App to help Northants shoppers avoid unnecessary packaging

Shoppers in East Northants are being encouraged to avoid pointless packaging by downloading an app called Refill.

The Refill app is part of the Refill campaign being run by City to Sea, a plastic pollution campaigning organisation.

Thanks to Oundle Waste Less' project #RefillEastNorthants, people in the area can use the app to find over 20 places to buy drinks and food in their own reusable containers as well as local zero waste shops.

The app also shows places where you can get free water bottle refills.

Camilla Sherwin, manager of Oundle Waste Less, said: "We need to change how we use resources and reduce waste, particularly when it comes to single use items.

"Promoting #RefillEastNorthants is just one of the many initiatives the Oundle Wast Less team have been running to encourage local residents and businesses to reuse, repair, refill and repurpose items to avoid waste and extend product life.

"We are delighted by the enthusiasm shown by local cafes and shops to support our aims, and hope that more people in East Northamptonshire will now choose to reuse."

Research shows that 93 per cent of the British public care about plastic pollution and 75 per cent are willing to use refill services, so the app aims to make it easier for people to make these changes.

Rebecca Burgess, chief executive of City to Sea, said: "The expansion of Refill marks a significant step in tackling the mountains of avoidable single-use waste created every day.

"Refill has already proven that buying habits can change. Last year the bottled water industry reported their first decline in sales (£34.2m loss) after significant growth for the previous five years.

"We’re advocating this trend to expand beyond water to other reuse options. We now need business and the general public to truly build back better and work together to make pointless packaging a thing of the past."

Businesses can sign up to the #RefillEastNorthants by emailing [email protected] or by registering for free on the Refill app.

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