Words by Smiley Team
While supermarkets still sell many items in plastic packaging, a small family-run business has quietly been drawing customers towards an alternative that could solve our plastic pollution problem - zero-waste refills.
Set up in 2015, FILL sells vegan laundry detergents, soaps and personal care products via small local businesses across Europe and 14 online stores. Customers can refill their own containers from shop dispensers or order bulk refills online.
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“We are trying to create a better model for production that enables customers to stop buying single-use plastic. I think that's really exciting,” explains FILL’s project manager, Lucy Powell.
In 2018 the company’s sales rocketed, with increased interest around the launch of Extinction Rebellion and the release of David Attenborough’s ‘Blue Planet II’ series that highlighted plastic pollution.
Since 2020, they have had a pronounced impact, helping customers save more than 1.5 million half-litre plastic bottles making up 39 tonnes of plastic - enough to fill an entire football pitch.
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“Today we have about 1000 stockists around the UK alone,” says Lucy. “We’ve expanded our range so customers can buy more personal care products from us, and so far people keep feeding back to us that they really like how it smells!”
In addition to minimising waste, the company supports environmental initiatives. As a member of the eco network, 1% For the Planet, it donates 1% of its gross sales to environmental nonprofits.
All their workers are paid a living wage and they sell exclusively to eco-friendly businesses that treat their workers well too.
Find their products and more information at fillrefill.co.
