Unilever : Launches Its Largest Refill Trial in Europe

The three different refill models trialled inside the store are:

Touch-free Refill Machines (developed by Beauty Kitchen): Beauty & Personal Care brands (Radox shower gel, Simple liquid handwash and Alberto Balsam shampoo and conditioner) along with Persil laundry liquid will be dispensed in reusable aluminium or stainless steel bottles via three machines using the Return, Refill, Repeat premise. First-time shoppers will be provided with a bottle whilst returning shoppers will reuse their existing bottle. Once filled, shoppers add their printed label to the bottle and take it to checkout as usual. Each bottle has a unique QR code, a feature which will enable full traceability of each bottle allowing Unilever to track the full buy, use, refill process and gain better insight into the circular model. Together these three Refill Stations could save the equivalent of 30,000 plastic water bottles in just one store in one year.*

In-home refills: Cif ecorefills offer an in-home refill experience and the store will provide shoppers with an entire bay dedicated to the ten times concentrated refill for sprays which allow you to use a Cif spray bottle for life. Ecorefills use 75% less plastic than the standard cleaning bottle and mean 87% less trucks on the road. An entire fixture of ten times concentrated spray cleaners across the Asda estate could save 990 tonnes of plastic every year.

Self-serve containers: Unilever tea brands PG Tips and Pukka will be available through self-serve containers or 'hoppers' for loose tea and tongs to self-dispense fully biodegradable teabags. Shoppers will be able to take their own reusable container into store or buy one there. Once their container is full, they take it to the weighing station where a label is printed ready for payment at the checkout.