The Bring Your Own Bag click & collect initiative is expected to phase out traditional plastic carriers and eliminate 10 million units of plastic annually
M&S introduces BYOB scheme for click & connect orders. (Credit: Marks and Spencer plc)
British retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has introduced a new reduced packaging scheme, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) initiative, for click & connect orders at 251 of its stores.
The move is expected to phase out traditional plastic carriers and eliminate 10 million units of plastic annually.
The roll-out, following a successful trial at 16 M&S stores, will reduce plastic carriers across online orders that are picked and packed at the collection store by requesting consumers to bring their own bags.
With the scheme, M&S becomes the first large retailer to adopt this approach.
As part of the initiative, customers at the checkout counter will be reminded to bring their own bag when coming to the store to receive the online-placed order. The customers are again reminded when their order is ready to collect.
In the trial, 39,347 orders were delivered using this approach over seven months. It removed around 109 thousand units of plastic, the retailer added.
Additionally, the visiting customers supported this scheme and described it as a simple, straightforward and easy method to reduce their own consumption of plastic.
M&S.com director Stephen Langford said: “Using our stores to fulfil click & collect orders continues to grow and we want to use this as a channel to encourage a behaviour change that helps to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
“During the trial phase, we had great feedback from customers as they saw it as a simple action that, collectively, can make a big difference.”
All click & connect orders that are picked and packed at the customer’s local shop will be delivered without a plastic carrier over the next few months. This will ensure that the initiative is extended to all click & connect orders in the long run, the UK-based retailer added.
During the collection process, all the orders are stored and protected in a reusable bag made from 100% recycled materials.
The BYOB initiative is part of the plan through which M&S is aiming to remove 75 million units of plastic packaging in its Clothing & Home business.