A Simpler Way: Life With Refills

Once I figured out how to make refill work in my life, it’s become something beautifully simple. I’m lucky to have an organic shop nearby that stocks seasonal fruit and veg, refill options for pantry staples, toiletries and household cleaning, as well as kombucha on tap and fresh herbs. It’s a place I actually enjoy going to. It’s small, it smells good and everything feels like it’s been chosen with care.

I don’t manage to go every week so I plan ahead. I buy things like rice, oats, lentils, dried fruit, chickpeas, nuts, pasta, shampoo, washing-up liquid and deodorant. I check the jars before I head out and work out where I’ll go depending on what else is happening that week. If I’m not going to the organic shop, I’ll usually go to the market instead. It’s a different rhythm, but still part of the system.

And this is the bit I’ve come to value most. I’ve been able to shape a system that works. One that I can keep up with, that supports my wellbeing, makes sense for the planet and fits into the flow of my daily life. As I’ve mentioned in other blogs, I’m into permaculture and so is my partner. A lot of what I do now started from his system and over time I’ve adapted it to fit how I live. That’s what I love about permaculture. It’s practical and personal, rooted in earth care, people care and fair share. Refill fits into that naturally. It’s about using what you need, making thoughtful swaps and finding ways to tread more lightly.

The jars I use have built up slowly. I’ve got a cupboard full now, all different shapes and sizes. Tall narrow ones for grains, smaller ones for nuts and seeds, old spice jars that keep getting refilled. Some I take with me but more often I use paper bags at the shop, decant things at home and reuse the bags for lunch or composting. It’s simple and flexible and it works.

It doesn’t need to be expensive. It’s not about kilner jars or buying anything new. I’ve found some brilliant containers in charity shops. And if you’re short on space, using boxes that are all the same size can be helpful because they stack easily and keep things tidy. There are lots of ways to make it manageable without spending extra.

One of the things that surprised me is how beautiful refill shops can be. Not in a styled or curated way, but in the feeling they hold. Everything is useful. Nothing is crammed in and there’s space to pause. The produce is fresh and unwrapped, the shelves are calm. There’s usually a noticeboard with community events or someone offering free seedlings. It doesn’t feel like a supermarket. You’re not rushing through. You’re part of something shared. Something slower.

Recently I started using oat powder instead of buying cartons of oat m*lk and it’s honestly been a bit of a revelation. I just mix what I need when I need it. No waste, no bulk, just the amount I’ll actually use. It’s been especially brilliant for camping, where space really matters. I like to be a bit nomadic during the summer and finding things that travel well and cut down on packaging makes a real difference. I’ll definitely be trying out more dry alternatives to see what else might fit into that way of living.

When I go to the market, I often build in other trips too. There’s a repair café once a month where I’ve had clothes stitched up, tools fixed and even a lamp brought back into use. And then there’s the community fridge, which I love. There’s something really satisfying about being given good food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Loaves of bread, fruit and sometimes completely unexpected things, like cut flowers, which I wouldn’t usually buy but are lovely to have.

Since I started refilling, I’ve noticed a real difference in how my home feels. I don’t have piles of plastic or endless packaging to wash up and recycle. The shelves are clearer, the food I eat feels more nourishing and I waste less. I know what I’ve got and I only buy what I need. There’s a rhythm to it now, something that ticks along gently in the background.

Living simply isn’t about going without. It’s about making the most of what’s already around you, using what you have and doing it with care.

 As the writer and naturalist Henry David Thoreau once said,
“Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.”

Refill has become one of the ways I do that. It helps me use what I already have, cut down on waste and feel more in touch with my own rhythm. It’s a way of staying connected to the earth, to my community and to what matters to me.

I’m also really excited about the launch of the new dry food refill service in Storrington, starting on Wednesday 23rd July 9am – 12 noon. It will be running on the fourth Wednesday of every month, building on the existing refill service for household and personal care products that’s been running for a few years at Chanctonbury Leisure Centre. That service is currently open every Thursday from 5pm–10pm and every Friday from 8am–2pm, with plans in place to make all refills available every day during the centre’s opening hours. It’s great news for anyone looking to cut down on plastic and make refilling part of their everyday routine.

For details on local refill services visit www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk/refill and be part of the growing refill movement in Sussex.