British retailer Sainsbury’s has announced the launch of its Retail Brand (private brand) 1L refillable handwash pouches. The 1L pouches use 85% less plastic and will help customers reduce the amount of plastic waste in their homes by simply reusing their handwash bottle and pump and refilling from a Sainsbury’s handwash pouch.

The new refillable pouches are now available in supermarkets across the UK and online. The pouches are estimated to save a total of 28 tonnes of plastic every year and are 35% lower in cost compared to the equivalent bottles, meaning customers can expect a high-quality product that is also great value.

To recycle the pouches, customers can simply bring them to one of Sainsbury’s front-of-store flexible plastics recycling points (available in all Sainsbury’s UK supermarkets).

The innovative move follows a series of plastic reductions as part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to halve its own brand plastic packaging by 2025. Sainsbury’s recently moved its 5 pack of Fairtrade bananas from a plastic bag to a paper band, removing 25 million single-use plastic bags. From July, the retailer will also be switching its double-strength squash bottles to quadruple-strength squash bottles, saving 177 tonnes of plastic.

The range includes:

• Original Handwash Antibacterial 1L – 8099529
• Moisture Handwash Antibacterial 1L – 8099524
• Aloe Handwash Antibacterial 1L – 8099521