Marks & Spencer is advancing its commitment to sustainability by expanding its beauty takeback scheme, now available in 100 stores.
- Initially launched in 40 stores, the scheme allows customers to recycle beauty packaging, enhancing environmental efforts.
- The initiative recently added 60 more locations, including major cities like Birmingham, Cardiff, and Inverness.
- Over 1.6 tonnes of packaging have been recycled so far, equivalent to the weight of a small car, showcasing the scheme’s impact.
- A new hair comb made from recycled materials will soon be available, highlighting a practical use of collected waste.
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has taken a significant step toward environmental sustainability by expanding its beauty takeback scheme to cover a total of 100 stores. Initially launched in June 2023 at 40 locations, this scheme enables customers to recycle plastic or aluminum beauty packaging from any brand, promoting environmental responsibility across retail.
The recent extension includes 60 more stores, strategically selected to include high-traffic areas like Birmingham’s Bullring shopping center, Cardiff, and Inverness. This expansion reflects M&S’s commitment to providing accessible recycling options to a broader customer base.
The beauty takeback scheme has achieved notable success, processing over 1.6 tonnes of packaging waste to date. This quantity is equivalent to the weight of a small car, underlining the initiative’s effectiveness in reducing beauty packaging waste.
In partnership with cosmetics recycler Handle, M&S has developed a wide-toothed hair comb, crafted from at least 98% recycled beauty packaging. This product will soon be available for purchase both online and in select stores, priced at £8. This initiative exemplifies a circular economy approach by transforming waste into practical, sellable items.
The beauty recycling program is a part of M&S’s larger ‘another life’ project, which consolidates all its circularity services. This includes a new clothing repair service with Sojo, along with a longstanding clothes donation partnership with Oxfam, once known as ‘Shwopping’. Katharine Beacham, head of sustainability for clothing and home at M&S, emphasized the popularity of the scheme and their excitement to bring recycling options to more locations across the UK.
This expansion marks a proactive stride by M&S towards its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040, illustrating their ongoing commitment to sustainability.
