Why Refillable Products Are the Future (and 5 Aussie Brands Leading the Way)
When it comes to reducing waste, going refillable is one of the simplest and most impactful swaps you can make. From your skincare to your stationery, refillable products help cut down on single-use plastics, reduce carbon emissions, and make sustainable living a whole lot easier.
As Australians wake up to the waste crisis, more and more of us are embracing reusables and refillables — and it’s making a real difference.
The Impact of Refillable Products
Let’s talk numbers:
1. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, refillable packaging can reduce plastic use by up to 70% compared to single-use alternatives.
2. Refilling can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50–80%, depending on the product and refill system.
3. In Australia, households throw away over 1.9 million tonnes of packaging waste each year — and a huge chunk of that is from products we use daily, like cleaning supplies, skincare, and cosmetics.
Switching to refillable products isn’t about being perfect, it’s about making a conscious shift away from disposables and saying no to wasteful over-packaging.
Here are five Aussie brands doing refillables right — whether you’re just starting your sustainability journey or levelling up your low-waste game.
1/ CandleXchange
Swap out your single-use candles for a circular, closed-loop system. CandleXchange lets you enjoy beautiful soy candles in reusable jars — and when you're done, simply send the jar back to be refilled. Each return saves around 350g of glass from going to landfill. Find out more.
2/ Sabbia Co
This Gold Coast beauty brand has created a refillable skincare system that’s as beautiful as it is sustainable. Sabbia Co’s refill pouches use 76% less plastic than traditional packaging, and they’re focused on high-performance, planet-friendly ingredients too. Find out more.
3/ ASUVI
Say goodbye to plastic deodorant tubes. ASUVI offers natural deodorants in refillable, compostable tubes. Each refill saves a full plastic container from landfill and reduces emissions by 60% compared to conventional packaging. Plus, it's natural deodorant that actually works, it's what all our staff wear at the Sustainability Hub. Find out more.
4/ Pleasant State
Pleasant State turns your tap water into powerful cleaning products — minus the plastic. Their refillable glass spray bottles pair with concentrated bars to eliminate the need for single-use cleaning bottles. One household can save over 15 plastic bottles a year just by making the switch. Find out more.
5/ BRAD Refillable Pen
Australians throw away 140 million disposable pens every year — and most of them can’t be recycled unless they come to BRAD directly. Our BRAD Refillable Pen is designed to change that. Made to last and refillable again and again, it’s an everyday essential that doesn’t cost the Earth. Find out more.
Refillable products aren’t just better for the environment — they’re better for your wallet, your home, and your habits. Choosing to refill instead of rebuy keeps packaging in use, reduces carbon emissions, and helps us inch closer to a truly circular economy.
So whether it’s your candle, your cleanser, or your cleaning spray, think refill before you repurchase.
Want to learn more about reducing your waste?
Check out the Waste Less Workbook, your handy guide for reducing waste and living more sustainably at home.