If you’re trying to make more sustainable choices around cleaning, you’re probably already using refills. Concentrated or rehydratable refills take things a step further reducing plastic waste and emissions. Here’s our guide to why you should consider switching.
Smaller Packaging
Rehydratable refills don’t need big boxes which means it takes fewer materials and less energy to package them. This further reduces the overall environmental impact of the product. They don’t take up as much room in your home helping reduce clutter and giving you more space in your cupboards for snacks.
Less plastic
Some refills like Ocean Saver don’t use plastic at all. The concentrated liquid comes in a soluble cellulose sachet packed in a card box. You just fill up your spray bottle with water, pop in the refill and shake. Other concentrates like Splosh come in returnable pouches that are refilled as many times as possible before being recycled into something else. Most products come with a reusable bottle for life or you can rinse out and reuse an old spray bottle.
Water Is Heavy
The big refill bottles at your local supplier still need to be transported. One litre of water weighs one kilogram. Transporting a on litre package 1000 km by road produces 0.1 Kg C02e1. If your refill only weighs 20g, 50 refills can be transported for the same emissions. Diluting with tap-water also means that you don’t have to carry heavy bottles home from the shop. You can pop a concentrated cleaning refill in your pocket or get it posted through your letterbox.
What rehydratable refills are available?
The most commonly available rehydratable products are cleaning sprays. You can get all the usual suspects including antibacterial surface cleaner, daily shower sprays and specialist glass cleaners. Washing up liquid is more of a newcomer and is available as concentrate or crystals. Laundry sheets are a great alternative to bulky powders and liquids.
Find out more about our range of small but mighty refills <link>
This article is posted as part of an assignment for the College of Media and Publishing.
Jo Pearson 