5 of our favourite refillable companies

We get it, you’d like to get rid of single-use plastic from your life, but it feels like such a major mission that just thinking about it gives you brain freeze. Everywhere you shop, from supermarkets to beauty brands, comes with an added helping of plastic. So what’s a planet-conscious consumer to do? When going cold (plastic-wrapped) turkey is just too much, try replacing one or two items at a time. Here’s a review of some of our favourite refillable brands on the market.

If plastic pollution is the problem, are refillables really the solution?

While they’ve been slow to take-off, refillable options are now springing up all over the place. Whether it’s pantry staples, make-up or even candles, there’s increasingly a refillable version out there. The biggest issue with using them is that you don’t have the convenience of just throwing away the bottle or jar when you’re done with it. You’ll need to package it up and send it off.

Sometimes, this can feel like a step too far. But at other times the thought of cutting down on the 52,000 plastic bottles of bathroom waste the average woman in the UK throws away in her lifetime is a major motivator.

The other motivator is money. Buying something once and then refilling it can be cheaper than buying it over and over again, and refills for make-up and cleaning products tend to be cheaper than their High Street equivalents. Our founder, Lucy, saved £2300 by switching to 10 refillable options over the last 5 years. Check out her article ’10 things I no longer buy since going green’.

So if you’re looking to switch up your single-use plastic for some refillable action, check out 5 of our favourites:

1 Pott Candles

Candles are must-have décor when it comes to sprucing up your home or office space, but did you know they can be refillable? Pott Candles offers gorgeous handcrafted, artisanal pots which can be reused and refilled. By using natural waxes and essential oils to bring you fragrant and relaxing scents, they’re a great sustainable swap for curating your ideal home space.

2 Zao Make Up ❀

If you’re looking for a way to enhance your beauty while caring for the planet, look no further than Zao Makeup. Going toe to toe with some of the best brands out there when it comes to texture, hold, colour and comfort, Zao is a great alternative makeup brand for those still wanting to look their best while curbing the plastic problem.

Use code GREENSALON10 for 10% off any orders up to £50 (excl. samples and sales).

3  Bower Collective ❀

The Bower Collective are front-liners in the refill revolution with their line of powerful household and personal care products. Highly effective and coming in a variety of scents, The Bower Collective allows you to have your house smelling fragrant over and over again whilst being environmentally conscious. Once you’ve finished, you can post back your empties where they sort out the reusing and refilling for you. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

4 Upcircle ❀

Natural skincare living up to its name, Upcircle’s recycled packaging means you can protect your skin and the Earth all in one go. Their return and refill scheme further means you can save 20% on your purchase, making Upcircle a fantastically eco-friendly and economical switch for your skin.

5 Fussy ❀

As we’re hitting that mid-summer madness, deodorant is quickly making its way to the top of everyone’s summer essential lists. That’s where Fussy comes in. Fusing science and sustainability, Fussy offers a wide selection of delicious smelling deodorants to keep you smelling funky and fresh. With their refillable case, you can swap and change scents as you please making Fussy one of our favourite refillable products.

One major bonus of refillables: if you’re one of the 2 in 5 people (38%) that WRAP found are uncertain about how to recycle plastics items, you may also find they take away the daily stress of wondering whether your plastic bottle can do in the recycle bin or not.

What’s YOUR green style? Take our quiz here to find out your best path to a greener life.

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 We vet each brand for their commitment to sustainability but we are not a certification body, nor are we auditors, and we have taken the approach that we trust brands to tell the truth about their sustainability policies, practices and plans.

Affiliate disclaimer: ❀ indicates affiliate links with brands to help fund the Directory so that we can research further sustainable brands. This does not affect the price you pay.