The appetite for refillable and reusable products has spurred Unilever to expand its refill & reuse activities through a series of trials in the UK, delivering and testing convenient and sustainable solutions to help shoppers cut plastic consumption Cif is committed to enabling people to use their Cif Power & Shine trigger spray bottles for life. If the trigger spray breaks, customers can call the Cif careline to receive a new trigger spray delivered free to their home. Insights from this initial trial, as well as Unilever commissioned research, is informing their expanded trials this year: Unilever aims to produce all its ecorefill and spray bottles from 100 per cent recycled plastic by the end of 2020.

The launch of Cif ecorefills is a game-changer when it comes to reducing plastic waste in the products we use to clean our homes," said Gemma Cleland, vice president of homecare at Unilever. Changing how we make, distribute, use and dispose of everyday products is one of the biggest environmental challenges the world is currently facing. It’s also an issue where consumption habits are just as important as business models.As we are committed to people using their Power & Shine spray bottles for life, if the trigger spray breaks, we will deliver a new one free of charge. Good for consumers, the planet and our business Research from Edelman shows that UK consumers are increasingly demanding more refillable and reusable solutions. By reusing the bottles, Cif hopes to reduce the amount of trigger sprays being disposed of, which are problematic to recycle as many companies aren't equipped to deal with them. The launch of Cif ecorefill is a game-changer when it comes to reducing plastic waste in the products we use to clean our homes,” says Gemma Cleland, VP, Homecare, Unilever UK & Ireland. “Our research shows that two-thirds of us feel guilty when we throw away plastic and shoppers are looking for easy switches that can have a positive impact on the world around us. Weekly updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Awards

Our research shows that two-thirds of us feel guilty when we throw away plastic and shoppers are looking for easy switches that can have a positive impact on the world around us," she continued.News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates. Dezeen Events Guide Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news. Dezeen Jobs Weekly The ecorefill is 100% recyclable once the plastic sleeves are removed. By the end of 2020, we’re aiming for all ecorefill and spray bottles to be made from 100% recycled plastic. Sharing what we’ve learnt is a start, and we hope it will be useful. But global change needs a whole system behind it. We know we can’t do this alone, it requires buy-in from retailers, manufacturers, delivery services, civil society organisations and, of course, consumers. We also see a critical role for governments, especially in helping promote innovation and encouraging investment. We’ll keep collaborating to help make this happen. In response to this combination of challenges, we created Cif ecorefill – a 10x concentrated refill that allows shoppers to buy one spray bottle, which they can then use for life.

The expanded trials are in seven stores across the country, including Glasgow, York, Rugby, Milton Keynes and Leeds. Unilever is working with retail partner, Co-op, to test refills amongst convenience shoppers, in addition to customers at larger Asda supermarkets, and will be announcing plans for more stores and trials later in the year. While triggers are technically recyclable, many recycling companies aren’t geared up to deal with them. Plus, they are designed to last approximately 15 times – about five years, on average – but instead, generally get disposed of after just one use. The need for an absolute reduction in plastic use is abundantly clear. A report by The Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ – Breaking the Plastic Wave – found that ocean-bound plastic is set to triple by 2040 unless radical action is taken.But solutions do exist. The same report found that this amount can be reduced by 80% if major transformational change takes place.