John Lewis & Partners is launching a major pilot at its Oxford shop to encourage a ‘reduce, reuse & return’ culture among customers.

The pilot, which could provide a blueprint for other shops, will test eight ways in which the retailer and its customers can reduce their impact on the planet; potentially saving thousands of tonnes of plastic and packaging from going to landfill.

In a first for a department store, the shop has removed 5p plastic carrier bags. It will also encourage customers to either bring a bag or buy a reusable one. Over the period of one year, it is estimated that this alone this could save 5,000 tonnes of plastic.

Furthermore, the Oxford shop will be the first in the UK to trial a reusable ‘Click and Collect’ bag made from 100% recycled materials. One in four orders will be delivered to the shop in these reusable bags.

In place of bubble wrap, meanwhile, the retailer will trial new recyclable wrapping. It will also be encouraging customers to bring back any hangers they no longer need for reuse or recycling.

As well as reducing packaging, John Lewis Oxford will reward ‘my John Lewis’ customers who bring back empty beauty product packaging and pre-loved clothing with gift vouchers.

Equally, customers booking home deliveries with a shop Partner can help reduce carbon emissions by selecting an ‘Eco-delivery’ slot when a van is near their home.

Commenting is Stephen Cawley, partner and head of sustainability at John Lewis. “Our customers have told us they want us to help them reduce their impact on the planet; that reducing and recycling packaging is key for them.

“Our message that we want customers to take away just the product that they love and reduce and reuse the packaging that they don’t will be clearly communicated throughout the shop. We will listen to customer feedback on this blueprint before deciding what we should introduce to other shops.”

Sustainable initiatives

• Removal of 5p plastic carrier bags
• Reusable ‘Click & Collect’ packaging
• Both removal and recycling of ‘Click & Collect’ packaging
• Replacing bubble wrap with new recyclable packaging
• Eco-home deliveries
• Recycling unwanted hangers from any brand or retailer
• BeautyCycle – My John Lewis loyal customers can recycle up to five used beauty products’ packaging. In exchange, they will receive £5 off their next beauty purchase at John Lewis & Partners
• Fashion BuyBack – ‘BuyBack’ rewards customers who bring back up to three items of pre-loved clothing from any of the brands stocked by John Lewis. In return, they receive £3 per item

The new trials are a continuation of John Lewis & Partners’ commitment to sustainability. The retailer is also committing to making all of its own brand product packaging either easily recyclable or reusable by 2023.