is now closed

unpckdstory

we closed at end July 2023
...5 years to the month of our 2018 launch of refill deliveries.
In the current economic climate, we are unable to operate or sustain a successful business.

With prices rising in every aspect of living, we are all choosing more carefully how and where to spend our money. Rising operating costs have also impacted running the business.
"great idea", bad timing
Having started unpckd 5 years ago to solve a personal problem of finding a convenient way to shop with less packaging, ironically, closing the business puts me (& our customers) back in the very position I was back then: being a full-time working parent wanting to shop in the most sustainable way but without the time to visit extra stores or having to buy everything online from multiple different sources, all arriving by post/courier in copious amounts of packaging!
thanks for shopping unpckd
For those who have been able to stick with unpckd, we salute you; to all our customers over the last five years, we thank you for shopping with us.
sad times, but no regrets
We make this announcement with a heavy heart, knowing that we have created a business that has proved a great solution to our household plastic packaging problem; and closing unpckd leaves one less option for busy planet-conscious households to get the convenience of grocery delivery without the waste.
Whilst unpckd is a "great idea" (so said by many), it is one of the many initiatives (big & small, uk & abroad) that, thus far, has not able to kick-start the refill revolution.

It's disappointing to have got this far to now close - but we are more than proud of the business we have built and the impact we have had in reducing packaging waste in customers' homes &, therefore, the environment.

unpckdimpact

unpckdethos

01 circular

championing a circular business model (using reusable, returnable containers milkman-style)

02 purpose-led

putting purpose, people & planet over profit as a Social Enterprise with environmental impact goals

03 local model

building a local business supporting the local community and local suppliers

04 low waste

creating an operationally low waste business: zero waste to landfill; use of non-plastic reusable containers

05 low carbon

operating low carbon delivery (by 100% electric vehicle rather than post or courier)

06 bcorp ready

drafting a 133 score in BCorp assessment (certification score is 80/200)

unpckdwins

celebrating the wins we have achieved together over the years

milkman-style refill delivery

making sustainable groceries more accessible and refill shopping more convenient

highly rated service

being rated 4.4 star 'Excellent' on TrustPilot based on customer feedback

informed advice

sharing information to educate on sustainable living via our 100+ email newsletters

impact-led

operating as a UK Registered Social Enterprise, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal #12 'Responsible Consumption'

bulk Terracycling

recycling over 10,000 items of unavoidable unrecyclables with customer Terracycle collections (crisps, pills, pet food, contact lens & makeup)

'Plastic Free' business

achieving Silver Award as Plastic Free Business Champion, and being Flagship Business Representative on Plastic Free Hitchin Steering Group

press coverage

featuring in numerous press articles including Cambridge Judge Business School, The Guardian, The Independent, Stylist Magazine, Cambridge Independent, The Comet

purpose recognition

being selected for Digital Leader’s 2022 Net Zero 50 list as one of the top 50 individuals, initiatives, products and services helping us reach Net Zero in the UK

impact recognition

being named as a 2023 NatWest WISE100 (Women in Social Enterprise) recognising the most inspiring and influential women in mission-driven business in the UK

social giving

donating £700 to charity (British Ukraine Aid, The Trussell Trust, British Red Cross, Humanitas) through customer and percentages of sales donations

flexible employer

providing fulfilling work to local parents looking to do something meaningful with their time, mind and capabilities during school hours

environmental impact

reducing the amount of packaging waste in our customers' homes for a positive impact in the reduction of resource depletion, climate change and pollution.

whatnext

As a consumer, I am still very much personally invested in refill shopping and as a refill advocate, in making refill shopping accessible and affordable to the mainstream shopper. As such, I plan to remain involved in this space, not least in my personal quest to replace unpckd in our own sustainable grocery shopping routine.
Please get in touch if you think I can be of value with any initiatives looking to better sustain people and planet.

unpckd signing off...for now.

Tracey Banks
unpckd founder
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