Refill, Reuse, Repeat: A kinder way to shop

Refill shops have been sprouting up across Ireland in recent years, giving local communities the chance to adopt a more sustainable way of doing their weekly shop. While every refill store might have its own story and combination of offerings, they all share the common goal of reducing reliance on single use plastic, in turn helping our planet thrive.

Pantry staples make up the main offering of refills, but there is more and more being offered packaging free at these shops. Shampoo, cleaning supplies, jellies and matcha powder are just some of the many things you can stock up on, alongside classics like rice and lentils.

Naomi, founder of Phibsboro based refill shop Noms, says starting small is the way to go.

“Ask for help, and don't be afraid of making a mistake. I would encourage someone to pick just one item that they buy regularly from another store, and try refilling it. Then you can start to see how it compares, in real terms.”

Refill and fresh produce shops are an essential part of the community, as they show people how to embrace circular living through everyday habits. Most of these shops have become community hubs, a place for guidance and socialising, as well as a place to shop.

Our very own Community Manager, Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, was a refill shop owner herself before starting to work at the Rediscovery Centre. Setting up her shop, The Refill Mill, in her hometown of Mullingar, she was delighted to have received a warm welcome in the town. While some locals were skeptical, others jumped for joy coming in the doors, delighted to have a refill shop in the midlands.

“Over the years I saw regular customers building up their habits, making swaps for their homes and dedicating themselves to making informed and positive changes.”

Having no prior experience running a shop, Eibhlin jumped head first into providing her town with access to plastic free alternatives.

“I was trying so hard to reduce my own plastic waste and getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of alternative options in my local area. I would go to Dublin and buy from other refill shops, but it wasn’t sustainable for me to continue doing that. I thought that if I was having this experience, others in my area must be too so I decided to do something about it.”

Across the board, every refill shop owner we spoke to recommended an easy starting point for refilling: laundry liquid and washing up liquid. They are usually sold in a lot of plastic packaging, so refilling these cuts down on a good amount of plastic straight away. These products don’t need to be refilled as often and we tend to buy big measures anyway, so making the switch feels doable for many.

“There are plenty of Irish brands that are brilliant quality and much better for the environment. It’s easy to have a space for washing up liquid bottles, one in use and one ready for refilling on your next trip to the shop.” says Eibhlin.

Naomi from Noms has noticed many of her returning customers are refilling these supplies in particular. “I think a sizable portion of the Phibsborough community refills their household cleaning items in our store. It is consistently the most frequently used part of the shop. Once people try it, they try to continue the cycle, which is great.”

More than a refill

Although it’s been a slow start for refill shops in Ireland, the attitudes towards this way of shopping is changing. Chou’s Cottage in Clonmel has combined a design & craft shop with their refill offering, allowing more potential footfall for their refills.

“More people come in with their own containers without needing to be told, and we've also noticed customers making an effort to bring their own bag when they can, so they don't need to ask us for one. Regulars are building refills into their routine too, popping in for pasta or rice alongside a candle or a card from one of our makers. It feels like it's becoming a normal part of the weekly shop rather than something unusual.” says Julie.

While attitudes are changing for the better, Eibhlin says that re-education was a big part of running her shop.

“A lot of people have really good intentions but they feel overwhelmed by the lifestyle change they were trying to make. Originally, I thought that price was going to be the most important aspect of encouraging people to shop with me. It turned out that convenience and education were just as important. Every day included teaching people how to make changes and guiding them through options that would work for their lifestyle, that was a big part of the job”, says Eibhlin.

For people looking for extra guidance on going plastic free, Kildare-based refill shop, Refillz, hosts a series of workshops in several libraries across the country. Couple Sinéad and Martin own what is Kildare’s only refill shop, which has stores in Naas and Portarlington. In partnership with Kildare Libraries, they are hosting workshops titled ‘Break free from plastic,’ showing people how small everyday changes can significantly reduce plastic consumption.

These workshops will show you how to reduce single use plastics, from switching to reusable coffee cups and water bottles to buying clothes second hand, upcycling old items and shopping package free. Owner Sinéad said the aim is to show people that living more sustainably can be simpler and cheaper than you think.

The Jar Circle

What if we could take a community based approach to the containers we use and reuse? Selen of The Jar Circle is trying to do just this, by tracking how and why containers are used across communities.

“The idea came from something I noticed growing up in my home country and in many other cultures: people naturally keep glass jars after using them. They reuse them for homemade preserves, sauces, spices, or food storage, and many households end up with cupboards full of jars that are too useful to throw away but don’t have a wider purpose.”

The aim is for these jars to connect up to refill shops and community groups, to keep track of how many times a jar is used and for what purpose. Selen’s long-term vision is to create a digital platform where each jar has a QR code that can be scanned to track its reuse journey.

“People would be able to see how many times a jar has been reused and the estimated environmental impact, such as packaging avoided and resources saved. Over time, I’d also like to explore how the system could support other community initiatives, such as safely redistributing surplus food through trusted local partners.”

Link up with your local refill this week and see how many swaps you can make, starting with just one.