Oxford has been ranked among the UK’s leading destinations for refill shopping as Recycle Now launches a nationwide locator designed to help consumers reduce single-use packaging.
The new online Refill Locator charts 675 refill destinations across the UK, allowing shoppers to find nearby stores within a 25-mile radius of their postcode, while also highlighting returnable delivery options available for home shopping.
According to Recycle Now’s data, London leads the UK with 63 refill stores, followed by Bristol with 27 and Oxford with 22. Other leading refill destinations include Brighton and Hove with 21, Gloucester and York with 19 each.
The locator supports strong public interest in refill shopping. Recycle Now’s latest citizen recycling tracker, published during Recycle Week, found that nearly nine in ten people would consider refill shopping, with 87 per cent open to online refill purchases and 89 per cent willing to shop this way in-store.
Survey findings suggest younger adults are already more active in using refill systems, with 25 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 saying they have taken their own packaging to refill in-store during recent years, compared with 8 per cent of those aged 55 and above. However, interest remains high across all age groups.
Lowelle Bryan, Senior Specialist at WRAP, which runs Recycle Now, said,
“We’re starting to see greater movement on reuse across the industry.
“For example, last year nine of the UK’s largest grocery retailers pledged to examine how reusable packaging could be implemented across their stores and online.
“To support these industry efforts, we must also inform citizens about the benefits of reuse, to drive up demand.
“The Recycle Now Refill Locator makes it easy to find your nearest refill store and try this way of shopping. You’ll be amazed at the range of goods available and how convenient it can become to become a refill shopper.
“The sector hasn’t had the easiest time of late and by supporting these businesses, and the innovations coming into our larger high street stores, we can help them become permanent fixtures and reduce packaging waste.”
Read more: Residents reminded to book before visiting Oxfordshire recycling centres
In Yarnton, The Village Refill owner Maya Ellis said refillable household liquids remain the store’s most popular products, adding that “One refill at a time is something we say a lot!”
