At Unilever Bangladesh, we believe that long-term sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires partnerships, innovation, and a shared commitment to finding practical solutions for today’s biggest challenges.
Shohojatra: Co-Creating Impact was an event created in this spirit, where we brought together our partners, peers, and stakeholders to celebrate what becomes possible when we work together. Across the four pillars of our Growth Action Plan (GAP) 2030 – Climate, Nature, Plastics and Livelihoods, each partner story highlighted, reflected the transformative potential of co-creation.
Under the Plastics pillar, we showcased URefill – an innovation that reimagines how consumers purchase everyday products, reducing reliance on plastic packaging while ensuring affordability and convenience through a smart and user-friendly refill machine.
The Need for Action
Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Globally, over 5 billion tonnes of plastic waste has accumulated, and less than 10% has been recycled. In Bangladesh, urban plastic consumption has tripled in recent years, with cities like Dhaka generating 22 kilograms of plastic waste per person annually. Yet, less than one-third of this waste is recycled, while the rest often ends up in landfills, drains, and waterways, harming communities and ecosystems.
At Unilever, we have long recognised that while plastic plays a vital role in making safe, affordable products accessible, we must ensure it never ends up in the environment. Guided by our global framework of tackling plastic pollution through reduction, circulation and collaboration, we are reducing our virgin plastic footprint by redesigning our product packaging and investing in breakthrough innovations like refill technology.
The Challenge in Bangladesh
Refill solutions have been piloted successfully in global markets such as Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. But the retail context in Bangladesh posed unique challenges. Over 95% of consumer goods here are sold through more than 2 million small, informal retailers. Shoppers often buy in very small quantities, driven by affordability and convenience.
This meant that global refill technologies had to be redesigned and adapted for the Bangladeshi retail environment: machines had to be compact enough for small shops, cost-effective for retailers, and simple for consumers to use.
The Journey of URefill
To meet this challenge, Unilever Bangladesh started piloting URefill in 2022 under the TRANSFORM initiative, in partnership with BopInc - a global social enterprise that accelerates inclusive business innovation. Together, we tested how refill machines could be designed to be integrated into Bangladesh’s retail trade environment, while also being built in a way that delivers on consumers’ expectations of convenience, affordability, ease of use, and trust in product quality.
The response was encouraging: surveys showed 93% of consumers found URefill appealing, and 43% became returning users. Shoppers appreciated the affordability, the convenience of refilling, and the ability to use less plastic without compromising quality.
After the initial pilot, URefill entered its next phase. Omni StrateG, a local partner, is now supporting us to refine the business model, scale up deployment, and build partnerships with small retailers. This collaborative “relay race” – from global inspiration to local piloting to market scale-up – demonstrates how innovation and partnerships can accelerate change.
Impact and Opportunities
URefill is still in its early stages, but the potential is clear:
- Designed for small retail spaces where most Bangladeshis shop.
- Provides affordable access for low-income consumers.
- Expected to create new employment opportunities, with over 250 jobs expected, 80% of them for women.
- Projected to reduce 100 tonnes of plastic waste as the model scales.
- Targeting roll-out to 10,000 retailers in the coming years.
Looking Ahead
The journey of URefill illustrates the essence of Shohojatra: co-creation across borders and sectors. From global technology to local adaptation, starting with BopInc’s innovation expertise to Omni StrateG’s market know-how, this is an impactful model of partnership in action.
As we look to the future, Unilever Bangladesh will continue investing in refill and reuse models that combine affordability, scalability, and positive environmental impact - brightening everyday life for all.