Retailers are set to play a vital role in the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), with more than two-thirds (68%) of consumers saying they would be likely to return drinks containers during a shopping trip once the scheme launches next year, according to new research from Danone, the parent company of evian, Volvic and Harrogate Spring Water.

The research suggests DRS could deliver commercial gains for retailers alongside environmental benefits. More than half (55%) of consumers say they would be likely to spend their deposit refund in-store during the same visit if issued as a voucher, while 61% say they feel more positively about retailers that provide recycling or deposit return facilities.

Consumer appetite for the scheme is also high, with 65% agreeing that a consistent UK-wide approach would help people recycle more and 64% saying they would be likely to use return points regularly once they are introduced.

Dan Vass, head of category and commercial strategy, Danone North Europe, said: “The findings suggest consumers are ready to make recycling part of their everyday shopping routine. For retailers, that creates an opportunity not only to support higher recycling rates, but also to drive shopper engagement, store visits and in-store spend.

“Having supported DRS in established markets, we’ve seen the value of early preparation and collaboration across the supply chain. As the UK prepares for launch, retailers and producers have an opportunity to work together to ensure the scheme is as simple and intuitive as possible from day one.”

As a founding member of the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO), Danone in the UK is helping shape the design and delivery of the scheme and supporting retailers with consumer engagement and implementation planning ahead of launch.

The UK’s DRS aims to mirror the success of Ireland’s scheme, where recycling rates for plastic bottles and drinks cans increased from 49% to over 90%, with more than three-quarters (78%) of containers collected directly through the scheme.

Most recently, Danone partnered with The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Exchange for Change in the UK through its evian brand to pilot reverse vending machines (RVMs) at the Wimbledon Championships Qualifying Competition in Roehampton. The pilot generated valuable insights into how consumers interact with return infrastructure, which will help retailers and industry partners prepare for implementation across the UK.