At Natural and Organic products Europe, we have always boosted brands with eco at their core. And in the past five years there has been a global shift with how we use and dispose of our packaging. Refillables are a fairly new trend within the mainstream market, but the goal of refillables is to reduce waste and C02 emissions. According to Dazed Beauty, “buying a refill instead of a new product saves 70 per cent CO2, 65 per cent energy, and 45 per cent water.”
We are seeing more consumers choosing to cut plastic for good by refilling their products. In fact, 93 percent of a recent consumer survey said they would like to see more refill options. The amount of packaging waste produced is a serious threat to our environment – for homecare alone 29 billion plastic containers are generated each year. You may have heard of some of the amazing initiatives like World Refill Day which is ‘helping people eat, drink and shop with less waste.’ Here , our team are going to offer our insight into all things refill in 2023.
Health
There are so many choices when refilling health products. A few products on the market are tampons, menstrual pads, supplements, and deodorant. Products like this can be available online as a subscribed delivery. Another example could be buying the initial product (e.g. the brand Wild sell deodorant applicators and refill bars – so once you’re done with the initial bar, you can restock whenever needed). Therefore, the customer is reducing waste overall by buying the product just once.
As well as this, sustainable packaging is increasingly being developed for these products – so the initial product is less harmful for the environment. If you want to make sure a product has sustainable packaging, you can check it on the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s website.
Examples of refill health products on the market are:
- Supplements
- Vitamins
- Tampons / menstrual pads
- Deodorant
- Protein powder
Beauty
Refill options for beauty and personal care products is a huge trend with enormous advertising success all over TikTok and Instagram. From scrubs and creams to shampoo and conditioners, beauty products run the game when it comes to refills (even the mainstream brand Fenty Beauty are offering refillable make-up). This is because 78% of beauty consumers are shifting their focus to products which are sustainably made. Refillable beauty has been made easy, as consumers can now get refills sent straight to their door by subscribing to their favourite facial cleanser or razor refill service.
Examples of refill beauty products are:
- Scrubs
- Face and body creams
- Cleanser
- Razors
- Makeup (lipstick, blush, foundation)
- Perfume
Eco-Living
One main reason a customer would choose a refill option for a living product would be to reduce their household waste. Packaging for cleaning products has historically been made from single-use plastic but now there’s a wider choice available on the market. Plus, the brands trailblazing the way with their refillable living products are covering more than one eco pillar – as they tend to have more natural, environmentally friendly ingredients too.
Examples of refill living products are:
- Cleaning sprays
- Laundry detergent
- Washing up liquid
- Hand-soap
Food
In-store refill is by far the most eco-friendly option when consumers take their own container or use paper bags.
You may be wondering if food refills are available online, and they are! Many small businesses have taken it into their own hands to provide their customers with refill options via their online store.
Here’s some popular refill food options:
- Grains
- Cereal
- Alternative milk
- Confectionary
- Pasta
- Dried herbs
Our industry is paving the way for sustainable practices and refillable products are increasingly important to reduce waste. Astoundingly, there is set to be more plastic in the sea than fish in 2050. Together, we can help reduce this.
Attending Natural & Organic Products Europe is the first step, as it provides an opportunity to find new products for your business. Many of our exhibiting brands offer sustainable options, so you can find your next refillable best-seller! As well as this, you can learn more about these topics at our uniquely curated seminar programme. A few topics we cover are sustainability, natural and organic industry trends, retailing tips, carbon pricing, and more. We can’t wait to see you there!
BOOK your free trade ticket TODAY.
* Please note, this is a trade only event and will need proof of trade status to visit. *
Do you offer refillables and want to be part of the show? There’s only a few stands left, so please get in touch today.
Book a stand
Georgina Baker
Sales Manager
T: 01273 645125
[email protected]
Simon Watkins
Sales Executive
T: 01273 645122
[email protected]
Anya Zervudachi
Sales Manager
T: 01273 916527
[email protected]
The post Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, REFILL appeared first on Natural Products Europe.
