Asda has blamed customers for the failure of a trial to drastically reduce packaging in-store.
The retailer has shelved its scheme, "Leave It With Us", which urged Asda customers to return examples of excessive packaging to bins at its York and Dewsbury stores.
Just four weeks into the project, the UK's second largest supermarket chain has admitted defeat and will not look to extend it nationally. Shane Monkland, Asda's packaging buyer, told The Grocer: "The trial won't be rolled out nationally as it is hard to get customers off their backsides.”
Instead, Asda has introduced a new website through which consumers can make their complaints. "Leave It With Us is a massive programme for us. The website will make it easier to tell us their concerns. It is very 'now' and requires minimal effort on the part of the consumer,” said Monkland.
"They can do it at home without having to save up empty packaging for a week."
Produce was singled out as one of the worst offending categories by Monkland, who lamented that consumers' apparent concern for the environment does not always translate into action.
