Cif innovative at-home refill will remove 1.5 million plastic bottles from UK supermarkets

Today Unilever announces the launch of Cif ecorefill, the new at-home technology that allows consumers to refill and reuse their Cif spray bottles for life.

This comes when UK demand for less plastic and more refillable and reusable solutions are on the rise, with 62% of people saying reuse is even more important to them than recycling. More than eight in ten (83%) people wish they had access to more refillable products and furthermore only one in six (16%) are currently buying refills.

The largest barriers are lack of awareness on refill products or simply not being able to find them on supermarket shelves. With that in mind, Cif has worked to create a powerful no-mess solution, becoming the first household cleaning brand to do so with this pioneering twist and click refill design.

Made with 75% less plastic, Cif ecorefill simply attaches to the current Cif Power & Shine bottles. Through its innovative technology, it seamlessly releases the super-concentrated product into the bottle, which is filled with water at home. The ecorefill contains a 10x concentrated formula, delivering the same superior clean for which Cif is known and loved.

The ecorefills are 100% recyclable once the plastic sleeves are removed and, by the end of 2020, the ambition is for all Cif ecorefills and spray bottles to be made from 100% recycled plastic. Going smaller is certainly better – the ecorefills are lightweight and save on storage space. Diluting the product at home means 97% less water is being transported, fewer trucks on the road and less greenhouse gas emissions.

The ecorefill’s space-saving design also comes with a smaller price tag, retailing less than the price of Cif spray bottles. It is currently available at Sainsbury’s across the UK.

Helen Bird, Strategic Engagement Manager at WRAP (which manages The UK Plastics Pact), said: “We know that people are looking to reduce their plastic footprint and the use of concentrates, like this novel design by Unilever, is a way to support people to do this. In addition to this, a major environmental benefit is the reduction in the amount of product that is transported around the UK. As a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact it is great to see continuous innovation by Unilever in their commitment to ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.”

Cif is committed to enabling people to use their Cif Power & Shine trigger spray bottles for life. If the trigger spray breaks, customers can call the Cif careline to receive a new trigger spray delivered free to their home.

Gemma Cleland, Vice President, Homecare, Unilever UK & Ireland, said: “The launch of Cif ecorefills is a game-changer when it comes to reducing plastic waste in the products we use to clean our homes. Our research shows that two-thirds of us feel guilty when we throw away plastic and shoppers are looking for easy switches that can have a positive impact on the world around us. We think there’s no better place to start than in the home. By keeping a bottle of Cif and refilling and reusing it over and over again, consumers can reduce their consumption of single use plastic.”

Earlier this year Unilever launched its #GetPlasticWise campaign, a holistic Five Point Plastics Plan to reduce plastic waste across the United Kingdom & Ireland. This innovation reflects the company’s commitment to ensure that, globally, all of Unilever’s plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and to using more recycled plastic content in its packaging. Unilever UK & Ireland wants to significantly accelerate this and Cif ecorefills will help towards achieving this aim, as well as making a further significant contribution towards the UK Plastics Pact targets.

Join the #ecorefillrevolution. You can get your own ecorefill in Sainsbury’s across the UK today, in Wilko later this month, and via Amazon, Ocado, and Morrisons in August. For more information visit www.cifclean.co.uk.