Boots has rolled out a scheme nationwide that rewards customers for recycling their empty blister packs following a popular regional pilot.
The blister pack recycling scheme is now available at over 800 stores across the UK after 170,000 customers signed up to a pilot of the scheme in London and the Southeast last year. All blister packs, whether previously used to hold medications or vitamins, and no matter which brand, can be recycled through the scheme.Boots Advantage Card members nationwide can now earn 100 points (worth £1) for every five empty blister packs when they drop them off at a participating Boots store and spend £5 or more.
Candice Smith, Head of ESG at Boots, said: “Taking medicines or vitamins in blister pack packaging is an essential part of everyday life for many of us – even more so during the winter when it is peak cough cold season. We know from our pilot scheme that people want a recycling solution for their empty blister packs, which is why we’re now making it available in towns and cities across the country. We look forward to seeing the recycled materials take on a new life as playground equipment and furniture.”
Blister packs, commonly used for vitamins and medicines, are made of plastic and foil and cannot typically be recycled through household kerbside collections. The new blister pack recycling scheme is part of the wider Recycle at Boots initiative, which is delivered using technology partner Metrisk and recycling partner MYGroup.
The Recycle at Boots initiative is brand agnostic, meaning that customers can recycle empty blister packs and other hard to recycle empties from any brand and track their recycling, as long as they have a Boots Advantage Card. To recycle blister packs and get rewarded for it at the same time, customers need to:
- Register and opt in by downloading the Recycle at Boots App
- Log empty blister packs in the app and wait for up to 24 hours until they are validated
- Bring their empty packs into a participating Boots store and scan the QR code on the blister pack deposit box
To receive a reward of 100 Advantage Card points, customers need to recycle five empty blister packs in one deposit and spend £5 in-store. If they are depositing other hard-to-recycle health and beauty empties through the Recycle at Boots app, they will be rewarded 500 Boots Advantage Card points when they deposit five products and spend £10 in-store.
After the blister packs or health and beauty empties have been dropped off at Boots stores, they are sent to MYGroup, who separate the plastic and the foil. The recycled foil can be immediately re-used, while MYGroup turn the recycled plastic into a material called MYBoardTM, which has a wide range of uses such as playground equipment, furniture, and construction materials.
Find your nearest Blister Pack Recycling store through the Boots Store Locator.
Find our more about how Boots is taking steps to reduce its impact on the environment – or it’s ‘Bootprint’ – here.
