Refillable packaging isn’t just a trend—it’s one of the smartest ways to cut down on single-use plastic waste. From refillable soap bottles in Canada to returnable milk bottles in the UK, the world is full of creative systems that keep containers in circulation and out of landfills.
Here’s a whirlwind trip through some of the most clever and inspiring reuse programs on the planet.
Ontario & the UK: The Milky Way of Refill
Before shampoo bottles went circular, milk bottles were already old pros. In Ontario, Farm Boy lets you take home milk, cream, or chocolate milk in beautiful, sturdy glass bottles—with a $2 deposit. Drink up, bring them back, get your $2 back. They’ll wash them, refill them, and return them to the shelf for the next customer.
Over in the UK, Milk & More is basically the cool, modern milkman. They drop off your milk in glass bottles, then swing by to collect the empties right from your doorstep. Each bottle can be reused about 28 times before it even thinks about retiring.
Germany: Pfand + the Bottle Fairy
Germany runs on Pfand—a deposit system where you pay a small fee for your drink bottle and get it back when you return it. The magical part? The “bottle fairy.” If you leave your bottle neatly beside a bin, someone else will happily scoop it up, return it, and claim the deposit. It’s recycling and community spirit in one tidy package.
Japan: Vending Machines with a Side of Recycling
Japan loves convenience, so of course, its recycling game is efficient too. Many vending machines have matching collection bins, and the bottles are made from high-quality plastic that’s quickly turned back into… you guessed it… more bottles. It’s a fast, functional system that fits the country’s love of convenience.
Brazil: Soda and Beer on Tap (In the Grocery Store!)
In some Brazilian supermarkets, you can bring your own bottle and fill it with soda or beer straight from the tap. It’s like a growler station—but for your everyday drinks. Affordable, low-waste, and kind of fun to watch.
France: Bulk Beauty Refills
Paris is helping lead France’s "en vrac" (bulk) trend, which encourages shoppers to bring their own containers for products sold by weight—everything from food to liquids like cleaning supplies and beauty products. Additionally, brands like L'Occitane have rolled out refill stations in Paris, where customers can refill products such as shampoos, shower gels, and hand soaps using reusable aluminum or glass bottles.
South Korea: Coffee Cups on Loan
Some coffee chains in South Korea give you a reusable cup with your latte—after you pay a small deposit. When you’re done, you can drop it off at any participating café, not just the one you bought it from. They wash it, put it back into circulation, and the whole thing feels just a little cooler than tossing a paper cup.
Canada: The Beer Store’s Bottle Boomerang
Back home in Ontario, The Beer Store has been a refill pioneer since before it was cool. For decades, they’ve run a deposit-return system for bottles, cans, and kegs that’s so efficient, it recycles or reuses over 90% of beer containers sold in the province. You buy your beer, you enjoy it (responsibly, of course), and then you return the empties to get your deposit back. The bottles? They’re washed, refilled, and sent back out into the world for another round—literally. It’s circularity you can toast to.
Why We Love This Stuff (and How You Can Play Along)
From UK milk bottles to Ontario’s beer bottles to Parisian shampoo refills, these systems prove that reuse doesn’t have to be hard—it just has to be built into everyday life. And the best part? You can be part of the loop right now.
At Goodwash Soap, we’ve taken a page from these global heroes with our own returnable aluminum packaging. When you’re done with your bottle, send it back to us—we’ll wash, refill, and get it ready for its next adventure. Because whether it’s milk, beer, or body wash, the future is circular.
Cheers to that. 🍻🫧. Ready to Refill: Skip the plastic and join the refill revolution today. Shop our sustainable soap refills in Canada and enjoy fresh scents in returnable bottles—good for you, better for the planet.