Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG), together with its rivals, have resolved to package their products in refillable forms as a measure of reducing environmental hazards. Other companies, including Unilever Plc and The Body Shop, have already implemented the changes. The move is as a result of increased pressure of environmental watchdogs on companies to minimize the packaging products in single-use containers.
P&G disclosed that it has commenced offering refillable containers, including beauty and body care products. The company has built refill stations in most of its stores across the world to encourage users to buy reusable containers for refills. Meanwhile, Unilever intends to reduce and recycle plastics in the near future. The company also plans to offer refill sticks for its beauty products in the shopping malls.
Consumers fail to embrace refill strategy
Despite efforts to encourage shoppers to reuse containers while shopping, statistics indicate that most customers are not interested in refill bottles. For instance, the strategy is not new for P&G since it once launched refills at its stores in 1990s but suspended the service due to lack of demand. Nonetheless, the consumers are blamed for not taking the initiative seriously.
Generally, some people argue that it is a lot of work to wash and refill containers, while others seem to be forgetful every time they go shopping. On the other hand, some products such as beauty products are not easy to sell in refills. As companies strive to comply with standards and regulations and change the environment for a better future, awareness of the importance of refills is necessary. Environmental experts should spearhead the development of innovative packaging solutions for sustainable living for all.
In January 2019, P&G collaborated with Loop, a leading e-commerce platform, to launch the ‘collect and recycle’ solutions to eradicate packaging waste. Loop offers its consumers choices to have their used packaging to be collected from their doorsteps. Similarly, P&G recently launched refillable packaging to encourage consumers to reuse the packaging materials for its products.
