Asda Sustainability and Recycling — What’s New in 2025

Asda has always been a value-driven supermarket, but in recent years it’s also become one of the UK’s most active retailers in sustainability. From cutting plastic waste and improving food sourcing to introducing refill stations and recycling points, the company is steadily moving toward its long-term goal of becoming a net-zero business by 2040.

In 2025, Asda’s environmental strategy is broader and more practical than ever. This guide explains the latest recycling initiatives, packaging changes, and eco-friendly projects happening across stores nationwide — and how customers can take part.

Asda’s Sustainability Vision

Asda’s sustainability plan focuses on four main goals:

1. Reducing waste — by cutting down on packaging and increasing recycling options.
2. Lowering carbon emissions — through logistics, energy, and store operations.
3. Sourcing responsibly — from farmers, fisheries, and suppliers using ethical practices.
4. Encouraging customers to make more sustainable choices through pricing, labeling, and access.

All of this forms part of Asda’s wider “Creating Change for Better” commitment, which ties environmental responsibility to affordability — ensuring green choices don’t come at a premium.

Packaging Reduction and Reuse

One of Asda’s most visible changes in recent years has been its effort to reduce packaging.

Refill Stations

Asda has introduced Refill Zones in many of its large stores, where customers can bring reusable containers to fill up on everyday essentials like rice, pasta, cereal, and cleaning products. These refill stations are supported by major brands such as Kellogg’s, Unilever, and Persil.

The goal is to make refilling as easy as picking a prepacked product, and the prices are kept the same — or even cheaper — than their packaged equivalents.

Plastic Reduction

Asda has already removed over 450 million pieces of single-use plastic from its packaging range. This includes plastic cutlery, straws, cotton buds, and film wraps on certain fruit and vegetables.

Where packaging remains necessary, the supermarket now prioritises recyclable or compostable materials. Shoppers will notice more paper packaging, recyclable film, and thinner plastic bottles across multiple categories.

In-Store Recycling Points

Asda was one of the first supermarkets to roll out dedicated Plastic Recycling Points at the front of its stores. These bins accept soft plastics that local councils often can’t process — things like crisp packets, bread bags, film lids, and plastic carrier bags.

The collected material is sorted, cleaned, and sent to recycling facilities where it’s turned into new products such as bin liners or outdoor furniture.

As of 2025, more than 300 Asda stores now include these drop-off stations, making it one of the largest supermarket-led recycling networks in the country.

Food Waste Reduction

Asda’s fight against food waste has also gained momentum. The supermarket aims to halve food waste by 2030 across its own operations and supply chains.

To reach that target, Asda has:

• Partnered with Too Good To Go, an app that lets customers buy unsold food at discount prices before closing time.
• Donated surplus food to charities through the FareShare network.
• Improved date labeling, simplifying “best before” and “use by” tags to reduce confusion.

In addition, several stores now sell “Wonky Veg Boxes”, filled with perfectly edible but imperfectly shaped produce at lower prices — helping both shoppers and the planet.

Energy Efficiency in Stores

Asda is cutting energy use across its stores and distribution centres through major efficiency upgrades.

Key improvements include:

• LED lighting replacing older systems across all UK locations.
• Refrigeration doors added to chilled aisles to cut energy loss.
• Solar panels installed on warehouse roofs and new-build stores.
• Electric delivery vans added to its logistics fleet.

These initiatives are estimated to save over 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to powering more than 2,000 homes a year.

Sustainable Product Sourcing

Beyond packaging and energy, Asda is taking steps to ensure its products come from responsible sources.

• Seafood: 100% of Asda’s fish is now sourced from sustainable fisheries certified by MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) or equivalent bodies.
• Coffee and Tea: All own-brand coffee and tea are Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance Certified.
• Palm Oil: Every Asda own-brand item containing palm oil uses certified sustainable sources.
• Cotton: By 2025, 100% of Asda’s cotton in George clothing and homeware will be responsibly sourced.

The retailer also continues to support British farmers and growers, maintaining strong partnerships to reduce reliance on long-distance imports.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Expansion

Asda has partnered with GRIDSERVE and EG Group to roll out electric vehicle charging across hundreds of supermarket car parks.

By the end of 2025, more than 500 Asda locations are expected to offer fast and ultra-rapid chargers, making it one of the largest EV networks among UK supermarkets.

Drivers can pay contactlessly, check availability in real-time, and earn Asda Rewards on in-store purchases while charging.

Asda’s Circular Economy Approach

Asda’s long-term strategy goes beyond recycling — it’s about building a circular economy, where resources are reused and waste is designed out of the system.

The supermarket now works with UK recyclers to turn plastic packaging from its own operations into new packaging materials or non-food products like playground equipment.

It’s also piloting closed-loop systems for delivery crates and pallets to reduce single-use logistics waste.

Sustainable Clothing with George at Asda

As part of the George for Good initiative, Asda’s fashion arm is producing more items from recycled polyester, organic cotton, and responsibly dyed fabrics.

All George hangers are now made from 100% recycled plastic, and online orders use paper mailing bags instead of plastic sleeves. By 2025, over 80% of George garments will meet Asda’s sustainable sourcing standards.

Community and Education Programs

Asda doesn’t stop at corporate sustainability — it also helps communities understand and participate.

Through the Asda Foundation, the company funds local environmental projects, from tree planting and litter cleanups to recycling workshops in schools.

Stores also host Community Champions, staff members who help coordinate local initiatives and encourage greener lifestyles among customers.

Recognition and Partnerships

Asda’s sustainability work has earned recognition from several organisations:

• Carbon Trust Standard certification for emissions management.
• WRAP UK partner in the Plastics Pact initiative.
• Recycling Association member for its packaging innovations.

The supermarket also collaborates with NGOs and government bodies to align its goals with the UK’s wider environmental targets.

How Shoppers Can Take Part

Customers can support Asda’s sustainability efforts by:

• Using reusable shopping bags and refill containers.
• Dropping off soft plastics at store recycling points.
• Buying Wonky Veg and discounted “Too Good To Go” boxes.
• Choosing George for Good clothing options.
• Checking labels for recyclable packaging icons.

These small actions, multiplied across millions of customers, create a major environmental impact.

Final Thoughts

Asda’s 2025 sustainability and recycling progress shows that eco-friendly shopping doesn’t have to cost more or feel inconvenient. Through packaging reduction, refill stations, renewable energy, and clear customer guidance, the supermarket continues to make green choices easier for everyone.

Its commitment to net-zero by 2040 is ambitious but achievable — and by linking sustainability with everyday savings, Asda proves that value and responsibility can go hand in hand.