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Refill stations for cleaning supplies

Posted August 15th, 2008 by cgimbel

Hi there,

Every time I put an empty, but perfectly reusable, product container in my recycling bin, I wish I was toting it to the store to refill. My local grocery store has a large bulk foods section where you can fill containers with everything from soy sauce to cooking oils to maple syrup. Wouldn't it be fantastic to have a similar setup for refilling things like laundry detergent, dish soap, countertop cleaner, etc.

It seems like a company as progressive as Seventh Generation should lead the way for installing refill stations in the stores that sell its products. Think of how much packaging you could avoid making. Recycling is fine, but considering the resources used in recycling all these containers, not to mention in their original production - it hardly makes me feel much better. Plus, if you passed some of that savings on to the consumer, people might be more likely to make the investment in healthier, although frequently more expensive, "green cleaners".

It's not the packaging that I want to buy over and over - it's what's inside. Please give me a way to do that!

Respectfully,
An Austin Mom



Comments
Refill stations for cleaning supplies
Posted by fernrx | Fri, Aug. 15, 2008

I LOVE her suggestion and would definitely bring my containers in to refill.

refills
Posted by elizabethjustice | Mon, Sep. 1, 2008

great idea!

I actually make my own cleaning supplies just to avoid buying excess material!

I was just coming to 7th Gen to make the same suggestion!!
Posted by tiff-mariea@msn.com | Wed, Sep. 3, 2008

I noticed Arm and Hammer has a similar idea that I think 7th Gen should definitely do!! I don't want to buy the Arm and Hammer product because I prefer 7th Gen. but they sell Refills that you just add water to! That is so much better! We don't need to purchase more bottles or more water.

Can 7th Gen do this? Please?

Absoutely 100%
Posted by ladybrandy | Thu, Sep. 4, 2008

I think this is a wonderful idea.

Problem is going to be having the resources to have a representative come to the stores to refill the unites.
Although the stores could do it themselves (i myself would have issues with that). I like to know for sure what im getting.

Brilliant
Posted by GreenOne | Fri, Sep. 5, 2008

Brilliant

I agree!
Posted by EnchantedDaisy | Mon, Sep. 8, 2008

I think an important issue, however, would be quality-control. I like refilling stations and "serve-yourself" type products, but I am always skeptical about the cleanliness of the container used to hold the bulk supply in and the age/quality of the product inside. If these issues could be solved, I'd be 100% on-board with this idea.

Why doesnt this exist yet?
Posted by nielubielalek | Mon, Sep. 8, 2008

in todays world it would make sense! People would reuse bins and bottles <3 recycling it would make people like me love this world so much more.I am for this! Ohhh well ill lug around a few contrainers sure people did it for centuries !

I agree!
Posted by bluescifiworm | Sun, Oct. 5, 2008

I really think this should be researched. Heck, even most grocery stores now have those water filtration machines that you can refill bottles with. Why not something like that for the Seventh generation stuff?

Cost
Posted by resch89444 | Wed, Oct. 8, 2008

As much as its a great idea and would be all about it, the cost may be too much.

Take in consideration the space needed in each store which cost money.
The start up cost just to get it going in major grocery stores.

How about setting up "re-use" drop off stations which would be located out side the stores and people would drop off their used 7G containers and 7G would pick them up periodically to have them refilled and sold again?

It's easy to establish the bins. It would be good advertising for 7G, good PR for the stores and less expensive if you subcontract the pick up or have a volunteer organization do it.