It wasn’t so long ago that refills were common place. People thought nothing of popping their empty milk bottles on the doorstep or returning their pop bottles to be reused. But as plastic took over our highstreets, refills fell out of fashion. Thankfully, they’re making a comeback. Zero waste stores are popping up around the country, giving customers the chance to fill their own containers with rice, pasta and other essentials.
Here at Big Green Smile, we’ve been promoting refills for years. So, without further ado, here’s our guide to refills – why we love them, why you’ll love them and which products our customers are raving about.
Why we love refills
At Big Green Smile, we’re all about the little changes that can make a big difference to the environment. One five litre bottle uses a lot less plastic than five one litre bottles. Less plastic equals less energy and less waste.
Why you’ll love refills
Buying in bulk means there’s less chance of you running out of washing up liquid, laundry detergent and other essentials. And you can save money. The five litre Ecover Delicate Laundry Liquid, for example, is cheaper per litre than the smaller 750ml version.
The refills our customers are raving about
We sell a wide range of refills, including laundry liquid, household cleaning products, shower gel and shampoo. They all adhere to our strict ethical criteria, including no animal testing, no phthalates, no parabens, no petroleum and no mineral oil. Our most popular refills include:
Faith in Nature offer five litre versions of more than 20 of their bestselling products, including their much-loved Lavender and Geranium Body Wash, which our customers have described as “superb”, “calming” and “gentle”. Add the handy pump dispenser to your basket to make decanting the liquid easy and mess-free.
Bio-D offer five litre refills of their washing up liquid, fabric conditioner, laundry liquid, toilet cleaner, hand wash and more. The Bio-D Concentrated Washing Up Liquid is a customer favourites, with the majority of reviewers giving it the full five stars. A recent reviewer said, “Compared with some it stays soapy for longer and copes with oily cooking tins well. I have been using it for some years now and would recommend it to anyone who asks!”
Now you can refill your favourite deodorant! Fragranced with a fusion of over 15 natural botanical extract and oils, the lasting impression this natural deodorant leaves is a gorgeous lavender and vanilla fragrance that is fresh, floral and sweet – a great way to start the day!
Ecover make five litre versions of many of their products but you can’t usually buy them in supermarkets. The washing up liquids are amongst the most popular bulk buys. The Chamomile and Clementine Washing Up Liquid smells lovely, is very effective and is gentle on skin. As with Bio-D, there’s a handy pump dispenser to make refilling easier.
The Method refills are smaller than other bulk buys but ultra-concentrated. So the Washing Up Liquid Refill, for instance, is only just over one litre but will last for weeks. It’s hugely popular with customers. M. K. from Guildford says, “Best dish washing product! Refills are a great way to save some money and decrease the usage of packaging material.”
This French brand might not be as well-known as some of the brands we sell, but we reckon it can hold its own against the big boys. If you’re a fan of DIY cleaning products, you’ll want to nab the five litre bottle of White Vinegar.
Ecozone sell their bio and non-bio laundry detergent in bulk sizes. Both are vegan friendly, palm oil free, cruelty free and safe for septic tanks. One customer called the non-bio the “Best non bio laundry liquid I've tried.”
Freshly scented with lavender, Sonett’s Laundry Liquid is vegan-friendly and 100% biodegradable.
This Dutch brand is 100% natural. The vegetable-based soaps are fragranced with natural oils so they smell amazing. One litre refills are available for four hand soaps, including the warm, earthy Sandalwood and Cardamon.
Refill your water bottle
Don't forget to refill your water bottle. Did you know there are 12,000 places across the UK where you can fill up your water bottle for free?
You can also browse all our five litre refills here.
Why not have a read of our other articles, such as how to live plastic free for a week, or our tips on living a zero waste lifestyle