycle and puts less pressure on limited resources.

It will also complement Currys PC World’s existing home delivery recycling service that allowed customers to return their packaging to delivery drivers for more than 10 years.

The retailer claims to have recycled over a tenth of all consumer product packing polystyrene in the UK and converted the compacted EPS into insulation panels for housing.

Dixons Carphone has also pledged to use 100% recyclable and reusable plastic packaging for its products by 2023.

It also published its Product Packaging Guidance to suppliers and other retailers preferred materials to use and which materials to avoid.

Dixons Carphone sustainability and ESG group director Moira Thomas said: “This EPS recycling scheme and our intention to make 100% of our own label plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2023 is a great example of the innovative work we do to reduce our impact on the environment.

“We are also pleased to share that work with our suppliers and other retailers in our Product Packaging Guidance as we all work together to reduce the energy and resources used by our industry’s operations and become more sustainable.”