Boots rolls out blister pack recycling scheme across the UK

Boots has introduced a UK-wide recycling scheme that allows customers to recycle empty blister packs while earning rewards for their efforts. The initiative follows a successful pilot in London and the Southeast, which saw 170,000 participants sign up to recycle hard-to-recycle medication and vitamin packaging.

Blister packs, made from a combination of plastic and foil, are not typically accepted through household kerbside recycling collections. In response, Boots has extended the scheme to over 800 stores across the UK, providing more people with access to convenient recycling options.

To take part, customers need to register through the Recycle at Boots app, where they log their empty blister packs before dropping them off at a participating store. Boots Advantage Card holders can earn 100 points — worth £1 — when they recycle five blister packs in one visit and spend at least £5 in-store. The scheme also covers other health and beauty packaging, with 500 points available for every five qualifying items recycled with a minimum spend of £10.

The collected packaging is sent to Boots’ recycling partner, MYGroup, where the materials are separated. The foil is reused immediately, while the plastic is processed into MYBoard™, a durable material suitable for playground equipment, furniture, and construction applications.

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.

The blister pack recycling scheme is part of the broader Recycle at Boots initiative, which aims to make it easier for customers to recycle difficult materials while reducing packaging waste across the UK.