Refill

Refill in the UK: challenges and opportunities

Pre lock down, refill and zero-waste shops were a visible part of the shift towards more sustainable lifestyles. However since many have faced significant challenges. Rising costs, changing shopping habits, and economic pressures have led to a number of independent zero-waste and refill shops closing across the UK. With Cheshire West now home to only one.

The sector has struggled to scale within a system still largely built around convenience and single-use packaging. But this doesn’t mean refill has failed, far from it. It highlights the need to embed refill and reuse more widely into everyday life, making it easier, more accessible, and supported by both policy and business innovation.

Why refill matters more than ever

We are now seeing a shift in focus towards reducing waste at its source, moving higher up the waste hierarchy from recycling to reuse.

With new packaging and waste regulations on the horizon, including global agreements and European legislation aiming to introduce ambitious reuse targets, businesses and communities have a real opportunity to lead change rather than react to it.

By embracing refill and reuse now, organisations can:

-Stay ahead of regulation by preparing for policies that reduce single-use packaging

-Help shape the future by influencing how sustainable systems and standards develop -Build resilience by adopting more resource-efficient and cost-effective models

Our role in Cheshire

Through our local refill initiatives, we’re working to support and grow refill opportunities across Cheshire — helping businesses, communities, and residents make reuse a practical and accessible choice.

We want our Refill Hubs along with other activities in these locations to helps us all turn concern about waste, climate change and the local environment into practical action that anyone can take part in.

By offering well prices refill products and an easy way to collect products locally, the Hub removes barriers and helps people make more sustainable choices without judgement or cost being a barrier.

It also strengthens community connection. The Hubs will create opportunities for residents, families, volunteers and local groups to work together, whether through refilling, borrowing reusable kits, joining a litter pick or recycling items that would otherwise go to landfill. These shared activities help build relationships, confidence and a sense of pride in our neighbourhood.

Refill Scheme
Shop our eco-friendly laundry and body products online and refill them again and again using our 500ml.

We opened our first Refill Hub in Hoole with more to come.

We offer free deliver locally around Chester.

More information for business:

As part of WRAP’s Circular Economy Plan they highlight the issue of single use plastic. In today’s world, reducing plastic waste is more crucial than ever. Where it isn’t possible to reduce use of materials, focusing further up the waste hierarchy by increasing uptake of reuse and refill is vital if we are to reduce the impact of plastic packaging, and address plastic pollution.

WRAPS Mainstreaming Reuse & Refill in the UK – A Practical Guide. – CLICK HERE

Environmental benefits of refill and reuse

Refill and reusable packaging play a vital role in creating a circular economy.

By reducing reliance on single-use items, refill systems help to:

Lower carbon emissions Reduce water use Cut down on raw material consumption Minimise waste and pollution

Just as importantly, they help normalise new behaviours — making reuse part of everyday life for individuals and communities.

A growing movement

Although the landscape is changing, refill is evolving beyond standalone shops. We’re now seeing:

Refill options integrated into existing retailers Community-led refill schemes

Businesses trialling new reusable packaging models

This creates new opportunities to make refill more convenient, visible, and widely adopted.