Ecostore has launched its first refillable aluminium bottles for hand and dish wash products to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Made 100 per cent from aluminium, the Ecostore refillable bottle is designed for multiple use and can be recycled. Featuring designs by local artist John Reynolds, each bottle is already filled with Lemongrass Hand Wash or Lemon Dish Liquid.

By launching new sustainable bottles, Ecostore said it aims to turn Kiwis’ current “throwaway culture” to one that values its resources. 

“The launch of our new aluminium bottles is another essential step for us in reducing and reusing waste and keeping waste out of the environment,” said Pablo Kraus, group CEO of Ecostore. 

By using aluminium refill bottles, people can save up to 40 dish wash or 60 hand wash plastic bottles from entering Aotearoa’s waste system, according to Kraus. 

Shoppers can refill their aluminium bottles at more than 100 Ecostore refill stations, green stores, specialty grocery and some New World and Countdown supermarkets, online or by buying a refill pack sold in supermarkets.

Ecostore has also collaborated with five other companies to host a refill event on March 19 at Britomart Place.

According to the company, about 1.76 billion pieces of plastic containers and bottles are disposed of every year in New Zealand.

“Waste is a very large problem for New Zealand that can’t be fixed with just one solution, so we have many different options for our customers to reduce, reuse, and recycle – and that order matters,” Kraus added. “Recycling is plan C, the one people should only turn to as the last option.”