Analysis and research for the development of a refillable system and container for the sale of cleaning products in bulk

As designers we are invariably conceiving and creating countless products, but we are not always concerned with where those products might end. The products of our creation serve a purpose; they fulfill a need, they respond to costumer requests, yet they are often disposable, thus contributing to the waste production problem that harms so deeply the environment. Solid waste production rates are rising fast, on pace to exceed 11 million tones per day by year 2100. That level of waste carries serious consequences, both physical and economical, for cities around the world. This research revealed that plastics, more specifically plastic containers, are a chief contributor to the production of waste in the world, a problematic that needs to be tackled. Our market research shows that in Mexico people do understand the economic benefit that means reducing the cost of the product due to packaging costs. This notion reveals that Mexican consumers will easily adopt a refillable container if they see a real benefit, i.e. cost-savings. Therefore, we consider that a refillable system and container for the sale of liquid cleaning products in bulk in Mexico, besides being beneficial for the consumer and environmental-friendly is feasible. Thus, this thesis project proposes the adaptation of a refillable system for the sale of liquid cleaning products in bulk, and the design of refillable reusable container and its cap to fit in the refillable system, which fulfils customer needs at the same time as attaining greater eco-efficiencies. The system is self-service, easy to use and handle, clean, safe, clear, and its proposed to be implemented in supermarkets; the container is durable, resistant, ergonomic, portable, easy-to-clean, safe, and convenient; and the cap allows to use the refillable system whilst preventing leaks or spills. The development of this project is relevant because it proposes a container that facilitates the production and distribution of liquid cleaning products, thus reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, inventory shrinkage, production costs, distribution costs, storage costs, storage space, and final product cost, favoring the producer, the retailer, the consumer and the environment. Furthermore, as it proposes the retail sale of liquid cleaning products in bulk, it accommodates the consumer’s different needs of consumption.