Marks & Spencer (M&S) has joined forces with HANDLE, experts in beauty recycling, to introduce the Beauty Takeback Scheme across over 40 of its stores in the UK. The initiative aims to facilitate the recycling of difficult-to-process beauty packaging materials and components, which often end up in landfills, by transforming them into new packaging and products.
The beauty industry faces significant sustainability challenges, with a staggering 120 billion units of packaging produced globally each year. However, recycling rates for such packaging in the UK range from a mere 9% to 50% due to certain types of beauty packaging not being compatible with mainstream recycling infrastructure. HANDLE collaborates with retailers, brands, and manufacturers to bridge these gaps and explore better end-of-life options for beauty packaging such as lids, tubes, pumps, sachets, and pipettes, which are often excluded from conventional municipal recycling.
Starting this month, M&S customers can drop off any plastic or aluminum beauty packaging, including bottles, tubes, caps, pumps, and tubs, from any retailer at dedicated boxes within the beauty section of participating stores. It is estimated that the scheme will collect over two tonnes of empty beauty packaging within the first 12 months. The HANDLE program aims to transition from a take-back and recycling model to a circular system, where collected materials are used to create new products and packaging.
To celebrate the scheme’s launch, Sparks customers who recycle their beauty packaging will receive a 10% discount on Beauty at M&S until July 5th. To avail of the offer, customers simply scan the QR code on the Beauty Takeback box in-store, and the discount will be added to their Sparks Hub.
Carmel McQuaid, Head of ESG at M&S, expressed their commitment to providing simple solutions that help customers lead lower carbon lives. She emphasized the challenges posed by plastic in the beauty industry and the importance of recycling beauty empties to reduce packaging waste sent to landfills. McQuaid highlighted the Beauty Takeback Scheme as one of the initiatives driving M&S’s circular economy roadmap towards achieving net-zero goals.
Tom Murgatroyd, Co-Founder of Handle Recycling, expressed excitement about the partnership with M&S and their shared mission to minimize the environmental impact of beauty packaging. Murgatroyd emphasized the importance of engaging in complex issues and praised M&S’s dedication to promoting reuse and circularity.
The Beauty Takeback Scheme is an addition to M&S’s longstanding sustainability efforts. Since launching Plan A in 2007, M&S has continuously invested in innovative services to support customers in adopting lower-carbon lifestyles. This includes the introduction of Shwopping, a national clothing recycling scheme in partnership with Oxfam in 2008, achieving zero waste to landfill in 2012, and launching a plastic takeback scheme in its Food Halls in 2019.
M&S’s 2023 Sustainability Report, released this week, outlines the progress made in the past year. The retailer has already removed over 100 million units of plastic from its products and supply chain. Initiatives like the BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) click-and-collect option and the introduction of large refill alternatives in their beauty and wellbeing range, Apothecary, demonstrate M&S’s commitment to reducing unnecessary plastic consumption.
In addition to the Beauty Takeback Scheme, M&S unveiled its new own-brand skincare range, Fresh Elements, featuring simple and science-led products at affordable prices.
The Beauty Takeback Scheme is available in over 40 M&S stores across the UK, including locations such as Bluewater, Leeds, Manchester, and Stratford City. The dedicated boxes accept a variety of beauty packaging items, including pumps, pots, compacts, jars, tubes, lids, toothbrushes, and razor handles. However, the scheme does not accept aerosols, glass, face wipes, sheet masks, cotton buds, razor heads, food packaging, or electrical items.