Have you ever finished a bottle of shampoo or lotion and wondered where the empty container should go?
Recycling bin or trash? And even if you sort it correctly, will it actually get recycled? In Korea, more than 62.6% of cosmetic containers are rated "difficult to recycle," while only 0.7% earn the top "excellent" recyclability rating.
Source: Korea Consumer Agency, "Many Cosmetic Containers Are Difficult to Recycle"
Cosmetic packaging often includes pumps or caps made from several materials combined, along with coatings or printing added for design. So even when people sort their waste carefully, not every container makes it back into the recycling stream. That's why, as a company that makes beauty products, AROMATICA has long worked on packaging that's easier to recycle. We've swapped multi-material pumps for single-material caps and switched from colored plastic, which is hard to recycle, to clear PET, which is far easier. We design our packaging with its whole life cycle in mind, including what happens after you use it.
But there's another question worth asking. Before we think about how to throw a container away properly, could we keep using it a little longer? If an empty bottle is still in good shape, you can refill it instead of reaching for a brand-new one. That's the idea behind refilling.
Refilling means topping up a container you already own with just the product you need. It cuts down on new packaging and is a small, everyday way to make the things you have last longer. Best of all, it's easier to start than you might think, and often closer than you'd expect. So where and how do you start refilling your beauty products?
Refilling might feel unfamiliar simply because you don't know how yet.
Where can you refill? What kind of container should you bring? It's natural to have questions. But once you know a few basics, it's surprisingly simple. Start with just one empty bottle from home.
Step 1. Find a refill spot near you
If you're new to refilling, search "refill shop" or "zero-waste store" on your map app. These stores, often called refilleries, sell low-packaging and reusable everyday goods. Many also offer refill stations where you can fill your own containers with as much laundry detergent, personal care products, or pantry staples as you need.
AROMATICA stores in Korea offer refill service, too. One of the best things about refilling is that you take only what you need instead of buying a fixed size. Because you pay for the product without the packaging, refills cost up to 90% less than the same amount of a full-size product, and each refill earns you ₩500 in Carbon Neutral Points (available in Korea only).
Need a little shampoo for a trip? Only want a few days' worth for the gym? Refilling comes in handy for moments like these. There's no need to buy another travel-size product. Just fill the container you already have with exactly what you need. Buy only what you need, and reuse your containers. Refilling is a choice for the planet that's also surprisingly practical.
Before you go: how to prep your containerDon't buy a new container just to refill. If you wash it, let it dry completely. Refilling the same type of product? No need to wash. |
Step 2. Refill pouches: an easy way to start at home
No refill station nearby, or hard to get to one? Refill pouches are a great way to start. They're still made of plastic, but they use far less than a full-size bottle. Depending on the product, AROMATICA refill pouches use up to 92% less plastic than the original bottle. We launched our first refill pouches in 2016 to make refilling easier for more people, and the lineup has now grown to 26 products.
Keep the bottle you have and simply top it up. You can keep refilling at home, no trip to a refill station required. Use your containers for as long as you can, and replace only what's inside. If there's no refill spot near you, start by choosing a refill pouch instead of a full-size bottle the next time you shop.
Of course, refilling may not feel natural at first. You have to remember your empty bottle and pause for a moment when you'd normally just grab something new. So we're not asking you to switch everything to refills overnight. We'd simply love for you to try it once. Bring back the shampoo bottle you'd normally toss and fill it up, or pick a refill pouch instead of a new bottle. Once you do it, the difference feels surprisingly real.
It's a tiny change, but because your choice stays right there in front of you, refilling is actually kind of fun. After refilling the same bottle two or three times, you might find that refilling feels more natural than throwing away. So the next time your shampoo or body wash runs low, think about refilling, just once. :)