Aeon rolls out products in refillable packs

Customers can be refunded for returning the containers.

Aeon has partnered with US-based circular packaging startup Loop to sell products in refillable packs across its 19 stores in Japan, in a bid to limit usage of single-use plastics in the country, IGD reported.

Its food, home and personal care products will come in new sustainable packaging such as stainless steel and glass, instead of one-time use packs. These can be used multiple times due to the durability of the material.

Customers can also get a refund for using sustainable packaging. First, shoppers must buy these products in reusable packaging, which are priced slightly higher than products with disposable packaging. Customers can get a refund later once they return the packs.

They can drop the used container in the Loop return box at any AEON store in Japan. Once the system collects the container and authenticates it, customers will receive a refund of their deposit and the consumption tax of the container.

The refund is processed within two weeks.  It will be credited to the customers’ bank account through the Loop app, and can range anywhere between $1.01 (JP¥110) and $8.08 (JP¥880), depending on the container.

A specialised company will then clean the returned pack, and send them back to the manufacturers who will re-use these containers.

Loop is also working together with Ulta Beauty and Carrefour in Paris to sell their beauty products and other grocery items in refillable packaging.