Buying Tips
Tips & tricks to make your refills as easy, convenient & environmentally friendly as possible
What containers should I use?
There are lots of options out there, but it’s always best to use something designed for the job:
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Dry Food: We all dream of pantries full of beautiful glass jars and all this can be yours! But when you come to stock up, we recommend using something lightweight and easy to carry – reusable bags (textile, paper or plastic) work well. You can then easily decant the contents when you get home.
Pasta: Think big – they can be bulky.
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Spaghetti: Think long – they can be easily broken.
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Muesli, Oats & Grains: Keep contained – they can be dusty.
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Other Refill Items: You’ll need containers with wide openings, to avoid spills and waste when using the dispensers.
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Cooking Oils: Bottles need a wide enough neck, to be able to top them up from the tap.
Cleaning Products: Reuse your old cleaning product containers, they are durable and created for the task at hand. For example, laundry liquid bottles come with non-drip lids perfect for pouring into the machine, and the spout on the toilet bleach is designed to get in all those hard to reach places, so you don’t have too. Old hand pump soaps, shampoo & conditioner bottles can also be refilled and reused. After all, the more you reuse, the better your impact on the planet.
How to get the most out of your products:
Wooden Toothbrushes: If Hubbie (or any family member 😊) is carelessly putting their toothbrush back in the pot soaking wet, this can cause the bottom of the brush to turn black from sitting in a soggy puddle. So, just put a few drops of white vinegar in the bottom of your pot, and the problem is solved. This little hygiene tip also works well for plastic brushes too! Or treat yourself to one of our lovely toothbrush holders instead.
Bars & Soaps: If you keep them dry, they will last much longer, so a soap dish or tin is a worthwhile investment.
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Plastic, Paper & Cardboard: On the odd occasion you forget your container, don’t worry we’ll have a supply of paper bags you can buy.
"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly."
- Anne-Marie Bonneau
Paper vs. Plastic what's the best solution?
We have all been touched by the awful pictures of the marine life stuck in plastics nets, and programs showing the effect of wipes in our rivers… But what is less well-known, is that cardboard and paper has a higher CO2 impact than plastic! While it decomposes, it releases methane, which has a far bigger effect on global warming than CO2.
Furthermore, paper is not infinitely recyclable, and the recycling process is heavy in chemicals, energy, and produces awful sludge. So, if you’re on your way to reducing your plastic consumption, this is fantastic, but replacing it with paper/cardboard isn’t the answer.
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In the end paper and plastic both have an impact on our beautiful planet, with emissions and pollution - we think the best solution is to refill!
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So, whenever possible we suggest you; REFUSE the unnecessary, REDUCE your consumption of packaging, REUSE what you have, and RECYCLE only as a last resort.
And of course, the best way to help you do all this is to live life the refillable way 😊
Should I buy new containers?
We encourage you to reuse what you have rather than buy new ones. Be creative! Bea Johnson, the zero-waste priestess, puts her freshly baked bread in a pillowcase. You could refill your rice and lentils in an old solitary sock… And reuse old jars, labeling them with stickers, marker pens, or blackboard paint. Just make sure your containers are clean enough to reuse.
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How much should I buy?
If you are unsure of what quantity to purchase of our products, take a look at our handy weight & measures guide, to see the typical weights sold in the supermarkets, weight per portion/serving, cooking times, and more.