How Unilever are revolutionising the reuse and refill initiative.

The TRANSFORM impact accelerator, a collaborative effort including Unilever, aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in experimenting with and expanding packaging models to tackle environmental issues like single-use plastic waste.

In it’s latest insights paper, TRANSFORM shares lessons from four businesses that operate reuse-refill models in Africa and Asia.

This includes Alner who provide a low-tech solution in Indonesia by allowing shoppers to refill products from three Unilever brands using reusable containers. Refillable, another business outlined in the insights paper, offers a service in India where consumers can purchase home care products through a reuse, refill, and return system, reducing plastic pollution.

Unilever highlight the length of time this initiative takes to develop, stating that relationships between enterprises, brand owners and retailers must be established to impact customers’ consumption habits and create a difference with sustainable shopping.

Not only does this initiative positively impacting the environment, but it also acts as a more cost-effective solution for consumers due to the price of packaging being eliminated.

However, this solution has faced concerns with product tampering and fear of quality issues. Additionally, this initiative sacrifices shelf space and could make the product less visible in stores. To tackle this, Unilever are proposing a sampling technique to prove the quality is consistent with the previous product offerings. They also push for enterprises to educate shopkeepers on the benefit of this service to promote it to customers and create interest in the service.

Unilever are among many of the UK leading companies already registered to attend London Packaging Week 2024. Join them and 4,500+ attendees to dive into sustainable solutions to exceed your packaging goals or future projects.