Refill and Reuse

16.03.2022 - Most packaging is still single-use, destined to be thrown away after. However, a change in this trend is emerging: In addition to improved recycling possibilities and the increasing use of recycled materials, new reuse and refill systems are becoming increasingly attractive as alternatives to single-use packaging.

Reusable systems with refundable deposits have a long history of success in Germany when it comes to beverages such as water, soft drinks and beer. However, according to recent demands of the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), the plan is to also significantly increase the reusable solutions on offer in other areas, such as the mail order and food-to-go sectors. By contrast, in the cosmetics and household cleaning product markets, refill systems are to ensure less packaging waste and save transport and logistics costs. Environmentally conscious start-ups are contributing smart new ideas to this market, but large manufacturers have also been offering refillable solutions for quite some time. The most recent example: a recycled stand-up pouch made of mono-material developed by Mondi for the Henkel brand Pril. This refillable product supplements the brand’s PET pump dispensers and is expected to translate to 70 percent less plastic per use.

However, refillable solutions are more than just recyclable refill packs. (Re)filling stations for products may still be rare, but supermarkets and chemist’s such as Alnatura, dm, Kaufland and Aldi have already begun testing packaging-free stations in some of their stores to find out whether customers will accept the option of bringing their own bottles or bags to fill. Nowadays, you can also purchase cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents and washing-up liquids as well as dry food without packaging. You can either bring your own containers or buy them in the store.