1 March, 2025
The Refill & Reuse Month
The Refill & Reuse Month: small changes, big impact for a future where reuse is the norm
March heralds the annual Refill & Reuse Month, an initiative originally launched by Réseau Vrac & Réemploi in France in 2022 to promote sustainable consumption practices. With over 950 grocery stores specialised in bulk, refill and reusable packaging, and more than 10,000 points of sale offering these solutions, France is the global leader of the sector. This year, the campaign has crossed borders and expanded to other countries including Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the UK. National reuse and civil society organisations have joined forces to raise awareness among consumers about the environmental, economic, and social benefits of refill and reusable packaging.
Only the essential
Refill & Reuse Month is dedicated to encouraging individuals and businesses to adopt practices that minimise waste and promote reusability. The campaign emphasises the importance of purchasing in bulk, refill and reusable packaging, aiming to make sustainable choices both accessible and beneficial for all. Throughout March, a variety of events, workshops, and competitions are organised across participating countries to showcase practical solutions and inspire collective action.
Benefits of reusable packaging
Shopping in bulk and buying products in reusable containers is more than just a way of consuming; it’s a philosophy of life: having the freedom to choose what you buy, sticking to your needs, and reducing waste.
Reuse reduces the impact on biodiversity and natural resources by avoiding the extraction of raw materials and the energy required to produce new packaging. This means lower water consumption, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and less waste. By reducing packaging waste, we lighten the burden on household bins and decrease the amount of waste that municipalities need to process.
Embracing these virtuous consumption models offers numerous other advantages:
- Cost savings: Businesses can reduce expenses associated with single-use packaging by investing in durable, reusable alternatives, while consumers can buy products with no imposed weight, choosing the exact quantities they need and limiting overspending. Furthermore, municipalities can keep under control the costs of waste collection and sorting for recycling, which is frequently one of the biggest expenditures in local budgets.
- Food waste reduction: French households generate an average of 30 kg of food waste per person every year, including 7 kg of still-packaged products – food that is discarded without ever being used or even removed from its packaging. Food waste accounts for nearly 10% of total global greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to 3.3 gigatonnes of COâ‚‚.
- Support local communities: Reuse value chains’ activities are intended to deploy within local communities, supporting regional economies and job creation. In this context, inclusive employment opportunities can be created, enabling access to jobs for vulnerable groups and fostering social integration.
Join the movement and make reuse the norm
Everyone is encouraged to get involved by attending events, participating in workshops, or simply adopting more reuse habits in their daily life. Each action contributes to a larger positive impact. With the interactive map, you can discover all the participating shops and the events promoting bulk, refill and reuse until the end of the month.
Explore the campaign further and find ways to get involved visiting the official website at vracetreemploi.com. By sharing, participating, and inspiring others, we can collectively drive the shift towards a future where reuse is the norm.
