Latest news with #retailers
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal
Retailers across the UK are preparing for the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a landmark regulation that will shift the full cost of household packaging waste disposal from local authorities to producers. Set to take effect from October 2025, the scheme is expected to cost the industry around £2 billion annually, with significant implications for packaging strategies, supply chains and product pricing. How EPR changes the cost of packaging waste Under the EPR scheme, retailers and manufacturers will be required to pay fees based on the type, weight, and recyclability of the packaging they place on the market. This replaces the current shared-cost system, where local councils bear most of the expense for collecting and processing packaging waste. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that modulated fees will apply from 2026, meaning that producers using easier-to-recycle materials will pay less. This aims to encourage eco-friendly packaging design and a reduction in hard-to-recycle plastics. For now, fees will be calculated based on total packaging volumes reported by businesses for 2023, with the first invoices due next year. Retail sector faces cost and compliance pressure Retailers are concerned about the financial burden and administrative complexity of complying with the new rules. Industry groups such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have called for greater clarity around fee calculations and how the funds will be used to improve recycling infrastructure. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said the new EPR scheme must 'deliver value for money and transparency.' She also urged the government to reinvest funds into developing a more effective waste collection system that supports retailers in achieving their sustainability goals. Large brands have warned that some of the costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers. According to the Food and Drink Federation, the EPR rollout could lead to increased prices across everyday goods if retailers and suppliers are unable to absorb the additional charges. Data reporting and packaging design under scrutiny Retailers have already begun adjusting their packaging strategies to minimise liability under EPR. This includes reducing packaging weight, eliminating unnecessary materials, and switching to widely recyclable formats. Businesses with an annual turnover above £2 million and placing more than 50 tonnes of packaging on the UK market must also register with the EPR system and submit detailed packaging data. The data reporting requirement, which began in 2023, has proven challenging for many organisations. A lack of centralised guidance and inconsistencies in local recycling services have made it difficult for businesses to assess the recyclability of certain materials. Retailers are also reviewing product design, sourcing and labelling practices in preparation for modulated fees. Some are accelerating plans to adopt mono-material solutions or move away from coloured plastics that cannot be recycled at scale. "UK shops to take on full cost of packaging waste disposal" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Shoppers distraught after discovering popular range mysteriously missing at Aldi and Coles
Australian shoppers are baffled after a popular own-brand item mysteriously disappeared off supermarket shelves at two different major retailers. Aldi shoppers have been discussing the apparent sudden disappearance of beloved Alcafe coffee sachets from the store's shelves this week. The budget supermarket's own-brand range of coffee mixes includes products like the Alcafe Frothy Cappuccino Sachets, Mocha Sachets and Caramel Latte – all sold in boxes of 10. However, dismayed Aldi shoppers speculated this week: 'I think all Alcafe sachets are gone'. The news was spread by a fan of the Alcafe White Hot Choc sachets, who'd noted that their favourite warm beverage sachets along with others in the range were suddenly 'nowhere to be found' in store. The product listing on Aldi's website appeared to back up the shopper's discovery. All Alcafe coffee mixes sachet products, including their Vanilla Latte Frothy Sachets and Strong Cappuccino Sachets currently display online as 'not available'. Fellow Aldi shoppers agreed hat they too had noticed the entire range was missing. However, FEMAIL understands that the current absence of Alcafe coffee sachet products is only temporary and has resulted from a supply issue. The range is anticipated to return to shelves in coming weeks. However, FEMAIL understands that the current absence of Alcafe coffee sachet products is only temporary and has resulted from a supply issue Coffee drinkers did note that the German-owned supermarket chain was still stocking a more expensive alternative coffee sachet product made by Nescafe. 'I'm annoyed that Aldi got rid of their sachets and replaced with Nescafe because the whole point of Aldi is to save a bit of money not buying the expensive brands,' one ranted. 'It's a shame the Alcafe ones are gone,' added another shopper. 'Hopefully we get a good cheaper alternative through Aldi again soon.' Aldi currently stocks a range of Nescafe sachet coffee products, including Vanilla Latte and Strong Cappuccino, both priced at $12.49 for a box of 26 sachets. However, another off-handed comment about the disappearance of the own-brand coffee sachets only added to the mystery. One suggested that it wasn't just Aldi who no longer had their own-brand Alcafe coffee sachets on shelves, but that Coles similarly had recently stopped stocking their own-brand coffee mixes sachets. They wrote: 'It really sucks because Aldi no longer doing any Alcafe coffee sachets and Coles also discontinuing their brand coffee sachets.' They lamented that the absence of both Coles and Aldi's home brand coffee sachets left them with little option outside of the more expensive brands of coffee mixes. An eagle-eyed shopper claimed that they also could not currently find Coles own-brand coffee sachets - like the Coles Cappuccino Classic packs - either in stores or online Although there was no further discussion on the forum about the Coles own-brand coffee mixes, the store's own website appears to support the shopper's finding. The Coles website currently lists products like the Coles Caramel Latte All In One Sachets and the Coles Coffee Cappuccino Classic 10 sachets packs as 'currently unavailable'. FEMAIL reached out to a Coles spokesperson about their own-brand coffee mixes but did not hear back at the time of publication. For now, the remaining major Aussie supermarket in Woolworths does still appear to have stock of their home brand coffee mixes, with their Woolworths Latte Coffee Sachets currently listed on their website as 'available in store'.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Toymakers' Holiday Outlook Under Pressure From Tariffs, Layoffs
The outlook for the rest of the year isn't rosy for toymakers. Ahead of second-quarter earnings, analysts and experts say the industry continues to face a challenging environment marked by accelerating layoffs, steep tariffs and cautious retailers—all of which are threatening profitability and increasing risk.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wine Woes as President Trump's Tariffs Loom
A planned 30% US tariff on EU wines could hike prices, slash choice, and force layoffs across America's wine trade. The US wine industry warns that distributors who rely on European bottles for most of their revenue would collapse, hurting domestic winemakers and vintners too. While some California grape growers hope the tariffs will level the playing field for US winemakers, importers and retailers are skeptical that protectionism is the long-term solution. Critics say tariffs won't fix oversupply or falling demand and would instead shrink the entire U.S. wine ecosystem. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
6 Cheap Ways New Parents Can Baby-Proof Their Homes
There is one forgiving aspect in the whole child-rearing scenario: It usually takes at least seven months before a baby can crawl. This gives parents some time after bringing home a newborn to get their home fully baby-proofed. That said, making a home — even a relatively small one — safe for babies and toddlers on the move is an intensive job. It's likely you will feel some disconcerting awe when you look around and see all the potential baby death traps in your home. Read More: Find Out: Brands and retailers are well aware that the mortal coils for tots are literal and plentiful. Need to baby-proof an electrical outlet, a cabinet or a sharp-cornered table? There's a product or 10 for each of those things. And they all cost money. A pack of outlet covers? That'll set you back $10. Table corner guards? Another $10. There are tried and true ways to skip the marketing noise and baby-proof your home without buying pricey junk. Painters Tape On Outlets Rather than buying outlet covers to apply to every outlet in your home, get some painter's tape (this 3-roll pack of standard blue painter's tape goes for $10 on Amazon) and cover individual outlets with strips of it. It's easy for adults to remove and reapply and may even be more effective than products made specifically for covering outlet plugs, which babies and toddlers sometimes figure out how to remove. Discover Next: Pool Noodle Pieces On Table Corners Once you have a baby or toddler in your home, you start to see how much stuff in your house has edges. Not just tables, but also bookshelves, TV stands, fireplace hearths and sometimes more. Baby-proof dangerous corners by getting a pool noodle (no need to buy a new one if you already have one) by slicing it lengthwise to make a slit and wrapping it around the furniture's edges. It creates a kind of foam bumper. Rubber Bands Or Hair Ties On Cabinet Handles This is a favorite ultra-cheap, DIY baby-proofing hack: using rubber bands or hair ties to make cabinets off-limits. All you have to do is tie one around the two cabinet door handles (double-looped is best) to keep the doors closed. Towels Under Doors You may have heard of using towels under doors to contain noise, but this hack serves another purpose; you can put a towel under a door to prevent it from slamming or closing on your little one's fingers. Socks On Door Knobs You can spend $10 on four door knob protectors, or you can use old socks. By slipping one over a doorknob and securing it with a rubber band or hair tie, you make it so a baby or toddler, who doesn't yet have the muscular control or motor skills to do very precise things with their fingers, can't open the door. Plastic Wrap Over Toilets Toddlers — including those who are not yet going through potty training — can develop quite a fascination with toilets. They may want to play with the water inside or throw things in and flush them away. You can buy toilet seat locks, or you can take a little time and DIY a solution. Wrap plastic wrap (Saran wrap is perfect) over the toilet bowl when not in use to keep the toilet lid shut. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives This article originally appeared on 6 Cheap Ways New Parents Can Baby-Proof Their Homes Solve the daily Crossword
