Turtle Green Refillery

Turtle Green Refillery, based in Caledon in Peel Region, Ontario, isn’t like other refilleries you’ve seen around.

The business delivers refills right to the customer’s doorstep, either in pre-filled glass mason jars, or using the customer’s own preferred empty containers.

Started during the pandemic, the business switched owners a few years ago and is now led by Betty de Groot, who is also an active participant in the local not-for-profit group ecoCaledon.

Refilling containers is an effective way to take part in the circular economy, a way of living and consuming, that reduces what we send to the landfill and keeps sustainable packaging in use.

Reflecting on her customers, she says “My customers are very happy that the products they trust are available in this fashion.” de Groot estimates that her business saves on average more than 100 plastic bottles or packages monthly.

As a leader in the emerging circular economy, there are several significant challenges Turtle Green Refillery has had to face on top of the challenges that traditional business owners already face. From locating appropriate and compatible suppliers, to requiring a change in consumer habits, to managing the expenses in operating a micro-business like this can be challenging work.

A reuse-specific challenge de Groot faces is access to suppliers. For example, there are many suppliers who produce minimally packaged natural hand soaps, but there is a gap in available suppliers for liquid cleaning products in returnable and re-usable packaging. “I wrote to some well-known companies to see if they could offer their products in returnable containers, and they didn’t get back to me,” de Groot says.

And when choosing a product that’s different, consumers can be stuck in their habits and not be willing to try something new.

As for gaining new customers, de Groot draws the line at shipping. Shipping across the country is something other businesses do, but Turtle Green Refillery prefers not to, because the “buy local” message is a core value to de Groot. “I hope that every town and city will one day have their own refillery options,” de Groot says. “To reach new customers, I rely on my current customers to be steady for me and spread the word.”

On the flip side, hand-delivering refills to the customer’s front door is a joy. “I love filling the orders, and meeting my customers at the doorstep.  These are my neighbours!”  Most deliveries happen with her electric car, “so my customers can feel good that they’re buying earth friendly products, in sustainable and reusable packages, delivered (mostly) carbon-free.”

As for the future, de Groot says she’d like to add to her customer’s purchasing experience: “it would be great to set up the website so that customers can know how many times they refilled […] so they can check in on how many plastic bottles or packages they’ve diverted from landfill.”

If you’re thinking of starting a refillery, “talk to people who are already doing it. Do your research. If your community lacks a refillery, that’s a great place to start” she says. “Find out what products people enjoy using, look for suppliers who are as local as possible, to minimize your own footprint; work with reliable partners and ensure their minimum purchase amount is affordable to you; learn about your insurance requirements, especially if you’re starting small. Ask your municipal government if they have a small business or an economic development team to support you. It’s good to have research in place to make the process easier; and then enjoy the journey!”