Unilever Bangladesh is advancing sustainability with the URefill initiative, incorporating a machine that reduces plastic waste, the Financial Express has reported.
The URefill machine is said to have been designed to dispense liquid products, with an aim to reduce plastic waste and foster sustainable consumer habits.
The machine is claimed to be the first-ever refill machine of its kind, making sustainable shopping both easy and accessible.
The initiative represents a shift in the purchase and use of everyday products, with implications for both the environment and consumer behaviour.
Each time consumers opt to refill their bottles at a URefill machine, they cut their plastic footprint by a reported 90%. This reduction showcases the tangible benefits of the refill system.
In addition to environmental benefits, the URefill initiative also offers economic advantages.
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Consumers can save approximately 20% per serving when they choose to refill rather than purchase new packs.
Initially, Unilever Bangladesh introduced URefill machines in the domestic Badda markets, with plans to expand beyond these urban areas.
Unilever Bangladesh Homecare marketing director Shadman Sadikin was quoted by the news agency as saying: “To tackle plastic pollution with the speed and urgency needed, we aim to create solutions appropriate for the local market, scalable and will inspire consumers to be a part of the refill-reuse revolution.
“Unilever Bangladesh has partnered with its global TRANSFORM initiative and Bopinc to design the URefill machine for the general trade environment. This research started back in 2021 and in 2023, prototypes of the machine were developed which are fit and suitable for Bangladesh.
“We are scaling up our initiative and rolling out more machines in the coming months to meet the growing interest of consumers and retail shops.”
In August last year, Unilever launched a new public-private partnership focused on scaling packaging circularity and reducing plastic waste.
