The city of Medellin in Colombia is taking a circular economy approach to selling cleaning products. The project was initiated to reduce plastic waste by reusing and recycling containers for conventional household detergents. The venture enables people to refill their cleaning products and allows companies to repackage them for distribution. The goal is to generate a conscious and ecological purchase and reduce the environmental impact of consumption.
The project began in 2018. Its objective is to formalize a real commitment to the care of the planet by creating a circular economy. Such a system will benefit both the citizens and producers. Quality cleaning products are easily accessible at a low price for families and small businesses. The cost is less for everyone because producers don’t need to pay for packaging, and the consumers don’t need to pay for a container.
The system is similar to when containers for milk and soda were returned in exchange for new ones filled with product. The containers provided are made of long-lasting plastic, so their reuse dramatically reduces contamination. Furthermore, people don’t need to feel uneasy about throwing away so many plastic bottles.
Tita Ochoa, manager of KipClin, said:
Many people really mortify the use of plastic, that moment in which they have to throw the containers and do not know where they are going to stop, it is disconsolate. Now, with the refill system, a real and easy proposal is created for anyone.
How The Refill Works
- The refill station is similar to a gas station. There are four machines that work in the same way a gas pump does.
- There are four types of cleaning products available in liquid form, one available from each machine. The products include laundry detergent, softener, dishwashing detergent, and floor cleaner.
This project is a perfect example of how cities around the world could quickly reduce plastic waste and their carbon footprint. It has reduced the carbon footprint of households as well as small and medium enterprises in Medellín since it began a year ago!
