Sustainable businesses: They created a cosmetic refill company and expect to invoice millions

It is not a novelty, but a recycled idea of how articles were bought 100 years ago.With the environment in the center of the scene and the experience of 16 years in the field, Paola Pandra and Fernanda Meza decided to launch the first Argentine refill company for cosmetic and home products.In their first year of life they project to invoice $ 30 million.

“From the moment we think of how to generate less waste and reduce the environmental footprint.It is basically to develop a business, but without compromising the future.In cosmetics, few countries in the world have companies with the concept of Refill, but little by little new players are added.For that it is necessary to educate people, to adapt this type of products.Luckily we the market helped us a lot, the impact was very good, ”said Pandra.

When Coronavirus pandemia began to spread last year, the world stopped and the entrepreneurs took advantage of quarantine to sketch a postponed project years ago.The idea, which came to light in January this year, was based on a packaging system for clients to receive discounts in exchange for collaborating.The famous concept of "3r": reduce, reuse and recycle.

“When buyers return the containers, we give them a $ 100 voucher to get motivated and get used to bringing the bottles again.They have physical points to leave them, although they can also return it in the next purchase.When they arrive at the company, they are sanitized and reused, ”explained the CEO of Refill Lab.

At the moment, entrepreneurship has six products -liquid with gel alcohol, 70%alcohol, cream, fragrance and diffuser -, each of them in seven different aromas.In the coming weeks the company will put another 18 products for sale.

Product size attracts attention.They are not small containers, but two -liter drums that serve to recharge several dispenser.According to the company, for each drum that a consumer buys between 10 and 20 bottles, between 100 and 250 milliliters, which would have needed to use that same amount of product.

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“The idea is that these containers are replaced, which end in a dump, thrown and contaminating.If a single customer buys a liquid soap, a fragrance and a hair product, save between 20 and 60 bottles, it is a very high impact.Since we had the first sale until now, 56 saved.000 containers and that we started six months ago.The idea is that more companies join this trend, to look at the world from another point of view, ”said Pandra.

A no less data: large drums lower costs.Without parabens, cruelty free and biodegradable, the elaboration of this type of natural products usually costs almost double that a standard.To avoid moving away from the capacity of the pockets, the company eliminated labels, packaging and elements that do not add the product itself."The important thing is the content, not the rest," summed up.

Although the main Refill Lab sales channel is through the e-commerce, from the beginning the company developed alliances with 27 wholesalers from all over the country, including the supermarket chain without zero market containers.By the end of this year, they aim to reach 50 suppliers distributed in different provinces of Argentina.

For Refill Lab, sustainability is business.They have projected to bill $ 30 million in the first year of the company's life, although in 2022 the expectations is to double that number.“We have technology, sales platform, a lot of tools that help us to be a profitable company.The focus is what we were born for, which is to reduce waste and environmental footprint.But the key is to find an activity that guarantees the economic balance, care of the environment and well -being, ”said its creator.

“People began to demand this type of products, I was in need of this paradigm shift.I hope more companies join, that we are thousands and that we all push for the same side.But the impact that these business models have are very strong, both in the environment and the consumer.Make a difference, ”he closed.