We’re excited to share that Enviu – thanks to TRANSFORM (a collaboration between Unilever, FCDO, and EY) – will launch a groundbreaking research project on refill entrepreneurship in low-income markets. Together with BopInc and Brunel University, we’ll be diving into how refill businesses operate in the Global South, with a focus on Indonesia, Kenya, Bangladesh, and South Africa.
Our goal? To generate actionable insights for entrepreneurs and policymakers alike.
Over the course of the project, we will:
- Interview refill entrepreneurs across Global South markets to uncover their best practices, barriers, and opportunities.
- Conduct Focus Group Discussions in Indonesia, Kenya, Bangladesh, and South Africa with entrepreneurs, FMCG brands, retailers, policymakers, and financiers.
- Publish a Refill Playbook with strategic guidance for entrepreneurs and policymakers.
- Develop four country profiles that detail local contexts, opportunities, and policy environments.
- Produce an academic publication, co-authored with Brunel University, to share our findings with the global research community.
Why refill matters
The case for refill is clear. Reuse and refill models can:
- Cut plastic use by 45–75%, reducing pollution at its source.
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions by 35–70% compared to single-use systems.
- Reduce system costs by 5–10% when designed at scale
(Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
Yet, while 89% of investments in plastics circularity have flowed to the Global North, the cost of dealing with plastics is up to eight times higher in the Global South.
This is where refill entrepreneurship can make a difference, offering affordable, scalable alternatives to single-use packaging while creating new income opportunities for refill entrepreneurs and the retail network they operate in.
Learning from refill pioneers
This project builds on lessons from refill pioneers including our venture Alner and former venture QYOS (Indonesia) as well as Novek (Kenya), Fresh Networks (Kenya), URefill (Bangladesh), Refillable (India), Smartfill (South Africa) and Sonke (South Africa). Their journeys show both the promise and challenges of scaling refill solutions, insights we aim to share broadly.
Eline Leising, Domain Director at Enviu Zero Waste:
“We’re excited to bring this puzzle piece together. With a brilliant team of experts, we’re set to unravel the do’s and don’ts of refill entrepreneurship, and explore how it can become a vital part of solving the plastic pollution crisis in the Global South.”
Toward a circular future
By supporting refill entrepreneurship in the Global South, the project will contribute to building a sustainable, inclusive, and circular economy. Refill doesn’t just reduce waste, it can lower costs for consumers, create dignified income opportunities, and foster resilient local economies.
We can’t wait to share our findings in 2026! Stay tuned as we explore how refill solutions can thrive in low-income markets and deliver impact for both people and planet.
