The Refill Cycle is the lockdown vision of Liverpool DJ Clare Blair.
Only launching a week ago, the pioneering idea has already attracted lots of interest in Liverpool for customers drawn toward a more environmentally ethical way of living.
With no work and minimal help from the government during the pandemic, the need to adapt and re-invent herself became ever more apparent to Clare as the nation progressed through various lockdown tiers during the crisis.
Back in October 2020 Clare had a simple vision: reduce waste, reduce cruelty, reduce emissions, reduce environmental impact and provide an outstanding service. And from this The Refill Cycle was born – zero emission, cruelty free vegan home care, self-care and beauty products delivered to door by bicycle in sustainable packaging. Clare feels she is now like an old school ‘milkman’ but delivering wash, cleaning and beauty products instead, refilling each customer’s bottles when they have run out, saving on packaging and wasted materials.
Clare swaps empty glass containers which have been used for new full ones for each re-order. Early uptake for the innovative idea has been very good, and she will continue delivering in a 3-mile radius from her Wavertree base, which is already a large area across the city encompassing 28.2 miles. The business is strictly Covid-safe, adhering to all of the social distancing rules as well as strict sanitisation of the bottles.
“I first had the idea a few months ago,” Clare explains. “I guess you could say seeing a gap in the market but also for myself wanting to do something new and different. So I mulled on it and refined it, then when the third lockdown started in Jan I just thought: ‘Right, I am going for it.’ It had been crazy setting up a business in lockdown but so far the response has been brilliant, I am quite shocked really and also really encouraged and inspired by the support and feedback. And it’s great exercise too for me too out on my bike!”
Aside from reducing waste, cruelty and environmental impact, The Refill Cycle are looking to build relationships with like-minded members of the community and start to increase public engagement with green policy in an attempt to make a tangible impact on climate change. If not now, when. If this is of interest as well, please get in touch with Clare.
For full info, prices and more, go to: www.therefillcycle.co.uk