Refill Episodes

Reusable packaging is gaining momentum across Europe, especially in France where ambitious reuse laws are reshaping retail and hospitality. Fresh from the Reuse Economy Expo in Paris, we discuss why we believe much of the industry is over-engineering the solution, and why the future of reuse may be far simpler than many realise. Plus, are posters rubbish or not, can you claim a deposit from a crushed can or bottle, and why does James need a calming tea?

Despite years of effort, reusable cup initiatives have struggled to break through, often dismissed as 'interesting but not scalable'. Some coffee shops have even banned single-use cups, only to watch their sales drop. So, what’s really holding reuse back? And can we ever make it the norm? In this episode, we dive into the successes, setbacks, and lessons learned from the push for reusables, and explore whether a waste-free coffee culture is truly within reach. Plus, how are textiles collected, are magnets rubbish or not and how could EPR improve reuse?

James and Robbie have a chat with Nick Torday, co-founder and CEO at Bower Collective, a B Corp pioneering refill in the home. Bower Collective deliver cleaning and personal care products in plastic pouches, which are used, sent back and refilled before being sold to another customer. The conversation covers a wide range of potential issues and solutions in the world of packaging refill and reuse.

Most of us want refillable packaging to work, but it seems to have continual bumps in the road, with trials getting cancelled and consumers struggling to engage. What have we learned from the trials that have taken place and what can they tell us about the future of refill? Plus, how is glass recycled, which bin do photographs go into and is it better to use a bottle bank or your home recycling bin for glass?

James is joined this week by Natalie Fée, founder of environmental charity City to Sea. James and Natalie have a wide ranging discussion, exploring; how Natalie managed to get all the retailers to switch their cotton buds to cardboard, reuse trials, plastic recycling and waste incineration.