DDRS Trial with Ocado Retail
Over 20,000 cash rewards have been redeemed by consumers as part of the first nationwide digital deposit return scheme (DDRS) trial led by recycling tech firm, Polytag, recycling tech app, Bower and major UK retailer, Ocado Retail.
Since 14 July, Ocado Retail customers have been able to claim monetary rewards for recycling any of its own-brand two and four-pint milk bottles using Polytag’s unique QR codes, redeemable via recycling app Bower. As revealed in an end-of-trial report, the trial saw more than 20,000 Ocado Retail milk bottles scanned by over 3,000 consumers using their smartphones before being deposited into home kerbside recycling.
Held across England and Wales, the world-first initiative enabled monetary rewards and charity donations to be claimed through the Bower app, in which customers simply set up their account and add their regular recycling bins and bank account. The QR code integrated onto the milk bottles’ labelling is scanned via the app, the bottle disposed of in their registered at-home recycling bin, and the reward withdrawn into their bank account. Up to £4,000 worth of rewards were obtained during the nine week long trial.
The trial seeks to meet customers' appetite for retailers to offer recycling initiatives and improve national recycling rates ahead of the government’s DRS scheme set to come into place in 2025. Polytag, the recycling tech expert and connected packaging solutions provider is proposing a digital approach that offers more convenience, efficiency, and accessibility to consumers.
The DRS model as it stands has been widely considered a topic of controversy as consumers and industries debate the financial and logistical implications that reverse vending machines (RVMs) may present. Polytag is taking a holistic approach to the scheme, offering customers a digital option with its GS1 approved, unique-every-time QR codes that are seamlessly integrated onto packaging labels at printing point. Invisible UV tags are also applied to the labels enabling tracking and tracing back to dedicated recycling centres and offering brands and retailers unprecedented insights into the whereabouts of their products and packaging.
Customer surveys released by Ocado Retail and Bower at the end of the trial revealed 93% of the pilot users feel ‘positively’ towards the idea of a DDRS in the UK and 71% of Ocado Retail’s customers said they would be happy to use a QR code to claim a deposit back, while only 58% of respondents showed interest in using a reverse vending machine (RVM).
**Alice Rackley, CEO, Polytag, added**: “In a world-first initiative with Ocado Retail, we’ve seen the reality of a nationwide DDRS come to realisation. Through cutting edge technology and end-to-end packaging solutions, this project has delivered on what consumers have been asking for. A nationwide, scalable, and viable solution to the recycling crisis that keeps convenience and efficiency in mind.
“Today’s outcome is the result of years of public consultation, technological innovation, and stringent testing working to feed the appetite of consumers for retailers to offer real incentives for recycling. We’re proud to have made this significant mark on the journey to a circular economy and will continue to work closely with our partner brands and retailers to ensure a solution is found that is accessible to all.”
**Laura Fernandez, Senior Packaging and Sustainability Manager at Ocado Retail Ltd, commented:** “We're delighted that over 20,000 Ocado milk bottles were scanned by more than 3,000 customers as part of our digital deposit return scheme trial! To be able to launch a workable DDRS that actually pays customers back for recycling is a game-changing move for recycling and the circular economy in the UK."
**Suwar Mert, CEO and Founder, Bower, added:** This pilot underscores the strong desire among consumers to receive rewards for their recycling efforts. The response from consumers has been overwhelmingly positive, with widespread enthusiasm for the concept, rapid adoption of the technology, and users recycling an average of 7.5 bottles each. This demonstrates that leveraging existing kerbside recycling infrastructure and people's accessibility to mobile phones provides a scalable and readily deployable solution to significantly increase recycling rates”.
You can access the full report through this link.
About Polytag
Polytag applies unique-every-time QR codes to packaging to improve traceability and to provide direct-to-consumer marketing opportunities. Polytag has also developed a UV tagging technology designed to work in tandem with the QR codes and read at Material Recycling Facilities. These ‘hidden’ tags allow businesses to access packaging recycling data in real-time, again helping them to meet their new packaging regulations responsibilities and carbon footprint calculations. These tags have recently completed successful trials at Abergele’s Gofer Bulking Centre in North Wales and BIFFA Teeside.
Learn more about Polytag’s unique-every-time QR codes by visiting its website here:
https://www.polytag.co.uk/pilots/qr-codes-on-plastic-packaging/
About Bower
Born in Sweden, Bower is a free to use, award-winning recycling app. Having taken the Nordics by storm, they launched in the UK late last year. Their primary mission? Help consumers to recycle and consumer brands boost their recycling rates.
By offering rewards for recycling, their users claim to be recycling 48% more thanks to Bower. Connected brands are able to establish a direct link to consumers. Allowing them to offer coupons, run challenges, gain marketing assets and rich data. All while promoting their packaging circularity and giving them further visibility.
Try Bower yourself today* or join forces with Bower and unite with the world's largest brands.
Available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark & UK. Interested to open up Bower with us in other countries? Please reach out here.
Discover more at: https://getbower.com/en/bower-for-business
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About Ocado Retail
Ocado.com (operated by Ocado Retail) is the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, and is a joint venture between Marks & Spencer Group and Ocado Group. Delivering to over 80% of the UK, more than 959,000 active customers benefit from an unbeatable range of around 50,000 products (including big-name brands, more than 5,000 items from the M&S food and drink range and Ocado's Own-Range), unbeatable service with next-to-no substitutions, and the freshest produce. Every order is carefully packed in one of seven distribution centres using world-leading software and technology. Shopping is then delivered directly to customers using a network of regional spokes and fleet of delivery vans. Ocado developed the first grocery shopping app in 2010 and continues to innovate, offering customers the best possible experience. Ocado Retail is also responsible for Zoom by Ocado, its rapid grocery delivery service.