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Friday, January 23, 2026

Refills & reuse: initiatives still held back, but boosted by innovation

Refills & reuse: initiatives still held back, but boosted by innovation
Packaging reuse (refills, in-store refilling, and deposit-return systems) is starting to gain momentum in the beauty and wine & spirits sectors, but it is still limited by low real-world adoption. Luxury brands nevertheless have an opportunity: making refills more desirable and enhancing the consumer experience through innovations from packaging suppliers.

  • Aptar Beauty adds value through refills that are more practical and playful (a safety click and a fast filling process with automatic stop).
  • Circul’R is developing deposit-return systems for the beauty sector in France, but implementation remains challenging (logistics, washing, investments) and depends on collaboration between all stakeholders.
  • Nuon Medical brings a “beauty tech” dimension with tools integrating technologies such as LED lights.
  • Eco-in Pack has recently integrated an automated line capable of sorting bottles by shape before washing. Thanks to AI-equipped cameras, the company can now accurately detect slight variations, particularly in bottle necks, a task that was previously carried out manually.
Source: Formes de Luxe