Why Refill? The Impact of the Quiet Choice

On Small Decisions, and the Systems They Disrupt

At WØRKS, we believe that considered design extends beyond the object itself—into the systems it supports, the materials it preserves, and the habits it helps shape.

Our refill system was created not only to honour the ritual of daily care, but to lessen the weight of that ritual on the world.

The choice to refill might seem small. But its impact isn’t.

Less Waste, More Value

Most conventional soap and skincare packaging is made from virgin plastic. Globally, over 120 billion units of cosmetic packaging are produced each year— he vast majority of which end up in landfill or the ocean, where they take centuries to break down.

By contrast, aluminium is infinitely recyclable, with over 75% of all aluminium ever produced still in use today. When recycled properly, aluminium requires 95% less energy to reproduce than it did to create the first time — making it one of the most efficient and sustainable materials available.

By choosing our aluminium refill over a standard plastic bottle, you are:

• Preventing up to 90% of packaging waste per refill cycle

• Reducing the carbon footprint of your routine by as much as 60%

• Supporting a packaging system that is kerbside recyclable and free from plastic or complex materials that contaminate recycling streams

Designed for Disassembly — and Return

Many so-called “sustainable” refills come in flexible pouches, which are lightweight but rarely recyclable. These soft plastics typically require specialist drop-off points, which means most end up in landfill. Worse still, their laminates and linings make them incompatible with most recycling systems worldwide.

We chose aluminium for the opposite reason. Its simplicity. Its purity. Its ability to return to circulation—again and again—without degradation.

Even if our canister ends its life after a single use, it still represents a more sustainable choice than traditional plastic packaging. But when kept, repurposed, or recycled properly, its value compounds with every cycle.

Scaling Impact Through Ritual

We know that the real power of refill lies not in novelty, but in repeatability. In the shift from convenience to care.

If just 1,000 people refill their WØRKS hand soap instead of purchasing new bottles, that single act would: 

• Prevent the equivalent of 900kg of CO₂ emissions

• Save enough energy to power a home for more than a month

Now imagine what happens when 10,000 people do the same.

A Better Normal

Sustainability isn’t about perfection. It’s about choosing better—again and again—until better becomes the norm.

Our refill system is just one part of our commitment to circularity. But it’s a powerful one. A tool for change, disguised as a beautiful object.

A small shift in your sink-side ritual. A quieter kind of impact. One we can build, together.