Where the Refill Economy Actually Works in 2026 (And Where to Skip It)
The aspirational refill vision of 2019 didn't scale. Here's where the refill economy actually works in 2026, and the structural reasons why.
5 min read
refill
8 articles
The Zero-Waste Retail Revolution
Zero-waste grocery stores proved that customers will change their shopping habits when reducing waste is made easy: here's what the format got right, why it's under pressure from copycats like Loop, and what the design principle offers mainstream retailers.
5 min read
Toronto's Bare Market and the Zero-Waste Delivery Extension That Closes the Convenience Gap
Bare Market tested its package-free model through pop-ups before committing to a permanent location: here's what the business model looks like and why the 50% cost comparison matters.
5 min read
The Barcelona Supermarket That Designed Out Impulse Buying Alongside Packaging Waste
Yes Future in Barcelona won the Commerce Award for anti-persuasion retail design: here's how the packaging-free model, local sourcing, and neighborhood partnerships work together.
5 min read
Zero-Waste Grocery Works When Three Things Are True: Original Unverpackt Gets All Three Right
Original Unverpackt was Germany's first package-free supermarket: here's what the model actually requires operationally and why Berlin's existing thrift culture matters.
5 min read
Beyond Recyclable: The Packaging Innovations That Solve the Infrastructure Dependency Problem
Which sustainable packaging innovations are commercially viable at retail scale: PHA bioplastics, high-barrier papers, and the reusable container economics that are actually working.
5 min read
Beyond the Early Adopters: How Zero-Waste Retail Is Moving Toward the Mainstream
Zero-waste and package-free stores are proving the model works commercially. Here's how they operate and what it takes to scale beyond the early adopter.
5 min read
What ScrapsKC, Natural Weigh, and Zero Market Are Proving About Zero-Waste Retail
Zero-waste retailers are proving the business model works. Here's how ScrapsKC, Natural Weigh, and others are making it commercially viable.
5 min read