Dunelm, River Island, Holland & Barrett back Beat The Receipt campaign

River Island, Holland & Barrett and Dunelm have become the first UK retailers to sign Flux’s #BeatTheReceipt pledge.

The campaign is being supported by the British Retail Consortium, British Independent Retailers Association and the Association of Convenience Stores.

Currently, most tills will automatically print a paper receipt, regardless of whether the customer wants or needs one. By signing the pledge, retailers commit to making paper receipts fully optional in their stores by 2023.

Huge shout out to @riverisland @holland_barrett @FromPaperchase and @DunelmUK who are supporting the #PaperlessPledge today!

Join these industry leaders and help us to #BeatTheReceipt here: https://t.co/VXlVmi8d7q pic.twitter.com/DmnhsU1Sq6
— Beat the Receipt (@beatthereceipt) May 20, 2021

Samantha Lind, campaigner at Beat The Receipt, says: “Paper receipts account for tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions every single year, and most of them end up straight in the bin.”

“This is the retail industry’s ‘plastic straw’ moment, we’ve woken up to the damage we’re doing to the environment and it’s time for drastic change. Customers want it, the retail industry can benefit from it, and our planet needs it.”

Anthony Houghton, Group Retail & Property Director, Holland & Barrett, says: “As a wellness retailer, we’re always looking for ways we can reduce our impact on our planet.”

“We removed paper receipts from online orders two years ago and introduced optional paper receipts last year.”

“Customers have responded to the change really well, and so far we’ve seen a 30% reduction in receipts being issued in our stores. We anticipate this will increase further with the introduction of e-receipts later this year.”

The drive is also being supported by Barclays, which is offering retailers the chance to become part of its digital receipt offering.