Join the refill revolution

Going green is easy with these use-again planet-loving essentials, says

Be honest, how green are you really? Most of us could do a lot more to help the planet. And we can start with the things we buy.

Every year five million tons of plastic is used in the UK, half of which is packaging. Environmental experts say that to combat this we need to move towards a more circular economy – one where we reuse and keep things in use for as long as possible.

Enter refills, saving on waste with each and every use.

More and more companies are swapping out single-use packaging and encouraging customers to refill rather than rebuy.

So, are you ready to join the refill revolution?

NO FILTER

More than 100 million water filter cartridges end up in landfill every year. But the Phox V2 water filter, £39.99 (phoxwater.com) comes with an ingenious refillable cartridge. Every 45 days, simply clean it out and pour in fresh filtration granules. Your carbon footprint will be 70 per cent lower than when using a standard water filter.

SPIRITED AWAY

Some spirits come in beautiful bottles you won’t want to bin. So, say cheers to the eco-friendly alcohol companies that sell pouch refills for your elegant empties.

Try Wildjac Damson and Raspberry Gin, bottle, £29; refill, £27 (wildjac.co.uk) and Bullards Spirits Coastal Gin, bottle, £40; refill, £35 (bullardsspirits.co.uk). Send empty pouches in the post – no envelope or stamp required – to be recycled.

RELIGHT YOUR FIRE

See the light and reuse a glass candle jar, time and again. After burning an aromatic Scentered Wellbeing Ritual candle to its end, place the stylish frosted glass jar in the freezer (this helps the candle remnants come out easily) then pop in a perfectly sized refill.

A candle and refill set is

£45, and a box of two further refills is £30 at scentered.me.

BRILLIANT BATHROOM

Go green in your bathroom with these refillable beauty buys. Faith in Nature offers a five-litre refill, £50, for its shampoo bottles, £5.79 (faithinnature.co.uk), which will keep you going for ages.

Then there’s Espa’s Essential Collection of body lotions and washes, which offer refill pouches. We love the Bergamot and Jasmine Body Lotion, £21 for 250ml bottle; £25 for 400ml refill pouch (espaskincare.com).

And The Body Shop is rolling out refill stations in its UK stores.

Simply purchase a stylish aluminium bottle, £2, and fill it up again and again with one of the brand’s 12 best-selling shower gels, shampoos or hand washes, from £5.

MAKE-UP MAGIC

Zara’s new beauty range of bronzers, blushers, lipsticks and eyeshadows comes in glossy white compacts that are all refillable, from £5.99, available in store.

And Paul and Joe’s pretty lipstick cases are definitely too lovely to let go – thankfully you can refill them too. Lipstick cases are £7 and refills £14 at beautybay.com.

SUPER SKINCARE

Tropic Skincare offers refills on all its facial serums and oils.

When you’ve finished a bottle, keep the pipette, recycle the bottle and order a refill, without pipette, for £1 less. We love its Rainforest Dew Hydration Serum, £42; £41 for refill (tropicskincare.com).

FRESHEN UP

Proverb deodorants are vegan and aluminium-free and come in five different fragrances and strengths. Simply choose a refillable case in either yellow, white or grey and fill, then refill.

A starter pack costs £15 for a case and one refill (proverbskin.com).

KEEP IT CLEAN

Fill’s cleaning products – including washing up liquid and toilet cleaners – come in glass bottles you can refill from five litre and 10 litre bags. Or refill bottles at one of more than 200 stockists across the UK. Laundry liquid is £7.49 for a 500ml glass bottle and £33.50 for a five litre refill (fillrefill.co).

GERM BUSTERS

We’re using more soap and hand gel than ever. But pump dispensers can’t be recycled. So it makes sense to hold on to one bottle and refill.

Try Sanctuary Spa’s Antibacterial Handwash, £5.50 for 250ml bottle; £8.50 for 500ml refill pouch (uk.sanctuary. com). We also like Haan’s handbagfriendly refillable spray hand sanitisers, £5.95 for a 30ml spray; £12.95 for 100ml refill pouch (beyondliving.co.uk).

PEARLY WHITES

Most toothpaste tubes are made from aluminium and plastic, so are generally not recyclable.

Step forward Brushd, Chewable Toothpaste Tablets in a refillable glass jar, £4.99 for 62 (brushd. co.uk). Chew a tablet, then use a wet toothbrush. A refill pack costs £4.99 for 124 tablets.