How Refill Shopping At The Bare Alternative Helped Customers Reduce Single-Use Plastic Packaging By 96%
- Mathew Reynolds
- Aug 31
- 18 min read
Introduction
For me, like many others, the transition to refill shopping typically begins when you first learn about the concept and visit a refill store for the first time. After that experience, it’s hard to understand why you’d ever shop any other way! Supporting local and independent businesses that offer a welcoming atmosphere and a chance to purchase quality goods without any single-use plastic packaging just seems like a no-brainer now.
Since The Bare Alternative is now six years old, we are revisiting some statistics we gathered after our first year of trading. At that time, we discovered that we had helped our customers reduce their use of plastic packaging by approximately 400 kg.
After analysing the data from our first year of trading, we examined the total quantity of stock received and the known amount of packaging created for the goods we sell. We compared these figures to an estimate of the typical packaging for the same goods if they had been purchased from a supermarket. Based on this comparison, we can conclude that refill shopping generates less packaging for our customers.
Since then, we have grown and now sell a much broader range of refill products. Additionally, we have also made changes to further reduce and minimise the amount of packaging we need to handle from the goods we sell, which we will explore later in this article.
In 2024, we experienced our highest sales of refill products to date. We sold more refills across a wider range of products than ever before, so to assess our growth and the positive impact we have made, we wanted to revisit some of the previous statistics we created.
Benefits Of Refill Shopping
Before we analyse the numbers, we think that it is important to understand the wider reasons why refill shopping is a more sustainable option. While reducing plastic packaging waste is the primary focus of this article, and generally the main focus for most refill shops, there are many other compelling reasons to make the switch.
Firstly, we believe that refill shopping mindfully encourages individuals to slow down and reflect on their purchases. This approach leads to sustainable consumption habits and helps consumers become more conscious of their choices.
A conscious consumer is someone who makes purchasing decisions with an understanding of the social, environmental, and ethical implications of their choices. They will consider factors such as sustainability, fair labour practices and the product lifecycle. By doing so, they support businesses and products that align with their values.
The concept of being a conscious consumer gained traction in the early 2000s and 2010s, particularly alongside the rise of ethical consumerism and sustainability movements. These movements incorporate principles from various initiatives such as Fairtrade, slow fashion, and zero-waste.
Building on the principles of conscious consumerism, refill shopping also supports eco-friendly brands, many of which are also independent businesses striving to make a positive impact. At The Bare Alternative, we take great pride in being part of a wider eco-friendly supply chain. Many of the brands we stock are UK-based, which helps reduce carbon emissions associated with long-distance shipping while strengthening local economies. We carefully select ethical suppliers who share our ethos and commitment to sustainability, transparency, and quality, ensuring that every product on our shelves reflects the values we champion. By choosing these brands, our customers not only reduce waste but also support a community of businesses that prioritise the planet and ethical practices over short-term profit.
Although refill shopping may take longer than a midless dash around the supermarket, we strive to create a relaxed and welcoming environment. This way, you won't feel rushed and can take the time to make informed decisions about your purchases. Our goal is to remove the decision paralysis that can come with having multiple options for each item. We are always happy to explain how the products we sell are a sustainable choice or to answer any other questions you may have.
Refill shopping can also be more cost-effective in the long run, especially when it comes to bulk purchasing options. If you regularly buy certain products and have large enough containers for your refills, you can purchase these items in larger quantities. This approach not only reduces the number of shopping trips you need to make, thereby decreasing your carbon emissions, but also saves you time and money on transportation costs.
We offer bulk buy discounts on various products and are always willing to special order bulk items from our suppliers to make your shopping experience easier. Another benefit, and almost an unexpected side effect of refill shopping, is that it allows you to purchase smaller quantities of items that you use less frequently. For instance, if you only need a small amount of an ingredient for a recipe, you won’t be forced to buy a larger, pre-packaged option, which is often more expensive. This reduces the likelihood of having leftover goods that you’ll eventually throw away, addressing the growing concern of food waste and its environmental impact globally.
While I think it goes without saying that many refill shops are small independent businesses, so by choosing to shop at these establishments, you will be showing your support for local businesses, their owners, and the staff, who are often residents of the area and are also invested in supporting other local businesses with the salary they earn. At The Bare Alternative, we are fortunate to be part of a wonderful community of local residents who not only support our work but also other fantastic small businesses in the area, which contributes to a strong sense of community spirit.
In contrast, typical supermarket or online shopping promotes a consumer-driven culture of convenience. In a world dominated by digital downloads, on-demand services, and subscriptions, many people are constantly rushing and seeking the next immediate gratification. However, instant gratification doesn't always lead to genuine satisfaction or provide the simple joy of engaging with the world around us.
This highlights the importance of the welcoming environment we provide and our support for the local community, as opposed to spending on goods that primarily benefit shareholder profits and contribute to various problematic issues, including environmental damage and industries that inflict social and humanitarian harm. Additionally, many of these products are poorly designed with planned obsolescence, leading to disposability and accumulation in landfills or transfer to countries lacking the infrastructure to manage the piles of waste sent their way.
The Impact Of Refill Shopping On Tackling Plastic Pollution
Choosing refill shopping can lead to significant reductions in packaging waste, with research showing up to an 80% decrease compared to traditional supermarket purchases. This reduction happens because customers bring their own containers to refill, thereby avoiding excess packaging materials. However, without access to these facilities, it can become all too easy to fall into a mindset of a “throwaway culture.”
This term refers to the tendency to dispose of items after just one use or a short period, emphasising instant gratification and convenience. This mindset often leads to excessive consumption and waste generation, rather than encouraging sustainability and resourcefulness.
Many of us have heard that supermarkets offer facilities to return soft plastics for recycling, or we've seen recycling advice on packaging suggesting we recycle at large supermarkets. While this may seem like a perfect solution to the plastic packaging waste problem, a quick search for terms related to this advice returns headlines like "Are Supermarkets Really Recycling Our Flexible Plastic?" and "Major Supermarkets Accused of Misleading Shoppers Over Recycling". Investigations into what happens to this waste reveal a troubling reality behind this seemingly super solution. Unfortunately, it appears we can't just drop off our waste and expect the recycling fairies to take care of it for us.
Everyday Plastic said volunteers placed Apple tracking devices in 40 bundles of plastic packaging that were then dropped at Sainsbury’s and Tesco collection points across England.
The bundles were tracked after they left the stores from July 2023 to February 2024 and collectively travelled more than 25,000km across the UK and overseas, the campaigners said.
Taken from The Independent article "Major Supermarkets Accused of Misleading Shoppers over Recycling"
There is much more to explore about packaging waste. In fact, there's too much information to cover here, so we will revisit this topic in a future post to delve deeper. Stay tuned for more updates.
However, we can't move on from this topic without addressing the significant environmental damage caused by plastic pollution. While it may be too extensive to cover in detail now, we have all seen the devastating images of plastic waste in landfills, floating islands of debris in our oceans, and areas where this waste washes ashore on beaches. It's clear that we need solutions, and by choosing refill options over prepackaged goods this offers considerable environmental benefits.
Packaging Waste Comparison: Supermarket Vs Refill Shopping
Ok, so let's get to it. We previously completed this comparison after our first year of trading, and now we're revisiting the task after some time away. It has been challenging to focus on this due to time constraints over the past few years. However, we believe that it’s important to highlight this critical statistic, as it really shows the significance of refill shopping and how it can help reduce an individual's negative impact on the environment.
You can find the full calculations of how we worked out the difference in packaging
In the table, we’ve separated the data into two categories: dried foods and liquid products. For each product, you’ll see a breakdown that includes:
Total stock received – the amount of each product we received during the period.
Estimated supermarket packaging – how much plastic packaging 1 kg of that product would typically generate if bought from a supermarket, multiplied by the total stock we received. This shows how much packaging would have been generated if the same goods were purchased pre-packed in supermarkets.
Actual packaging from our suppliers – the amount of packaging generated from the goods we sourced, giving a total of the packaging we produced.
At this point, it's important to acknowledge that we had to make some assumptions and estimates in our data. To give the benefit of the doubt, we have used the "best-case" scenario for supermarket packaging and the "worst-case" scenario for packaging generated for the goods sourced from our suppliers.
For example, when purchasing goods in a supermarket, such as dried fruit that requires thicker packaging, we estimate the packaging weight to be around 50 g per kg (or 5 g per 100 g). However, we anticipate that a standard pack of this product, typically weighing between 200 to 500 g, would actually use only 30 to 50 g of packaging. This translates to approximately 15 to 10 g of packaging per 100 g of product.
Additionally, to calculate the packaging we generated, we have taken into account that the bulk refill bottles containing our liquid refills can be reused 10 times before reaching the end of their life. If these bottles can actually be reused more than 10 times (something we believe to be true), it would significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste generated in our calculations and further increase the positive impact of refill shopping.
So let's put some of the numbers into some context with some examples. Based on widely used recycling industry figures, we’ve assumed that a tightly compacted mill-size bale of soft film packaging (such as food pouches and wraps) weighs around 250 kg, while a bale of rigid plastic bottles (such as washing up liquid or bodywash containers) weighs around 350 kg. Each bale is roughly a 1-metre cube, about as tall as a dining table and with the same footprint as a washing machine, just to give you a sense of scale.
Using these assumptions, we estimate that if all the goods sold in our shop last year had been bought in typical supermarket packaging, they would have generated:
410 kg of soft film packaging from food products (just under 2 bales)
3,087 kg of bottles and other packaging from liquids and cleaning products (around 9 bales)
That’s a total of 3,497 kg of plastic waste, which is 10.6 bales. To put that into perspective, 11 m³ is about the size of a 10 × 6 ft garden shed that would be filled entirely with compacted plastic waste.
In comparison, the actual packaging used by our suppliers for the same volume of products was far lower:
90 kg of soft film
43 kg of bottles
Together, that comes to just 133 kg, or around 0.4 bales.
This means that by choosing refill shopping, even in a small store like ours, customers have helped prevent an estimated 3,365 kg of plastic waste, equivalent to about 10 bales of plastic. This represents a 96% reduction in packaging waste. In other words, nearly all the packaging that would have been used if goods were purchased from supermarkets was avoided, highlighting the significant impact of refill shopping.
Why This Reduction Matters
There is a compelling reason why reducing plastic packaging waste by approximately 96% is not only impressive but also essential. In the UK, consumers throw away an estimated 5 million tonnes of plastic every year. That works out at roughly 75 kg per person annually.
To picture that, imagine all of your yearly plastic waste compacted into a block about the size of a wheelie bin or washing machine. For a family of four, that’s the equivalent of 300 kg every year. Stretch that out over a decade, and it adds up to almost one-third of a 40-foot shipping container filled entirely with plastic.
Despite the staggering amounts of plastic waste generated, only about 15% to 17% of it is recycled domestically in the UK. The remaining waste is either incinerated, sent to landfill, or exported, often to countries that lack the proper infrastructure to manage it safely. As a result, this exported waste risks polluting rivers, oceans, and local communities. However, this issue is part of a much larger narrative, which we will explore further in a follow-up article.
Where The Impact Is Noticeable
Almost Every Product
Looking at the data, it’s clear that the products we sell in higher volumes deliver the biggest reductions. This makes sense, as almost every product we offer generates less plastic waste compared to its supermarket equivalent. We’ll return later to how we handle the small amount of packaging waste we do create.
On average, dried food refills cut plastic packaging waste by 53.5%, while liquid refills achieved an even greater reduction of 89.4%. This higher figure is made possible through a circular supply chain, which we’ll also explain in more detail later.
Take Laundry Liquid as an example. Across the year, we had 2,382.10 kg of stock come in. Based on a typical 500 ml bottle weighing about 150 g (about the average we see refilled in the shop), bought from the supermarket, it works out at roughly 300 g of plastic waste per kg of product sold. For our total stock, that would mean 714.63 kg of plastic waste.
When comparing waste generated from the different shopping methods, refill shopping creates a worst-case estimate of only 9.53 kg of waste. Again, this estimate is based on the assumption that 20-litre containers are reused only 10 times, even though, in reality, they can be reused many times more.
With this reuse system, the 800 g bottles used for refills generate just 4 g of waste per kg of product, whereas typical single-use bottles result in 300 g of waste per kg of product.
It's the fact that these bulk bottles get reused at all that instantly creates a large saving on waste. For this single product, it's a saving of 705.10 kg of plastic waste, a reduction of 98.7%.
There are a few exceptions to this, such as products from The Raw Chocolate Company, which are packaged in compostable materials when bought non-refill, resulting in zero single-use plastic waste. However, these products still involve some packaging that needs to be handled carefully. If you lack the necessary facilities or services to dispose of this packaging appropriately, it will end up as general waste, likely destined for landfill or incineration in cities like Sheffield that have such facilities.
For one of our most popular product ranges, this resulted in approximately 3 kg of waste from a total of around 130 kg produced. Despite this, we offer these refills at a lower price compared to the pre-packaged alternatives, and they generate no hard-to-deal-with packaging waste for our customers to deal with.
Through Bulk Buying
Overall, almost every refill product contributes to a reduction in plastic packaging waste, even if some goods are supplied to us with some plastic packaging. This is mainly because we purchase items in bulk, typically in 10 to 25 kg cases. The amount of packaging for a single bulk case can be comparable to, or even greater than, that of a single item from a supermarket. This is particularly true for products like snacks, nuts, and seeds, which often require thicker packaging. For example, a 100 g packet of nuts bought at the supermarket may contain 30 g of plastic packaging, while a 10 kg case that we purchase is usually lined with a much thinner plastic bag weighing only 20 or 30 g.
We see even more significant reductions in packaging waste with products that are offered without any plastic packaging for our refill dispensers, compared to those sold in pre-packaged plastic packaging at supermarkets. Choosing to refill these products results in a 100% reduction in packaging waste.
The impact is even more substantial when products are purchased in smaller, pre-packaged quantities that require thicker plastic to endure transportation, in-store handling, and transporting to your home. In some cases, the very nature of the product necessitates thicker packaging due to its density. For example, snacks, nuts, and seeds are typically packaged this way for these reasons.
To give another example of comparison between buying pre-packed items and refill shopping, let's consider Jumbo Raisins, which is one of our best-selling food products. When bought in a supermarket, Raisins are typically packaged in thicker plastic due to their nature. We estimate that approximately 5 g of packaging is used per 100 grams of product, again a best-case scenario, which amounts to 50 g per kg. Therefore, for the 250 kg of Raisins we stocked, this would result in about 12.5 kg of packaging. In contrast, the Raisins we bought in bulk only generate 0.5 kg of packaging. This represents a significant reduction of about 96%.
Unfortunately, a figure closer to 100% is not achievable, as Raisins do require a thin plastic liner because of their oily nature. As shown in the image here, the blue liner inside the sturdy cardboard box protects against physical damage, instead of relying solely on thicker plastic.
A final example worth exploring is the packaging of herbs and spices sold in glass jars with plastic lids at supermarkets. Although glass jars are more widely recyclable and easier to process waste, it's important to consider the energy consumption and emissions involved in transporting, processing, and disposing of this waste.
Bulk buying of these goods for refills significantly reduces packaging waste in this instance. For every kilogram we purchase, it might contribute as little as 15 or 20 grams of plastic packaging (again, a worst-case scenario). In contrast, each pre-packed glass jar containing 20 grams of herbs or 40 grams of spices typically includes a plastic cap that weighs around 10 grams (a best-case scenario). This results in a total of 25 to 50 grams of plastic per kilogram when buying in pre-packed jars, compared to just 15 grams per kilogram when opting for refill shopping.
Circular Supply Chain
The group of products where we see the biggest difference between shopping methods is when we look at the liquid refills category. This is where we see the largest reductions. The primary reason for this is our collaboration with a supplier in a circular supply chain.
A circular or closed-loop supply chain is a sustainable approach to supply chain management that focuses on minimising waste and maximising resource reuse. Supply chain management is a term that refers to the process of how products or materials are created, distributed, and ultimately used. However, a circular supply chain integrates concepts such as recycling, remanufacturing, and refurbishing to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible, reducing the need for new raw materials.
In the example of this circular supply chain, we collaborate with our supplier for liquid refills by returning the 20-litre bulk refill bottles they provide. By doing this, we generate minimal plastic waste, as these refill bottles can be reused multiple times. This greatly reduces plastic waste compared to discarding a single-use bottle purchased at the supermarket.
In our previous comparisons, before implementing a circular supply chain, we estimated that the reduction in packaging for most of our liquid refill products was around 21%. This figure has significantly improved, and we now see a reduction of 98.67% in our worst-case scenario, where the 20-litre bulk bottles are reused just 10 times. The key difference in the reduction is the fact that these bottles are reused, substantially decreasing waste.
To expand this example, the waste reduction starts at 86.67% if the bulk bottles were not reused, since bulk supply for refilling is inherently a more sustainable option compared to purchasing a new bottle each time. However, if we take this example the other direction to a more positive case, the reduction increases to an estimated 99.33% if the bottles are reused 20 times and reaches approximately 99.73% if they are reused 50 times. This clearly demonstrates the significant impact that a circular supply chain can have on reducing waste.
Further Reductions in Plastic Pollution by Choosing to Shop Low-Waste
The data we generated for this comparison only includes the refill products we sell and does not account for the plastic-free alternatives available for everyday items, such as toothbrushes, deodorants, and sustainable options for household cleaning, hygiene, and personal care. While making a direct comparison in this area is more challenging, it is still crucial that people make simple switches from disposable items to these alternatives, as it can significantly reduce their environmental impact through conscious consumerism.
Dealing With Our Plastic Waste
As previously mentioned, it is important to note that we do generate some unavoidable plastic packaging waste, as many of the refill items we sell require some packaging. For example, nuts and dried fruits produce oils that need a barrier layer in their shipping packaging. Currently, manufacturers of these goods rely on traditional plastic packaging because it is readily available and often the most economical choice, as this material is widely used around the globe.
We would like to see manufacturers transition towards a circular supply chain, where packaging can be reused instead of recycled. In the meantime, it would be beneficial for them to explore alternative materials, such as compostable packaging. However, it's important to note that compostable packaging presents its own challenges, particularly concerning the contamination of waste streams, which is not the focus of this discussion but is still a significant factor. Unfortunately, this shift is unlikely to occur in the near future due to the widespread use of traditional plastics.
Let's return to the issue of packaging waste that we generate and what happens to it. We pay for the services of a specialised company that focuses on recycling hard-to-recycle plastics. This company transforms our plastic waste into durable, reusable materials, ensuring that it is put to meaningful reuse.
The process begins with sorting and cleaning the waste to remove any contaminants, which is then shredded into small pieces. These pieces are processed into a composite material resembling plywood, which can be used to manufacture a variety of products, including outdoor furniture and planters. You can even purchase these boards for your own DIY projects, which provides an effective way to divert plastic waste.
By using a waste service like this, all of the plastic waste we produce is diverted from landfill or incineration. In contrast, even when supermarkets offer recycling services, there are potential issues that can reduce their effectiveness, as previously mentioned.
Another major difference is that we don’t create any secondary packaging for pre-packed products. In supermarkets, pre-packs may still include the original manufacturer or farmer packaging, meaning additional plastic waste is created. By skipping this step entirely, our system achieves a significant reduction in packaging waste.
Conclusion
The figures we’ve shared clearly demonstrate the significant impact that refill shopping can make. In just one year, our community avoided an estimated 3,365 kg of single-use plastic waste. This amount is equivalent to 10 tightly compacted bales of plastic waste, or the size of a small garden shed filled to the roof. On average, refills for dried food cut plastic packaging by more than 50%, while liquid refills achieved over 90% savings through using a circular supply chain.
These reductions are not merely impressive figures. They signify a genuine possibility of a shift away from hard-to-deal-with waste and plastic pollution toward a low-waste lifestyle that emphasises long-term sustainability. By choosing refill shopping, you not only decrease packaging waste but also support ethical, often UK-based suppliers who share our commitment to conscious consumerism.
Most importantly, the impact of our effort grows as more people take part. Every refill, every swap, and every conversation shared with friends and neighbours helps strengthen our community and make low-waste living more accessible for everyone. Together, we can prove that small, everyday choices lead to big collective change.
Final Thoughts
Real change is said to come from individual actions since large corporations often evade accountability for their practices. At The Bare Alternative, we aim to encourage people to make the switch to a low-impact lifestyle, reducing difficult-to-manage waste while also supporting local community workers.
We hope for a future with more widespread refill options. We believe this approach is essential until there is broader mainstream adoption of environmentally friendly packaging materials and improved recycling infrastructure that effectively manages waste.
The impact of refill shopping only grows as more people choose to shop this way, so we would greatly appreciate it if you could share what we do with your friends, family, and neighbours. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, 2024 was our biggest year yet, and in 2025, we have already added almost as many new refill products as we had when we first opened in 2018. We now offer the largest range of refill and low-waste products under one roof in all of South Yorkshire, including a growing selection of our regulars’ favourites and niche goods that you won't find in supermarkets. These include products like Nutritional Yeast Flakes (or you may know it as "nooch"). These products allow you to prepare healthy, wholesome meals from fresh ingredients, helping you avoid ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
I hope this post has provided you with a deeper insight and understanding of our work and the importance of refill shopping. We would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed in this article, especially if you already incorporate refills in your shopping habits or if it's something you're considering for the future. But also, please share any experiences you've had in trying to reduce your plastic consumption, whether it relates to packaging or other items.
At the Bare Alternative, we offer a low-waste refill shopping experience with over 200 products, including dried foods, cooking ingredients, household cleaning supplies, personal care items, and more. We prioritise accessibility by providing local home delivery services and nationwide shipping. Please follow us on social media for regular updates, such as new product launches and more content like this.
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