Anya Hindmarch’s Universal Bag Is Getting A Dish Makeover

Five years after it sprung into supermarkets, Anya Hindmarch’s Universal Bag is back – and this time, it’s not a retailer at the front of the collaboration, but a podcast: Dish. Here’s everything you need to know about the new release (and where to shop it).

Dish Teams Up With Anya Hindmarch On The Latest Universal Bag

When you ask people what their favourite foodie podcast is, chances are, it’s Dish from Waitrose. Hosted by Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett and radio DJ Nick Grimshaw, the podcast sees celebrity guests sit down for a homecooked meal and a chat about their latest project. And now, the hosting duo are stepping out of the studio and into the aisles of Waitrose to join Anya Hindmarch’s Universal Bag initiative.

It’s the first Universal Bag to be linked to a podcast, rather than a supermarket directly – but it still has all the now-famous markers that make the shopping beloved shopping bag. The new design features a punchy pink base with green and white accents on the straps – sitting alongside the classic Universal Bag logo.

‘As the home of food lovers we’re bringing the infectious energy of Dish to your weekly shop,’ said Nathan Ansell, Chief Customer Officer at Waitrose. ‘This collaboration is a love letter to everything we stand for: great taste, bold style, and a serious passion for food. Whether you’re sourcing ingredients for an Angela Hartnett masterpiece or grabbing nibbles for tonight’s dinner party, now you can do it with proper Dish flair.’

What Is The Universal Bag?

Chances are, you’ve seen a Universal Bag. Decorated in bold, bright colours, these bags are a hot commodity in most UK supermarkets – and on the arm of most UK shoppers. But they pack a bit more oomph than your typical shopping bag.

Designer Anya Hindmarch has long been committed to helping her community reduce its environmental impact. In 2007, the British designer launched the I’m Not A Plastic Bag campaign, with the goal to raise awareness of the worldwide single-use plastic bag predicament.

But the problem still persisted. Despite the UK government introducing new legislation in 2015 – which led to sales of single-use plastic bags falling by 95 percent between 2015 and 2020 – an eye-watering 437 million single-use plastic bags were sold between April 2024 and April 2025 (up seven percent from the year prior).

So, 14 years after its first iteration, Hindmarch revived the project by launching the Universal Bag – a line of reusable shopping bags created in collaboration with the Solent Group and UK supermarkets. Described as ‘the next generation of reusable bag, a recycled and recyclable shopping bag’, the Universal Bag is designed to take everything, everywhere. 

What Makes It Better Than Plastic?

Designed by Anya Hindmarch and manufactured by the Solent Group, the Universal Bag is made from 100 percent recycled plastic – with each step and material fully certified under the Global Recycling Scheme (GRS). This is a reusable bag that is guaranteed to last up to 10 years – and if it doesn’t quite live to see a full decade, or you simply wish to recycle the bag, you can return it for a free replacement. (The built-in pocket acts as a pre-addressed envelope which you can pop through any letter box, so that it can be delivered to the correct address and recycled locally.)

The bag also features an extremely durable structure (perfect for lugging around cartons of milk and tins of beans), as well as a stylish design that elevates the typical shopping bag. After all, who doesn’t want to look good while browsing the aisles for produce?

‘Sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, and our partnership with Anya is a perfect example of that,’ Tracey Dobkins, CEO of the Solent Group, said of the collaboration. ‘The Universal Bag is more than just a reusable bag – it’s a thoughtfully designed solution that redefines style, convenience, and sustainability. With exceptional durability, it truly is a bag for life. We’re proud to be an industry first with the convenient free-post returns pouch, ensuring it can be fully recycled if its lifecycle does come to an end.

‘This collaboration isn’t just about a product; it’s about reshaping behaviours and encouraging better choices. Having worked with some fantastic global grocers on this project so far, we’re delighted to lead in design innovation and look forward to seeing the Universal Bag make a lasting impact.’

And it’s really made an impact. Since 2021, the Universal Bag has saved over 546 tonnes of plastic – the weight of 46 double-decker buses – from landfill.

‘It’s exciting to see the Universal Bag project is truly driving change in consumer behaviour, and contributing to a circular economy, with over 500 tonnes of plastic saved from landfill so far,’ said the designer. ‘Plastic pollution remains a pressing environmental issue but working together with major global food retailers shows the solution must be collaborative.’

What’s The Difference Between The Universal Bags?

The Universal Bag has popped up in multiple UK supermarkets over the years – including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Selfridges Food Halls, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Co-op, Whole Foods Market and Boots. The design, a reusable bag with a striped handle, is the same structurally but comes in each retailer’s signature colour scheme.

The different variations we’ve seen so far include:

• Sainsbury’s: Burgundy with red and white straps
• Waitrose: Dark green with yellow, green and white straps
• Selfridges Food Halls: Yellow with black and white straps
• Tesco: Navy with blue, red and white straps
• Morrisons: Mustard with green and white straps
• Asda: Light green with green and white straps
• Co-op: Light blue with blue, navy and white straps
• Whole Foods Market: Caramel with green, brown and white straps
• Boots: Blue with blue, navy and white straps
• Dish (Waitrose): Pink with pink, green and white straps

When & Where Can You Get The Dish Universal Bag?

The Dish edition of the Universal Bag will be available in Waitrose stores and online from the end of September 2026. waitrose.com

Will There Be More?

The Universal Bag continues to be an ongoing project for Anya Hindmarch, so we anticipate there will be more collaborations and releases in the future. anyahindmarch.com